This sounds like an interesting project!

There are two angles here: one is the making of the chocolate itself, and the other is business management.

We don’t have expertise in chocolate-making here at Corporate Eye (sadly), but I’ve found a couple of links that I think you’ll find helpful. Both are to forums which will probably contain people who can advise you: 70 per cent and The Chocolate Life. Certainly there is discussion of the business of chocolate on the first of these – and the second looks as though it is for all lovers of chocolate.

As for the business side, if you were here in the UK, I’d strongly suggest that you get in touch with your local business development agency / businesslink, who would be able to provide business advice for startups. But I think you’re in the US… I expect there is something similar, though I don’t know what it would be. This looks helpful: Small Business Administration. Would your local Chamber of Commerce be able to point you in the right direction?

How about teaming up with a trained chocolatier?

I’d be happy to write a follow up post. What areas were you looking for more explanation? I was hoping to get a conversation going with this post so readers could help each other spark some creative thinking, but I can certainly continue my original thought in another post. Just let me know what additional details you’re looking for.