Fruit parlour shop with juice bar

Local residents, passing foot traffic, office and school staff and people wanting a healthy snack or drink.

Sales of whole fruit plus higher-margin juices, smoothies and prepared fruit pots, with extra from gift baskets or office orders.

• Choosing and buying good fruit
• Customer service
• Stock control to cut waste
• Basic bookkeeping

• Register as a food business with your local council before opening (check with your council)
• Planning use class and whether the unit can be used for food sales, check with the council and landlord
• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability insurance if you hire staff
• Shop rent, business rates and utilities are fixed costs, so check what reliefs may apply
• Fresh stock spoils quickly, which can eat into profit
• Allergen information and labelling rules for juices and prepared food

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around £10,000 to £40,000, depending on the unit, fit-out, equipment and opening stock. Monthly revenue is typically around £4,000 to £18,000, depending on location, opening hours and what you sell.

Check food business registration with your local council before opening. Check the planning use class and whether the unit can be used for food sales with the council and landlord. Also check allergen information and labelling rules for juices and prepared food.

Estimates suggest at least around 40 hours a week. Fresh stock spoils quickly, which can eat into profit, so stock control matters. Also check rent, business rates and any reliefs that may apply, plus public liability insurance.