Home-Made packaged foods for markets and online

Market shoppers, local gift shops, small delis and online customers who like locally made products.

You sell each jar or pack at a retail price at markets and online, or at a lower wholesale price to shops. Profit comes from keeping ingredient and packaging costs well below your selling price.

• Cooking and recipe development
• Careful record keeping
• Costing and pricing
• Selling at markets or online

• Council registration and kitchen inspection requirements for home-based food businesses, which vary by state and council
• Food Standards Code rules on labelling, allergens and ingredient lists, so check what applies to your products
• Higher-risk foods such as those needing refrigeration may need extra controls, check what is allowed from home
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• A food safety supervisor may be required in some states, check with your council

Startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,000, depending on equipment, packaging, labelling and insurance. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $500 to $3,500, depending on what you make and where you sell.

Things to check: council registration and kitchen inspection requirements for home-based food businesses, which vary by state and council, plus whether a food safety supervisor is required in your state. Products needing refrigeration may need extra controls.

Check Food Standards Code rules on labelling, allergens and ingredient lists to see what applies to your products. Also consider public liability and product liability insurance. The estimates assume at least around 10 hours a week.