Weekly meal prep subscription business

Gym-goers, busy professionals, families and people with specific dietary needs who want planned meals each week.

Weekly or fortnightly subscriptions with set pack sizes. Regular orders make ingredient buying and delivery runs more predictable.

• Batch cooking and portion costing
• Ordering and managing ingredients
• Online marketing and customer service
• Delivery route planning

• Food business registration with your local council and food safety supervisor requirements in your state
• Allergen handling, labelling and any nutrition claims, check what is allowed before advertising
• Public liability and product liability insurance, plus workers compensation once you hire staff
• Refrigerated transport and food temperature control during delivery
• Registering for GST once turnover reaches the threshold
• Kitchen hire or lease, equipment, packaging and a cold-chain delivery vehicle can add up quickly, so keep a cash buffer for the first few months

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $25,000 to $100,000, depending on kitchen hire or lease, equipment, packaging and a cold-chain delivery vehicle. It helps to keep a cash buffer for the first few months.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on subscriber numbers, menu pricing and your delivery area. This is a full-time business, with around 30 hours a week as a minimum starting point.

Check food business registration with your local council and food safety supervisor requirements in your state. Also check allergen handling, labelling and nutrition claims, insurance, refrigerated transport, temperature control and GST registration once turnover reaches the threshold.