Online rice cake and snack shop

Customers who live far from an Asian grocer, gift buyers, and fans of Asian snacks who like trying new things.

Margin on products sold through your own website or marketplaces. Subscription boxes and festival gift sets can encourage repeat orders.

• Setting up a simple online shop
• Product photos and descriptions
• Packing and order handling
• Social media or email marketing

• Food business registration with your local council, including when you store and pack food at home
• Labelling and allergen rules for pre-packed food, especially if you repackage items
• Check with your landlord or mortgage lender if you plan to store stock at home
• Postage costs and damage in transit can reduce your margin
• Public liability and product liability insurance

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on your website set-up, opening stock, packaging and insurance. Shelf-stable products tend to suit postal delivery best.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £2,500, depending on your range, marketing and order volumes. Postage costs and damage in transit can reduce your margin, so allow for them.

Check food business registration with your local council, including when you store and pack food at home. Also check labelling and allergen rules, whether your landlord or mortgage lender allows stock at home, and which public and product liability insurance you need.