Start an online eastern european food store

Eastern European people living away from a local shop, and UK shoppers who enjoy trying specialist foods or want a gift.

You buy stock wholesale and sell at a mark-up, with delivery charges and gift boxes or subscription bundles adding to the margin.

• Basic website or marketplace set-up
• Packing and stock control
• Social media and community marketing
• Customer service

• Food businesses run from home usually need to register with the local council, check with yours
• Labelling, allergen and date-mark rules for food sold online, check with Trading Standards
• Online sales of alcohol need a licence, so consider leaving it out at first
• Postage costs and damaged parcels can eat into margins, so test packaging
• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or insurer allows stock storage at home
• Product liability and public liability insurance

Startup costs are typically estimated at around £1,000 to £6,000, depending on your stock, packaging and how you set up your shop. Postage costs and damaged parcels can eat into margins, so test your packaging early.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £4,000, depending on your range, marketing and how many customers you reach. You could expect to spend at least around 8 hours a week on it.

Check whether you need to register as a food business with your local council, and check labelling, allergen and date-mark rules with Trading Standards. Selling alcohol online needs a licence, so consider leaving it out at first. Also check whether your landlord, lender or insurer allows stock storage at home.