Home-based British food exporter

Overseas importers, distributors, specialist shops and expat grocers who want British products.

You buy at a trade price and sell at a margin. Many exporters also charge for sourcing, labelling and packing on top of the product price.

• Negotiating with suppliers and buyers
• Good organisation and paperwork
• Clear email and phone communication
• Interest in a particular food category or overseas market

• Export rules, labelling and health certificates vary by destination country, check the import requirements for each market
• Check what GOV.UK says about customs declarations, commodity codes and EORI numbers for exporting
• Food stored or packed by you may need registration with your local council, check before handling stock
• Cargo insurance and public liability insurance
• Payment risk with new buyers, consider payment upfront or letters of credit
• Check with your landlord or mortgage lender if you plan to store stock at home

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £1,000 to £8,000, depending on the products you source, the markets you target and how much stock you buy. Get your own quotes for insurance and shipping before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £500 to £5,000, depending on the buyers you win and the size of your orders. Revenue is not profit, so allow for product costs, shipping and insurance when setting your prices.

Export rules, labelling and health certificates vary by destination, so check the import requirements for each market. Check GOV.UK on customs declarations, commodity codes and EORI numbers. Also check whether food you store or pack needs registration with your local council.