Specialist food supplier to local cafes

Independent cafes, restaurants, pubs, caterers and food stalls that want reliable local supply and a more distinctive range.

You buy in bulk and sell at a margin on each order. Regular weekly or fortnightly orders from a handful of customers give steady income.

• Sales and building relationships
• Negotiating with producers
• Organising orders and deliveries
• Basic bookkeeping

• Food businesses usually need to register with the local council, check whether this applies to how you store and handle stock
• Goods in transit and public liability insurance, and motor insurance for business use of your vehicle
• Storage rules for chilled or frozen items, and labelling and allergen information for anything you pack yourself
• Customers paying on credit terms can strain your cash flow, so check payment terms
• VAT registration once turnover passes the threshold

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £2,000 to £10,000, depending on your product range, opening stock, storage, vehicle and insurance. Customers paying on credit terms can strain cash flow, so check payment terms.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on your range, how many cafes and caterers you supply and your order sizes. These are estimates only, and late payments from customers can affect your cash flow.

Check whether you need to register with the local council for how you store and handle stock, plus goods in transit, public liability and business motor insurance. Also check chilled or frozen storage rules, labelling and allergen information, payment terms and VAT registration.