Food business ideas you can start for up to £20,000
102 ideas
This page brings together 105 food business ideas with startup costs of up to £20,000. That budget stretches to a well-equipped market stall, such as a pretzel stall for markets and events or an açaí bowl market stall, and to ideas with more kit, like a milk and dairy delivery round for cafes and shops.
Market stall butcher and deli
Sell meat, cured meats, cheeses and prepared foods from a chilled stall at local markets, without paying for a shop.
- £5k-15k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Spice wholesaler, home-based start-up
Buy spices in bulk, repack them and supply local restaurants, takeaways and small grocers from home.
- £1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- From home
Local sweet wholesale delivery round
Buy sweets and chocolate in bulk and deliver to corner shops, cafes and vending operators in your area.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Online sweets supplier for trade and events
Sell bulk sweets and confectionery online to shops, party planners and vending operators, shipped from a small store.
- £1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Online
Box lunches for schools and events
Rent a small commercial kitchen and supply high-volume lunch boxes for school trips, clubs, conferences and events.
- £3k-15k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Paan stall for markets and events
Serve fresh paan from a small stall at markets, festivals and weddings, with far lower costs than a shop.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Fishmonger market stall
Sell fresh fish and shellfish from a stall at local markets and farmers' markets.
- £3k-12k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Jar and can preserving for shops and wholesale
Rent a commercial kitchen or small unit to make larger batches of preserved foods for delis, farm shops and wholesalers.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Doughnut stall at markets and events
Make doughnuts at a rented kitchen and sell them warm at local markets, fairs and events.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Oyster delivery round for restaurants and fishmongers
Buy live oysters from growers and deliver them fresh to local restaurants, pubs, fishmongers and delis.
- £2k-8k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Milk and dairy delivery round for cafes and shops
Buy milk, cream, butter and eggs from a wholesaler and deliver them to local cafes, shops and caterers on a regular round.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Small-batch coffee roaster selling online
Roast green beans in small batches and sell fresh bags by subscription and online shop.
- £3k-12k
- Side hustle
- From home
Small-batch craft cider maker
Press local apples in an outbuilding and sell your own cider at markets, festivals and to local pubs.
- £2k-10k
- Side hustle
- From home
Mobile apple pressing days
Bring a press to orchards, villages and community groups and turn their apples into juice or cider for a fee.
- £3k-12k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Full-time wedding buffet caterer
Run a catering business serving buffets at weddings across your area, with a small team and rented kitchen space.
- £4k-20k
- Full-time
- Own premises
Online ham and charcuterie delivery
Sell cured and smoked hams and gift boxes online, packed and sent chilled to customers.
- £1.5k-8k
- Side hustle
- Online
Fruit wholesale delivery rounds
Buy fresh fruit from the wholesale market and deliver it by van to local cafes, greengrocers and restaurants.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Own-label small-batch olive oil
Source olives or fresh-pressed oil from a partner grove abroad, then bottle and sell it under your own brand.
- £3k-15k
- Side hustle
- From home
Office and home water delivery round
Deliver bottled water and refills to offices, shops and homes on a regular route.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Out and about
Fruit and veg market stall
Sell fresh fruit and veg from a stall at local markets, with lower costs than a shop and room to test demand.
- £1k-6k
- Side hustle
- Out and about
Online Japanese sweets shop
Sell Japanese sweets and gift boxes online and at local markets, packed from home, before taking on a shop.
- £1.5k-7k
- Side hustle
- Online
Home-based spice export trader
Buy spices from UK suppliers and sell them to overseas buyers, with a freight forwarder handling shipping.
- £1.5k-6k
- Side hustle
- From home
Run a staff canteen for a local employer
Run the canteen at a factory, school, office or college, serving hot and cold meals to the people who work or study there.
- £3k-15k
- Part-time
- Own premises
Condiments wholesaler to cafés and shops
Buy sauces and dressings in bulk from producers and deliver them to local cafés, delis and restaurants.
- £1.5k-7k
- Part-time
- Out and about
About these ideas
These ideas suit people who want to test a food concept without taking on a restaurant lease. Before you compare options, think about where you would trade, who your first customers would be, and how much storage, refrigeration or transport you would need. Check what registration, food hygiene and insurance requirements apply to your idea and your area. Then work out your likely running costs, such as pitch fees, ingredients and fuel, alongside the startup figure.
More ideas
- Own-brand sauce maker for local trade
- Local fruit and veg box delivery
- Charcuterie online and market stall
- Market stall and wholesale baker
- Online cured ham and charcuterie shop
- Event caterer working on site
- Office lunch and meeting caterer
- Ham and cured meat market stall
- Frozen dessert supply for events and caterers
- Rice and grain delivery to local restaurants and shops
- Local craft drinks distributor
- Soft and no-alcohol drinks supplier
- Craft soft drinks supplier for local venues
- Bagged ice delivery for bars and events
- Specialist drinks supplier run from home
- Pop-up restaurant nights
- Online Mexican grocery store
- Local farm meat supplier to restaurants and shops
- Pie stall at markets and events
- Online trade food supplier with courier delivery
- Home-based tea export trader
- Dessert stall for markets and events
- Specialist food supplier to local cafes
- Online trade supplier for caterers
- Street food market stall
- Food cart or kiosk on a regular pitch
- Side-hustle soy sauce for markets and online
- Online Japanese sweets and snack box shop
- Local bottled water delivery round
- Home-based British food exporter
- Fresh produce delivery to local cafes and restaurants
- Online Eastern European food store
- Online trade supplier of packaged speciality food
- Online Filipino grocery store
- Tea blending for cafés and shops
- Juice and smoothie stall
- Steamed bun market stall
- Vegetarian pop-up and supper club
- Wedding street food and mobile catering
- Churro stall for markets and events
- Panipuri market and festival stall
- Pop-up ham and charcuterie bar
- Pop-up art cafe in shared spaces
- Cheese stall at local markets
- Market and event food stall
- Online organic grocery shop with local delivery
- Takoyaki stall at markets and events
- Gourmet food market stall
- Online gourmet food and hamper shop
- Deli market stall
- Açaí bowl market stall
- Coffee cart or pop-up cafe
- Pop-up chocolate bar at markets and events
- Regular hot dog cart or trailer pitch
- Delivery-only takeaway from a rented kitchen
- Soup stall at markets and events
- Seasonal ice cream kiosk or hatch
- Mobile smoothie bar for events and markets
- Online Russian and Eastern European food shop
- Online Japanese grocery store
- Bagel stall at markets and events
- Hong Kong cafe pop-up or market stall
- Small-batch fresh tofu maker
- Mobile coffee cart or bike
- Online Japanese food store
- Bubble tea stall for markets and events
- Online Korean grocery store
- Kosher grocery orders and local delivery
- Pop-up family cafe sessions
- Online European food store
- Vegetarian deli market stall
- Pretzel stall for markets and events
- Brazilian pastel market stall
- Weekend pop-up comic café
- Online Italian food shop and hampers
- Pop-up cosplay café at events and venues
- Mobile frozen yoghurt cart or trailer
- Online health food shop
Questions
What food business can I start with up to £20,000?
Many options fit this budget, including market stalls, food carts, delivery rounds and online food shops. The right choice depends on your skills, your local area and how much equipment you need. Compare setup and running costs before you commit.
Do I need to register a food business in the UK?
Food businesses are often expected to register with their local council before trading, but requirements can vary by activity and location. Check with your council and the Food Standards Agency or Food Standards Scotland well before your launch date.
Do I need a licence to trade at markets or on the street?
Street trading and market pitches may need a licence, permit or consent from the council or the market organiser, and rules differ between areas. Check the local requirements, along with public liability insurance and any event conditions, before you buy equipment.