Thai takeaway shop
Open a small takeaway unit serving Thai curries, noodles and stir fries for walk-ins, phone orders and delivery apps.
- £15k-70k
- Full-time
- Own premises
- Licence or permit needed
Estimates for a small start in the UK, not guarantees.
Official data
871 active UK companies have “thai” in their name, 45% registered since 2024
Name search “company names containing “thai””. Source: Companies House, November 2026.
What it is
A small shop or unit with a compact kitchen and counter, selling a Thai menu for collection and delivery. Often run by a small team, with one person cooking and one on counter and orders.
Your first three steps
- Research your area for gaps in Thai food and look at rents for small takeaway units
- Check planning use class (hot food takeaway) and talk to the council before signing a lease
- Develop a tight menu, cost every dish and set up your food business registration and hygiene system
Who pays
Local residents, workers at lunchtime, students and evening customers ordering in, in person, by phone or through delivery apps.
How it makes money
Sales of individual dishes and meal deals. Extras like rice, starters and drinks lift the average order. Delivery apps bring orders but charge commission.
Skills that help
- Authentic Thai cooking at speed
- Food safety and kitchen management
- Costing menus and managing stock
- Customer service
Watch out for
- Planning permission for hot food takeaway use and opening hours: check with your council
- Food business registration and hygiene inspections
- Allergen information for every dish, including peanuts, shellfish and fish sauce
- Extraction, fire safety and gas safety in the kitchen
- Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability once you hire staff
- Delivery app commission can cut margins, so check the numbers
- Rent, business rates and energy costs: check these before signing
Deep research report · UK
Everything you need to start: thai takeaway shop
Researched with live web search for United Kingdom: real startup prices, the licences and rules, what others charge, a break-even example, how to find your first customers and a 30-day launch plan. With sources.
- Startup costs with real prices
- Licences, registration and rules
- Pricing: what others charge
- Break-even example
- Finding your first customers
- 30-day launch plan
- Risks and how to reduce them
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