Home-made soup for local collection

Local households, busy workers wanting a quick lunch, older people and neighbours who like home-cooked food.

Price per portion or tub, with discounts for weekly bundles or subscriptions. Ordering in advance keeps waste low.

• Cooking in batches
• Food hygiene and labelling
• Simple social media and local marketing

• Food business registration with your council, usually needed at least 28 days before you start trading (check yours)
• Allergen information and correct labelling on every tub
• Check whether your landlord, mortgage lender or insurer allows food production at home
• Public liability and product liability insurance
• Safe cooling, storage and transport of hot or chilled soup

Startup costs are typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on the pots, tubs, labels and ingredients you need and any insurance or registration costs. These are estimates, so start with a small number of recipes and build up.

Monthly revenue is typically around £300 to £1,500, depending on how many batches you make, your prices and how many regular customers you build. Estimates suggest around 8 hours a week at minimum. These figures are not guarantees.

Check food business registration with your council, usually needed at least 28 days before you start trading. Also check allergen information and labelling on every tub, whether your landlord, mortgage lender or insurer allows food production at home, and your insurance and safe cooling and storage.