Online trade supplier of packaged speciality food

Small independent shops, farm shops, cafés, gift shops, B&Bs and caterers looking for interesting products in case quantities.

You buy cases at a trade price and sell at a higher wholesale price, with minimum order values to cover packing and carriage. Profit grows as you add regular accounts and reorders.

• Finding and negotiating with suppliers
• Selling by email, phone and online
• Order handling and organisation
• Basic website and spreadsheet skills

• Register your food business with your local council, even if you only store and ship pre-packed goods, and check what applies to you
• Storing food at home may need permission from your landlord or mortgage lender, and the storage must be clean, dry and pest-free
• Check labelling rules, allergen information and shelf-life dates on everything you sell
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Thin margins once courier costs are included, so work out the cost per order before setting prices
• Offering credit terms to new customers risks late payment, so consider upfront payment for first orders

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on your website, initial stock, storage space and packaging. These are estimates, so work out your cost per order, including courier charges, before setting prices.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,500 to £7,500, depending on your product range, customer numbers and order sizes. These are estimates, and the business could start at around 10 hours a week.

Check that you register your food business with your local council, even if you only store and ship pre-packed goods. Also check labelling, allergen and shelf-life rules, storage permission if you use your home, and insurance.