Food Processing Business input evidence register

45 numeric input paths with their assumptions, calculation bases and cited sources.

Case updated September 30, 2026. This technical appendix accompanies the complete case methodology and source register.

Dataset use notice: no Creative Commons license or DOI is asserted. Referenced material remains subject to its publisher’s terms.

A linked reference can support scope without confirming an exact forecast. Assumption entries identify values that still require local validation. Each field path identifies an input in the common business record.

Model assumption
Authored dedicated food-plant opening allocation. Sources establish planning and control categories but do not verify site, equipment, validation, inventory, insurance or reserve amounts.
capital.total · capital.low · capital.high · capital.items.0.amount · capital.items.1.amount · capital.items.2.amount · capital.items.3.amount · capital.items.4.amount · capital.items.5.amount · capital.items.6.amount · capital.items.7.amount
U.S. Small Business Administration · U.S. Food and Drug Administration · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Model assumption
Authored five-year shipped-unit path. Census establishes industry and employer context but not buyer orders, realized price, product mix or growth.
forecast.years.0.revenue · forecast.years.1.revenue · forecast.years.2.revenue · forecast.years.3.revenue · forecast.years.4.revenue
U.S. Census Bureau · U.S. Census Bureau
Model assumption
Authored direct-cost percentages covering ingredients, packaging, freight, waste, deductions and buyer-linked costs. Sources explain controls but do not validate the percentages.
forecast.years.0.costOfSales · forecast.years.1.costOfSales · forecast.years.2.costOfSales · forecast.years.3.costOfSales · forecast.years.4.costOfSales
U.S. Food and Drug Administration · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Model assumption
Authored paid staffing budget. BLS and IRS provide national wage and federal employer context but not local offers, shifts, credentials or full employer burden.
forecast.years.0.payroll · forecast.years.1.payroll · forecast.years.2.payroll · forecast.years.3.payroll · forecast.years.4.payroll
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics · Internal Revenue Service
Model assumption
Authored occupancy and overhead path. Sources identify operating context but not rent, utilities, maintenance, testing, insurance, sales or compliance cost.
forecast.years.0.occupancyAndOther · forecast.years.1.occupancyAndOther · forecast.years.2.occupancyAndOther · forecast.years.3.occupancyAndOther · forecast.years.4.occupancyAndOther
U.S. Census Bureau · U.S. Food and Drug Administration · U.S. Food and Drug Administration
Model assumption
The $7.50 shipped-unit value, 2,800-unit day, five-day schedule, 45% contribution, $175,000 monthly fixed cost and ramp are authored assumptions. Sources provide context only.
unitEconomics.driver.model · unitEconomics.driver.low · unitEconomics.driver.high · unitEconomics.volume.model · unitEconomics.volume.low · unitEconomics.volume.high · unitEconomics.daysPerWeek.model · unitEconomics.daysPerWeek.low · unitEconomics.daysPerWeek.high · unitEconomics.fixedCostsMonthly · unitEconomics.contributionMargin · unitEconomics.ramp.startShare · unitEconomics.ramp.stepPerMonth · unitEconomics.ramp.horizonMonths
U.S. Census Bureau · U.S. Census Bureau · U.S. Food and Drug Administration

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