Home-made frozen meals sold direct

Busy families, older people, people who want home-style meals, and neighbours who like a freezer full of ready options.

You sell per portion or per bundle, such as a box of six meals. Margin depends on ingredient costs, packaging and how much of your time each batch takes.

• Confident cooking in batches
• Food hygiene and labelling
• Costing and pricing recipes
• Social media and local marketing

• Register with your local council before you start trading, and expect a hygiene inspection
• Allergen information and correct labelling are legal requirements, so check the current rules for pre-packed food
• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or insurer allows food production at home
• Chest freezer capacity and safe freezing, storage and delivery temperatures
• Public liability and product liability insurance

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on your freezer capacity, packaging, insurance and the range you plan to make. These are estimates, so cost out your first batches before you buy equipment.

Check that you register with your local council before trading and expect a hygiene inspection. Also check allergen and labelling rules for pre-packed food, and whether your landlord, mortgage lender or insurer allows food production at home.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on how many customers you reach and your prices. The estimate assumes at least 8 hours a week, selling through local orders, markets, social media and word of mouth.