Online trade food supplier with courier delivery

Cafés, B&Bs, gift and farm shops, offices and small caterers across a wider area than a van round could cover.

You sell at trade prices above your bulk cost, with minimum order values to cover packing and courier costs. Repeat orders from regular accounts are what make it work.

• Basic website or online shop setup
• Accurate stock control
• Sourcing and price comparison
• Clear written communication with customers

• Register as a food business with your local council, even if you store stock at home (check with them)
• Check whether your home insurance, landlord or mortgage lender allows storing stock and trading from home
• Food labelling, allergen information and best-before dates need to be right
• Courier costs and damaged or short-dated stock can eat into margins
• Check product liability and public liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on your opening stock, how you set up your ordering website and where you store products. These are estimates, so check supplier minimums and set-up costs first.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how many business customers you win, your product range and order sizes. That is revenue, not profit, and courier costs and damaged stock can eat into margins.

Check food business registration with your local council, even if you store stock at home. Also check whether your home insurance, landlord or mortgage lender allows storage and trading, and that labelling, allergen information and best-before dates are right.