Bean to Business

Dan & Melanie
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We started a chocolate factory with zero experience in chocolate. Bean to Business is a weekly show from the team at Hill Country Chocolate in Fredericksburg, Texas. We make bean-to-bar chocolate—starting with raw cacao beans and turning them into finished bars right here in our production facility. Every week, we pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a small manufacturing business. The wins. The mistakes. The stuff nobody warns you about. We talk about sourcing ingredients from around the world, working with Italian production equipment, building a brand in a tourist town, and figuring it out as we go. Sometimes we bring in guests. Sometimes we just answer your questions. If you're running a small business, thinking about starting one, or just curious what happens inside a craft food operation, this show is for you. New episodes drop weekly.

Episodes

  1. 6D AGO

    From Side Hustle to Real Business: What It Really Takes in 2026

    Should you start a business in 2026? In this episode of the Being 2 Business podcast, Dan and Melanie of Hill Country Chocolate dive deep into the real-life journey of turning a side hustle into a full-fledged business. With stats showing a surge of entrepreneurial interest, they break down what’s behind the trend, share their own startup stories (from baking cookies and crafting chocolate in a pool house to launching a thriving chocolate shop), and talk honestly about the challenges, costs, and true commitment required. Tune in for hard-earned advice on everything from testing your product, harnessing AI tools, and managing money, to navigating the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship. Whether you’re dreaming of building something on the side or ready to go all-in, Dan and Melanie offer relatable insights, candid lessons, and inspiration for anyone considering making the leap. Check out our chocolate factory and book and experience or class at hillcountrychocolate.com

    27 min

  2. FEB 4

    How to Get More Reviews for Your Small Business (And Why They Matter More Than Ever)

    Why do customer reviews matter so much for a small business—and what should you do when someone leaves a bad one? In this episode, Melanie asks Dan everything small business owners need to know about reviews. They cover why reviews now affect how you get found on Google and AI search tools like ChatGPT, whether it matters if customers leave reviews on Google versus Yelp versus TripAdvisor, and why you legally cannot offer discounts or incentives in exchange for a five-star review. Dan explains how reviews feed into generative search and why responding to every single review—positive or negative—actually helps your search rankings. Melanie shares what she learned from her years responding to reviews at Twisted Sister Bakeshop, including some responses she's not entirely proud of and the mindset shift that changed how she handles criticism. They also discuss why a 4.8 star rating might actually be more trustworthy than a perfect 5.0, the difference between text reviews and video testimonials, and the three-step rule Dan uses before responding to anything negative: holster your weapon, slow your words, assess the situation. Whether you are just starting out and have almost no reviews or you are trying to figure out how to handle a negative one that just came in, this conversation gives you a practical playbook for making reviews work for your business. Bean to Business is the podcast where Dan and Melanie spill the beans on running Hill Country Chocolate, a artisanal chocolate factory in Fredericksburg, Texas and home of the Premiere Wine & Chocolate Experience.  Read the full article: Why Every Business Owner Should Respond to Every Review - Even the Negative Ones Visit hillcountrychocolate.com to learn more. Check out our chocolate factory and book and experience or class at hillcountrychocolate.com

    38 min

  3. JAN 29

    Small Business Marketing in 2026: What Actually Works (And What's a Waste of Money)

    40% of our customers found Hill Country Chocolate through ChatGPT last December. Not Google ads. Not SEO. Not social media. In this episode, Melanie flips the script and asks the marketing questions small business owners actually have: Where should I advertise with a limited budget? How do I know if my ads are working? Should I hire someone to run my social media? And what is generative search anyway? Whether you're in hospitality, retail, food service, or any small business trying to get noticed — the old marketing playbook is dead. We break down what's replacing it. Bean to Business is the podcast where Dan and Melanie spill the beans on running Hill Country Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate factory in Fredericksburg, Texas. Read the full article: Small Business Marketing: What Actually Works: (and what's a waste of money) Visit hillcountrychocolate.com to learn more. Check out our chocolate factory and book and experience or class at hillcountrychocolate.com

    46 min

  4. JAN 14

    Fredericksburg Like a Local: Best Things to Do & See (Insider Tips!)

    What should you do in Fredericksburg? When's the best time to visit? Where can you eat without a reservation? We get asked these questions constantly at the chocolate factory. So in this episode, Dan and Melanie finally answer them—with nearly 30 years of local knowledge between them. In this episode, we cover: When to visit to avoid crowds (hint: the week after school starts). Restaurants where you can walk in without a reservation. Hidden gems most visitors miss, like Leroy's and the airport diner. Why you shouldn't try to hit 20 wineries in one day. Unique places to stay, from capsule hotels to RV parks near Luckenbach. Experiences beyond wine—cooking classes, barbecue classes, glass blowing, and more. Whether you're planning a couples trip, bringing kids, or just trying to figure out when peach season actually is, this episode gives you the unfiltered local perspective. Bean to Business is the podcast where Dan and Melanie spill the beans on running Hill Country Chocolate, a bean-to-bar chocolate factory in Fredericksburg, Texas. Check out our chocolate factory and book and experience or class at hillcountrychocolate.com

    32 min

  5. JAN 9

    Wine, Chocolate, And Building From Scratch

    Ever wondered what it actually takes to turn chocolate craft into a dependable manufacturing business? We pull back the curtain on our Fredericksburg factory and walk through the real decisions behind the glass: why we chose a wine region, how we built from an empty shell with European machines and food‑grade air, and what automation looks like when labor is scarce but quality has to sing. We talk candidly about first-year mistakes—too many SKUs, too much cash in packaging, and not enough discipline around our ideal customer profile—and how we fixed them with a tighter assortment, a CRM tied to Shopify, and a marketing engine built to overcome a low‑visibility location. If you’ve ever been asked why your bonbons cost more than end‑cap candy, you’ll get our full pricing logic: Swiss couverture, imported ingredients, packaging that protects gloss, and a war on waste that boosted first‑pass yield and kept prices steady during cocoa spikes and tariffs. Seasonality is the silent competitor, especially in the Texas heat. We share how experiences, wine‑and‑chocolate pairings, and a wholesale‑ready brittle line help smooth revenue beyond the holiday crush. You’ll also hear the nuts and bolts of buy vs lease in manufacturing (spoiler: most gear is built-in), the unglamorous truth of entrepreneurship, and the quiet power of great bookkeeping to reveal SKU‑level margins and protect cash. Along the way, we highlight the mentors and makers who shaped our approach and the team culture that pushes for seven‑star service without burning out. If you’re building a small manufacturing brand or leveling up a confectionery side hustle, this conversation gives you the playbook we wish we had: visibility, discipline, and repeatable attention. Listen, subscribe, and share with a maker friend who needs the nudge. Got questions or a topic you want us to tackle next? Email info@hillcountrychocolate.com and tell us what you’re wrestling with. Check out our chocolate factory and book and experience or class at hillcountrychocolate.com

    42 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

We started a chocolate factory with zero experience in chocolate. Bean to Business is a weekly show from the team at Hill Country Chocolate in Fredericksburg, Texas. We make bean-to-bar chocolate—starting with raw cacao beans and turning them into finished bars right here in our production facility. Every week, we pull back the curtain on what it actually takes to run a small manufacturing business. The wins. The mistakes. The stuff nobody warns you about. We talk about sourcing ingredients from around the world, working with Italian production equipment, building a brand in a tourist town, and figuring it out as we go. Sometimes we bring in guests. Sometimes we just answer your questions. If you're running a small business, thinking about starting one, or just curious what happens inside a craft food operation, this show is for you. New episodes drop weekly.

Information

  • Creator
    Dan & Melanie
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Bean to Business
  • Show Website
    Bean to Business