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How Charcuterie Side Hustles Are Turning Passion into Profit
Elisa DeFoe • October 31, 2024



Charcuterie has exploded in popularity in recent years, becoming a must-have feature at events, parties, and even casual gatherings. What was once a fun hobby for food lovers has turned into a booming side hustle for creative entrepreneurs. Best of all, starting a charcuterie business is relatively easy, requiring low start-up costs and minimal equipment. Whether you’re working from your kitchen or scaling up for large events, the potential for growth is undeniable.


In this post, we’ll highlight several entrepreneurs who started with a passion for creating stunning charcuterie boards and transformed that passion into a successful side hustle. Plus, we’ll introduce you to Charcuterie Marketing Crew, a service dedicated to helping motivated business owners turn their small side hustles into thriving, profitable businesses.


Why Charcuterie Is the Perfect Side Hustle


Low-Cost Start-Up

One of the biggest advantages of starting a charcuterie side hustle is the low barrier to entry. You don’t need a storefront or expensive equipment. With just a few basic tools, access to fresh ingredients, and a bit of creativity, you can start building beautiful charcuterie boards for friends, family, and clients. This allows you to test the waters before deciding to grow your business.


Flexible Schedule

Charcuterie businesses are also incredibly flexible, making them a great option for those with other jobs or commitments. You can take on as many or as few orders as you’d like, giving you the freedom to balance your side hustle with your full-time job or personal life.


Growing Demand

Charcuterie boards are no longer just for cheese enthusiasts. They’ve become the go-to for everything from birthdays and weddings to corporate events. With the ability to customize boards for dietary preferences (vegan, gluten-free, etc.), charcuterie appeals to a wide audience. The versatility and increasing demand make it an ideal business to scale over time.




Lindsey Sorensen: From Kitchen Experiments to Sought-After Creations


Lindsey Sorensen is one of those side hustlers who turned her love of charcuterie into a growing business. In her Facebook post, Lindsey wrote, “Started a business as a side hustle and LOVING IT. There’s no one doing this in my area, so I’ve been pretty well sought after so far.”


Lindsey’s story shows how something that begins as a hobby can quickly grow into a business. With no one else in her area offering similar services, Lindsey found a niche and started gaining clients just by sharing her creations online. Her beautifully crafted boards caught the attention of locals, and word of mouth helped her business grow. Now, she’s constantly booking orders for events and special occasions.


Lesson Learned: Social media is a powerful tool for marketing your charcuterie side hustle. Sharing high-quality photos of your boards can attract attention, especially when combined with strong customer engagement and word-of-mouth recommendations.



Sasha Sky: Finding Joy in Custom Creations


Another inspiring story comes from Sasha Sky, who also started her charcuterie business as a side hustle. In her post, Sasha shared her excitement about creating a custom charcuterie board for a first birthday party, writing, “I love my little side hustle!”


For Sasha, charcuterie began as a passion project, making boards for friends and family. As she perfected her craft, her business began to grow. Her attention to detail and ability to create custom boards for events like birthdays and baby showers has made her a sought-after choice for special occasions. Though Sasha started small, she’s already receiving more inquiries and orders, putting her in a prime position to scale her business further.


Lesson Learned: Offering custom charcuterie boards for specific events helps you stand out. Tailoring boards to match your clients’ needs—whether it’s for a birthday party or a corporate event—ensures that your business remains memorable and generates repeat customers.



Savannah Barnard: Scaling Up with Savy’s Southern Spreads


Savannah Barnard, founder of Savy’s Southern Spreads, began her charcuterie business in SE Georgia. Coming from a family with a background in the restaurant industry, Savannah combined her love for food and event planning into a side hustle that has quickly taken off. In a Facebook post, Savannah shared her excitement about completing her first large-scale grazing table, noting, “I charged $1,700 and still didn’t feel like I charged enough!”


Savannah’s story highlights how charcuterie businesses can grow rapidly once they gain momentum. What started as a small venture now includes large events, weddings, and corporate gigs. Her ability to scale up while maintaining quality has positioned her as a top choice for clients in her area.


Lesson Learned: Don’t undervalue your work. As your charcuterie business grows, so does the value of your service. Pricing your boards and grazing tables correctly ensures that you’re compensated fairly for your time, effort, and creativity.


How to Grow Your Charcuterie Side Hustle


Ready to turn your charcuterie side hustle into something more substantial? Here are some strategies to help you grow:


1. Leverage Social Media

Like Lindsey, Sasha, and Savannah, use social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook to showcase your work. High-quality photos, engaging captions, and customer testimonials can help you attract a broader audience.


2. Offer Customization

One of the keys to a successful charcuterie business is customization. Create boards that reflect your clients’ preferences and needs, whether that means offering themed boards for holidays or dietary-friendly options for those with allergies.


3. Start Small, Then Scale

You don’t need to start with large events. Begin by making charcuterie boards for smaller gatherings like birthdays or family dinners. Once you’ve gained confidence and experience, you can start taking on bigger clients and events.


4. Partner with Local Vendors

Collaborating with local vendors, such as bakeries, florists, or event planners, can help expand your business. These partnerships can offer cross-promotion opportunities and create bundled services that appeal to a wider range of clients.


5. Invest in Professional Development

Like Savannah, who expressed interest in grazing table seminars, continue to learn and grow. Staying on top of industry trends and enhancing your skills can set you apart from the competition.


Charcuterie Marketing Crew: Your Partner in Growth


If you’re serious about taking your charcuterie business to the next level, you don’t have to do it alone. Charcuterie Marketing Crew specializes in helping charcuterie side hustlers turn their businesses into booming successes. Whether you need help with social media strategy, branding, or customer acquisition, Charcuterie Marketing Crew provides the tools and guidance you need to grow your business quickly and efficiently.


Their services are tailored specifically for charcuterie entrepreneurs, helping you navigate the challenges of scaling up and turning your passion into a sustainable, profitable business. With the right marketing and business strategy, your charcuterie venture can become more than just a side hustle—it can become a thriving enterprise.


Turning Passion into Profit


The success stories of Lindsey, Sasha, and Savannah prove that starting a charcuterie side hustle is not only doable, but it also has the potential to grow into a substantial money-making business. With the increasing demand for charcuterie boards at events and gatherings, the sky’s the limit for those who are willing to put in the effort and creativity. And with the help of resources like Charcuterie Marketing Crew, you’ll have the support you need to turn your passion for food into a profitable, thriving business.



If you’ve been thinking about starting a charcuterie side hustle, there’s never been a better time. Whether you’re just getting started or ready to scale up, take inspiration from these entrepreneurs who turned their love for charcuterie into thriving businesses. With a little passion, persistence, and the right marketing strategy, your charcuterie side hustle could be the next big success story. Need help? Send a quick note to elisa@charcuteriecity.com.

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