Packaged food maker for shops and cafés

Independent shops, cafés, delis, farm gates and online customers who reorder regularly.

You sell cases or units at a wholesale price and some direct at retail. Repeat orders from stockists give steadier income than one-off market sales.

• Batch cooking and consistent quality
• Food safety and hygiene
• Pricing and margin calculation
• Pitching to shops and managing orders

• Food business registration with the local council, and a food safety supervisor in some states, check what applies
• Food Standards Code labelling, allergen and nutrition information rules
• Shelf life testing and storage needs, especially for chilled products
• Product liability and public liability insurance, and a recall plan
• Retailers may pay late or ask for margin, so check your pricing leaves room
• GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold

Startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $25,000, depending on kitchen hire, ingredients, packaging, labelling and insurance. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $2,000 to $10,000, depending on your products and customers.

Things to check: food business registration with your local council, whether a food safety supervisor is needed in your state, Food Standards Code labelling, allergen and nutrition rules, shelf life and storage needs, and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold.

Retailers may pay late or ask for margin, so check your pricing leaves room. Also look at product and public liability insurance and a recall plan. The estimates assume at least around 20 hours a week.