It's a long-term relationship, like a marriage, so you'd better choose wisely. It's also a process and it takes time. The more preparation you can do ahead of the initial trial run the smoother things will go and you will have a much better chance of a good outcome. It can be hard to make decisions on the fly but often, this cannot be avoided. You are there, given a limited period of time, to teach someone else, actually a group of people, how to make your products. The "way" you thought it was going to turn out may not be how the process plays out. Stay positive, stay focused and ask tons of questions, in fact, arrive with your questions in hand. Approach all decisions from a level of being committed to your brand's promise, your brand's strategy and your brand's quality expectations. BRING SAMPLES of your product! Even if you made them in your home kitchen. That way, you can compare the product made in small batches with the product made in large batches using industrial equipment. Typically, your product will be sent to the lab for testing after this initial trial-run batch. You will go home with the rest of it. This photo is from when my client and I drove 160 miles to run her first batch of her product with a co-packer in an industrial facility. While we got close to a final product, it isn't quite there yet. Too much garlic. Too spicy. Texture slightly different than originally envisioned. However, all workable. The next batch will be THE BATCH. Can't wait till we can reveal this fantastic product to the world.