Home-Cooked meal delivery business

Busy families, professionals, older people and anyone who wants a proper home-cooked meal without the effort.

Price per meal or per weekly bundle, plus a delivery charge or a minimum order for free local delivery.

• Confident cooking in batches
• Food hygiene and safe storage
• Organising orders and delivery routes

• Food businesses must usually register with the local council at least 28 days before trading, check with yours
• You need allergen information and correct labelling for pre-packed meals, check current Food Standards Agency guidance
• Check whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows business use at home, and tell your home insurer
• Public liability and product liability insurance are worth checking before your first sale
• Keep temperature records and use proper cold-chain packaging for deliveries

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on your equipment, packaging and menu. These are estimates, so cost up containers, cold-chain packaging and insurance before you take your first order.

Monthly revenue is typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on how many customers you serve and how many hours you cook, from about ten hours a week. Revenue is not the same as profit.

Check whether you must register with your local council, usually at least 28 days before trading, and current Food Standards Agency guidance on allergen information and labelling. Also check landlord or mortgage permission, home insurance and public liability cover.