Start an office lunch and sandwich delivery business

Local offices, small businesses, estate agents, surgeries and anyone hosting meetings or training days.

Charging per order or per head for sandwiches, platters and drinks, with repeat weekly orders from regular clients.

• Food preparation and presentation
• Planning orders and timings
• Driving or cycling for deliveries
• Building relationships with local businesses

• Food business registration with your local council, including for a home kitchen
• Check your lease, mortgage or council rules before running a food business from home
• Allergen labelling and information rules for pre-packed or delivered food, check current requirements
• Public liability insurance and business cover for your vehicle if you deliver by car
• Late or cancelled orders can lead to wasted food, consider minimum order times

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on the equipment, packaging and whether you use your own kitchen or rent a commercial one. These are estimates, so price your own setup.

Monthly revenue is typically around £600 to £3,000, depending on how many office clients you win and how often they order. Late or cancelled orders can waste food, so consider minimum order times. Treat this as an estimate.

Check that you register as a food business with your local council, including for a home kitchen. Also check your lease, mortgage or council rules, allergen labelling requirements, and that your insurance covers public liability and any vehicle use for deliveries.