Obey all applicable health codes. It is best to check with your local sanitarian, state health department, and state or federal meat inspection department. Finding a flexible federally inspected processor will be difficult in most areas. It takes some time for the processor to realize that you are serious about direct marketing. Once they realize you are serious it s a lot easier to be higher on their priority list.
Excellent service is essential to maintaining customers.
Charge a price that covers time, processing, equipment, miscellaneous expenses, unsold cuts, etc. Variety of products makes income easier to generate. It costs no more to distribute 5 different animal products than it does to distribute one. Distribution costs are where the big guys have the upper hand. Also, it is much easier to sell another product to an existing customer than it is to pick up a new customer.