My wife's grandmother gave her the greatest cookie recipe ever. Everyone loves them. Any ideas on how to begin a business or patent the recipe?

I'm not sure about patenting a recipe. You might try clicking on the following search concerning that. patent a recipe - Google Search (http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=patent+a+recipe)

Beginning a business isn't hard. I would assume that you are going to start small, maybe even out of your own home. If where you live is not zoned commercial, then I would check with the city about seeing if you could get a special permit in order to do business out of your home.

You would need to package your product in such a way that will pass muster as far as packaging of a food product. This could also probably be answered by asking city officials.

After you get everything set up, you could contact grocery officials around your area to see if they might put you product on their shelves. There is a local outfit around where I live, that makes pasta products out of a home. The product is in a number of grocery stores around here.

You will need to advertise your product. Advertising and other things that you need to start a business are discussed in length on the following links on the site we are on right now. I would suggest checking out the questions and answers on the following links.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/business-plans/

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/home-based-business/

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/business-plans/starting-cookie-business-bakery-107075.html