Help petite corbeau fly

Stephanie Peterson is organizing this fundraiser.

Donation protected

I am attempting to launch my business, and I need help with my CFO permit and some other costs.

Here’s the story-

It’s September 2020 and we’re in the middle of this pandemic. As a bartender and server by trade, I have been out of steady work since March.

A friend asks me if I will take over the making of baked goods for his farmstand, because his current person is moving out of the country.

Since I have always loved playing with my food and I have the time (and frankly a little extra money wouldn’t hurt), I agree.

I want to focus on savory over sweet. There’s too much sugar out there all ready, so little to no added sugar. Produce is paramount. Organic. Seasonal. And all ingredients need to be local whenever possible, to support local farmers and producers.

I start slow, only doing a few items, sell out.

Add a few more, sell out. Add some different items, sell out. Again, weekend after weekend.

Pretty soon my friend is talking about selling my goods at a couple of Farmers Markets next to his products, and I’m talking to 2 local stores that have interest as well. All in 3 months!

petite corbeau, the idea, the concept has legs (or rather wings). It wants to fly! I search out commercial kitchens I can use, even find a job that I can work around this budding business.

Unfortunately, I am at the end of my lease in San Francisco, and even with the exodus caused by the COVID pandemic, I cannot find an affordable place to live. I simply can not make all of the pieces fit together.

So, now I am in the San Diego area, and unemployment insurance has run out. I am looking for steady work, the pandemic is still happening and I am attempting to start this business.

After nearly 6 weeks, I have finally gotten my DBA from the county and I have interest at 2 local Farmers Markets and a cafe. I have purchased my domain name for the website and I have my Instagram account up and going. I desperately need my CFO (Cottage Food Operations) permit, but I am broke and in debt just looking for stable work.

Recently, my friend suggested I start a Go Fund Me campaign. I hesitated.

I am not good about asking for help. I never have been. But I have learned that there is a difference between wanting help and needing help, and I need help.

Any funds donated would go directly to support the costs of getting petite corbeau launched. CFO permit/inspection fees first (approx. $453). Then insurance, a tent and stall rental costs for farmers markets, website hosting, even ingredients and packaging. Commercial kitchens fees if I can afford them! #SmallBusinessRelief, am I right?

I would love it if I could get into the Farmers Markets before the end of June.

It gets quite hot down here, so summer is a great time to launch a food business that offers something nourishing, tastes great, and doesn’t need to be cooked.

I am at a loss for words on being able to tell you how grateful I would be at being able to see this business become a reality. I don’t have any massive production goals, or dreams of being “the next Mrs Fields.” A modest cafe where I can support myself (and other local micro/small producers by selling their goods, too), and a have a couple of employees treated fairly, would be wonderful.