Home-Made packaged food business

Delis, farm shops, cafés, gift shops, market shoppers and online customers who like local, small-batch food.

You sell jars or packs at a wholesale price to shops and a higher retail price at markets or online, so the margin is the difference after ingredients and packaging.

• Cooking in consistent batches
• Careful record keeping and hygiene
• Selling to local shops and customers

• Register as a food business with your local council, ideally at least 28 days before you start trading
• Check your landlord's or mortgage lender's permission for running a food business from home
• Allergen labelling and ingredient rules apply to packaged food, so check the current requirements
• Product liability insurance, and a food safety plan (HACCP-based) suited to your products
• Some foods, such as low-acid or canned goods, carry higher safety risks and may need extra controls or testing

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on your equipment, packaging, labelling and insurance. Costs will vary with the range of products you make.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,000, depending on your product range, batch size and how many shops, markets and online customers you sell to. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check registering as a food business with your local council, ideally at least 28 days before trading. Check permission from your landlord or mortgage lender, current allergen labelling rules, product liability insurance and a suitable food safety plan.