I'm looking into starting up a small processor along the southwest quadrant of the beltway (between I-95 & I-66).
I started by wanting to fuel my TDI Beetle, but I rent, so I will need to rent a place, and I'll have to brew enough to cover that...
So, one thing led to another. I'm looking at a diesel pickup, an 80-gallon processor, and shopping for a place to brew & pump. So now I'm looking to get all in, and this is part of me gauging the market. Think I can sell 800 gallons a month? I'd like to start there to cover costs, and grow organically.
I'm originally from NOVA myself. I think it'd be great to have a biodiesel location there. The area needs one.
I think you'd be able to sell that quantity, though maybe not instantly. I predict that the number of TDIs you see on the roads in the DC metro area will grow exponentially after VW opens up their new location in Reston, VA.
Also, a bit of advice: I'd recommend shipping in biodiesel via a distributor rather than brewing yourself. Many people, myself included, do not feel comfortable buying homebrew.
In case you're interested in getting B99 in the meantime, my "co-op" has it for $3.30 a gallon. I'm in Manassas Park. This is commerically refined biodiesel, not homebrew, that I get delivered by Holtzman Oil.
I am just starting out in biodiesel, however from a business perspective; I would say, before you layout the money for a lease and capital equipment, you should develop your front end (revenue stream), then spend according to income. You can do this by shipping the biodiesel, setting up the coop, establishing a clientele first. As the group comes together, people know each other, credibility has been established among the members, some of the issues have been resolved, then based on your revenue stream you can layout a business plan.
Who knows, it might turn out to be a total dud. It might turn out to be wildly successful. Do you invest in the 50 gallon processor or the 100 gallon. I know the ProBio 100g machine is $12-13K. So all together, you might need $50K just to open the door. I am thinking that you would be much more confident in this venture, if you have an established customer base.
Also, once you have a group/community, you could try to recuit a commercial customer(s), with the industrial space to reduce the initial investment cost, and also enable you to buy the larger volume supplies, and equipment.
Sorry, If you read mistakes in my writting, my first day here.
Good luck with this! We definitely need more options in the area. Unfortunately, you're in pretty much the exact opposite direction from me in the DC area.... I would love to see someone start something up in the Silver Spring/Laurel/Columbia area. Right now I go to Arlington when I have reason to be down there and fill up at the Naval Exchange on Joyce St.... it's only B20, but that's at least better than B0.
I've seen what passes as "normal" in this World, and I prefer to be weird.
placidair: Good luck with this! We definitely need more options in the area. Unfortunately, you're in pretty much the exact opposite direction from me in the DC area.... I would love to see someone start something up in the Silver Spring/Laurel/Columbia area. Right now I go to Arlington when I have reason to be down there and fill up at the Naval Exchange on Joyce St.... it's only B20, but that's at least better than B0.
Do you have room to store several 5-gallon jugs? If so, then you could make a trip every month or two to a B100 pump, fill them all and your car, and then fill your car back at home as needed. That's what I used to do before I got my tank. I'd drive 1.5 hours to Taylorsville, MD, and fill 6 5-gallon jugs as well as my car. That would last me all month with my 2 TDIs, so it was worth the trip in my opinion.