Vegan pop-up dinner nights

Vegans, foodies and friend groups who book a seat in advance, plus occasional private groups.

Ticket price per seat covering the set menu, with drinks or add-ons as extras. Costs are food, venue hire and helpers.

• Cooking for groups
• Planning menus and quantities
• Promoting events on social media

• Food business registration and food safety rules, which can differ by state and council
• Rules on serving alcohol, as you may need a licence or a venue that holds one
• Public liability insurance, and check whether the venue's cover includes your activity
• Allergen information for guests and avoiding cross-contamination
• Uneven income, as ticket sales vary and no-shows can leave you with wasted food

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your menu, equipment and venue arrangements. Monthly revenue is typically around $800 to $4,000 as an estimate, depending on how many dinners you run and how many seats you sell.

Things to check include food business registration and food safety rules, which can differ by state and council. Also check rules on serving alcohol, public liability insurance and whether the venue's cover includes your activity, plus allergen information for guests.

Useful skills include cooking for groups, planning menus and quantities, and promoting events on social media. As an estimate, plan on at least around 10 hours a week, though income can be uneven as ticket sales vary and no-shows can leave wasted food.