Delivery-Only restaurant from a shared kitchen

Households and offices ordering dinner or lunch for delivery or pickup, plus occasional catering orders.

Customers pay per order. Delivery apps take a commission, so many owners also push direct orders through their own website to keep more of each sale.

• Cooking to a repeatable recipe
• Menu and food cost planning
• Online ordering and social media
• Handling packaging and timing for delivery

• Health department permit for your own business, even when using a licensed shared kitchen
• Local business license and state sales tax registration, check what your city and state require
• Delivery app commissions and fees that can erode thin margins
• Food that gets soggy or cold in transit, so test packaging
• General liability insurance, and check what the kitchen operator requires you to carry
• Kitchen rental contracts, minimum hours and shared-space rules

Startup costs are typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on kitchen rental terms, equipment, packaging, branding and insurance. These are estimates, so check the kitchen operator's contract, minimum hours and fees before you commit.

Check this locally. You may still need a health department permit for your own business even in a licensed shared kitchen. Also check your city and state for a business license and sales tax registration, and what insurance the kitchen operator requires.

Monthly revenue is typically around $4,000 to $20,000, depending on your menu, order volume and sales channels. Delivery app commissions and fees can erode thin margins. Estimates assume at least about 25 hours a week.