Start a home-kitchen office lunch box business

Small offices, local firms, training providers and anyone booking a meeting or away day who wants lunch sorted.

A set price per box, with discounts for larger orders. Pre-orders keep waste low, and regular weekly orders give steady income.

• Cooking and food preparation
• Good food hygiene habits
• Reliable timekeeping for deliveries
• Costing and pricing menus

• Food business registration with your local council, and a hygiene inspection that gives you a rating
• Allergen labelling and records, which are a legal requirement for food sold to customers, so check current rules
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council needs to agree to running a food business from home
• Safe storage and transport of chilled food

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on your equipment, packaging, insurance and how many lunches you plan to make each week.

Check food business registration with your local council and the hygiene inspection that gives you a rating. Also check allergen labelling and records, public liability and product liability insurance, and whether your landlord, mortgage lender or council must agree to a food business at home.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £2,500, depending on how many orders you win and your prices. The estimates assume at least about 8 hours a week, depending on order volumes.