Online organic grocery shop with local delivery

Busy households and health-conscious shoppers who want organic food delivered without visiting a shop.

Mark-up on products plus a delivery charge or minimum order. Weekly subscriptions and regular boxes give steadier income.

• Building a simple online shop
• Organising orders and deliveries
• Social media and local marketing
• Customer service

• Register as a food business with your local council, including if you store food at home, and check whether your home use is allowed
• Only call products organic if they are certified; check whether you need certification if you repack or prepare boxes
• Public liability and product liability insurance, and cover for your vehicle if used for deliveries
• Chilled and fresh items need proper cold storage and quick delivery
• Delivery costs and time can eat into margins, so price carefully
• Check distance selling and food labelling rules for online sales

Startup costs are typically around £1,500 to £8,000, depending on your website, storage, packaging and how you handle delivery. These are estimates, so check supplier and courier prices before you commit.

Monthly revenue is typically around £1,000 to £5,000, depending on how many customers you reach and the size of their orders. These are estimates, not guarantees, and delivery costs can reduce your margins.

Check that you register as a food business with your local council, including if you store food at home. Only call products organic if certified, and check distance selling and food labelling rules.