Lunch delivery business

[David1570]

Dear friends

I have been thinking of starting a lunch delivery business from my home with my wife. My target customers would be office and school workers. I will be making fresh food at home such as sandwich, pasta, salad, wrap, baguette and fruit salad etc., and deliver to business with my own car.

After spending a lot of time researching about this type of business, I have prepared a plan as outlined below.

Can someone advice me if I am heading in the right direction? Any advice and answer to my questions below would be extremely helpful.


Step1: Preparing A5 size leaflet with small introduction of my business plan followed by survey questions about a) type of food they normally eat at lunch b) where do they normally buy their lunch c) how do they feel if I delivered fresh food at their desk at an affordable price d) what is their weekly budget

Step2: I am going to print about 1000 leaflets and distribute them to office and local school. I will then collect these leaflets from the receptionist few days later. If I see there is enough demand for my service then I will start this business.

Step3: Contact local council’s environment officer to discuss my plan. I am thinking of utilizing my little patio in back garden to prepare food by installing temporary roof over it. I believe that I need separate fridge and washing facility and food hygiene certificate.

Step4: If council happy with my plan, then I am going to find a web designer to build a website. I don’t know how much that will cost? Can I

Step5: Register with food standard agency and follow their guidelines. Get necessary insurance to cover business such as product liability insurance. Set up private limited liability company few months later.


Questions:

1. Can I buy domain name from Go Daddy and mention on my survey question leaflet about future web address of my business?
   
   
   
2. Shall I mention on the leaflet that I am new on this business? I am wondering if customers will be interested as they are probably used to buying lunch from branded shop.
   
   
   
3. I want low start up business cost. Can I build my own website or do I need professionally looking website? If yes, how much does it cost to build website or apps?
   
   
   
   
4. I will be running this business with my wife because I don’t want to employ anyone until it grows. Can I set up website so that it only takes certain numbers of order?
   
   
   
5. Will council allow me to prepare food from patio at the back garden? I will install roof and washing facility there.
   
   
   
6. Where can I do sandwich making course?
   
   
   
7. How do I calculate nutrition information of ingredients? How do I get nutrition information and use by date sticker printed?
   
   
   
8. Where can I buy sandwich sealing machine? How much do they cost?
   
   

 

[Matt1966]

Dear friends
Questions:

1. Can I buy domain name from Go Daddy and mention on my survey question leaflet about future web address of my business?
   
   
   
2. Shall I mention on the leaflet that I am new on this business? I am wondering if customers will be interested as they are probably used to buying lunch from branded shop.
   
   
   
3. I want low start up business cost. Can I build my own website or do I need professionally looking website? If yes, how much does it cost to build website or apps?
   
   
   
   
4. I will be running this business with my wife because I don’t want to employ anyone until it grows. Can I set up website so that it only takes certain numbers of order?
   
   
   
5. Will council allow me to prepare food from patio at the back garden? I will install roof and washing facility there.
   
   
   
6. Where can I do sandwich making course?
   
   
   
7. How do I calculate nutrition information of ingredients? How do I get nutrition information and use by date sticker printed?
   
   
   
8. Where can I buy sandwich sealing machine? How much do they cost?

1- Yes
2- Yes, be transparent, nothing wrong with being a new business. If anything it makes you want to try them out more.
3- Depends on the purpose. If you want it to rank on Google, you need the basics in place. Making it mobile friendly for example. I'd personally outsource to a freelancer to make a wordpress website. Wordpress is relatively noob friendly to use aswell.
4- Of course, perhaps it'll need to be custom coded.
5- No clue, I'm a digital guy sorry.
6- No clue, I'm a digital guy sorry.
7- No clue, I'm a digital guy sorry.
8- Use Google

 

[David1570]

1- Yes
2- Yes, be transparent, nothing wrong with being a new business. If anything it makes you want to try them out more.
3- Depends on the purpose. If you want it to rank on Google, you need the basics in place. Making it mobile friendly for example. I'd personally outsource to a freelancer to make a wordpress website. Wordpress is relatively noob friendly to use aswell.
4- Of course, perhaps it'll need to be custom coded.
5- No clue, I'm a digital guy sorry.
6- No clue, I'm a digital guy sorry.
7- No clue, I'm a digital guy sorry.
8- Use Google

Many thanks for your reply.

 

[Mark T Jones]

Your marketing plan relies very heavily on other people taking action, which won’t happen unless they are heavily incentivised to do so

I’d suggest you use a professional organisation to do your research, as this is the cornerstone of your plan. Failing that, take professional advice on what you need to be asking and get out there yourself and do it.

 

[bodgitt&scarperLTD]

4. You won't be running before you're walking, don't worry. And if you are...you'll soon learn how to run.

5. Hell no. Your kitchen, after some modification and subsequent inspection, maybe.

6. If you really believe you need to do a course in sandwich making before producing said sandwiches, perhaps entrepreneurship is not for you? My mum could give you some tips if you're struggling?

Overall, and with due respect, you are asking very basic yet far ranging questions which anyone who understands business knows should be asked of specialists, not a general forum. Want to know how much a website costs? Pick up the phone and find out. Want to know about your patio? Call the council and find out (get told no)

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Have you checked out your local area , as it's most likely covered already by Hot/ cold vans doing a daily service to all the likely area's you intend to serve, they have specialist vans with both hot/ cold and hot drink area's in the van and stop at most offices and commercial premises at breakfast, mid morning, lunchtime

As they are doing a few customers at each stop there delivery costs are small per each delivery and only returning to base when nearly empty to restock

I would be surprised if there is not someone doing it in your area

It takes no input from customers they just listen for a jingle or blast of horn to tell them the van is outside

The sellers are buying bulk at commercial rates

Sorry but with your plan i cannot see it working

 

[Mark Laurie]

You may find a lot of answers and assistance here. https://www.sandwich.org.uk/ this is the website of The British Sandwich & Food To Go Association

 

[NickGrogan]

Step 1: No one will fill it in without an incentive, and any that do won't give accurate information
Step 2: No need, see Step 1.
Step 3: This should be before Step 1, and they'll say no.
Step 4: What for?

1) If you want to, but no one will go to the website.
2) Lying to people that you want to sell food to is a bad idea, so yes, tell the truth
3) Why do you need a website? You wont get business from it.
4) Too many orders is not going to be a problem.
5) Really, outside in your garden? No
6) Ask Google, apparently they exist.
7) Its not that difficult, but first you need to work out whats going into the sandwich.
8) Ask Google

You say you've done a lot of research, but you haven't mentioned allergies at all. They are a major issue for both you (Jail) and your potential customers (Death).

 

[Matt1966]

1) If you want to, but no one will go to the website.
3) Why do you need a website? You wont get business from it.

I completely disagree. There's a good volume of people looking for food online, look on Google's keyword planner.

You say you've done a lot of research, but you haven't mentioned allergies at all. They are a major issue for both you (Jail) and your potential customers (Death).

This is a very good point.

 

[NickGrogan]

I completely disagree. There's a good volume of people looking for food online, look on Google's keyword planner.

Yes, they are, but this is a website with no budget or experience, competing with the likes of Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, who are spending silly money and have a brand.

Realistically, do you think he can compete with those?

 

[Matt1966]

Yes, they are, but this is a website with no budget or experience, competing with the likes of Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, who are spending silly money and have a brand.

Realistically, do you think he can compete with those?

Nationwide / Globally - certainly not!
Locally? Sure, why not.

He also has a USP, offices/workplaces will see more of an appeal. He isn't a random kebab shop selling donor meat at 3 am. I really do think he would benefit (if done correctly).

What I'd personally do is:
LinkedIn ads > Website > Remarketing Tags

I mean, track conversions and you'll soon know if it's worth it or not, but I'm pretty convinced.


Perhaps OP would need to hire a freelancer to do a couple of thing's, but it isn't majorly complicated stuff.

 

[NnamAries]

The idea of what you want to do is really cool. To your questions. You can always check online to get all the answers you need to your nos 6 to 8 question.

I suggest after registering with food standard agency and following their guidelines, that you start your sales with relatives and friends. Go to offices where your family friends and relatives work to make your delivery, go to their kids school to make deliveries. That way they get to put in words for you and tell their other friends. In the delivery process you also distribute your flyers.

New start ups like this, most times usually get more known and popular if you start with people within the mile radius of where you are located.

 

[Noah]

Can I buy domain name from Go Daddy and mention on my survey question leaflet about future web address of my business?

Qualified Yes - but don't use GoDaddy - plenty of Web hosters at UKBF, and elsewhere. If you insist on using GoDaddy or Wix or some other "low cost" dross, and your business is successful, you will live to regret it.

 

[obscure]

There was a show on Netflix called "The Million Pound Menu" - sort of Dragon's Den for restaurants. What was interesting was the guy who set up in his mum's kitchen and posted pics of his food on Instagram and had people blocking the road to collect their orders.

 

[Noah]

I have been thinking of starting a lunch delivery business from my home with my wife.

The single successful mobile food service around these parts is a side-business of a bricks-and-mortar cafe - the mutual benefits are obvious. Solely mobile food service seems dangerously exposed to the vagaries of a small and fickle customer base. If you' can't have the cafe, consider combining with e.g. a layby food van - although I suspect competition for "pitches" is a challenge.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

OK lets get to basics
What market research have you done with the potential customers you have identified

How many customers a day you you expect to sell to to make yourselfs the minimum wage

How will your prices compare with existing outlets, have you experimented with costings already

have you gone out at lunchtime around the factories and industrial estates to see what is on offer already

Schools are generally reluctant to allow traders on their property

 

[Charliechops]

In response to the questions for the food elements of your plan:

1 - You register with your local council as a food business - Food Standards Agency are a government agency who offer advice and guidelines, as a professional food producer, to follow.

2 - You will need public liability as well as product liability from day one - it doesn't matter if you become self employed or LTD - so get covered from day one - it only takes one stray thing to enter your production chain (and quite a lot of them will if you do it on your patio).

3 - You won't be allowed to use your patio - so look at how to make your kitchen more streamlined for sandwich making. If you need a separate fridge, then keep it in the dining room or a room next to the kitchen if you don't have room (it doesn't need to be in the kitchen but it must be in a clean dry area - so not in an old tin shed), get a portable hand washing facility ( quite expensive) some I know cook food at a market and events and they use one.

4 - Unless your car is immaculate or you can make it look semi-professional EHO isn't going to be impressed with you using a regular car, it needs to be fit for purpose - a cool box may do the job but it isn't going to look professional (if your doing a van round where people come out to you on an impulse buy)- that may not bother some but it may put some people off. Maybe you could look at getting a second hand refrigerated van from auto trader or some other auto website.

5 - There is a website called alacalc where you can input your ingredients and it will give you the nutritional info you need for labelling and it also highlights the allergens and lists the ingredients in order for you, so all you have to do is copy and paste the info. Yes it costs a lot but it's professional software and it can do more ( Like portion control, costings, wastage) - and no there isn't a free version out there that does anywhere near what this app does!

6 - Search the web for label printers - Brother make a few. I would keep your labels plain and clear (as in no fancy graphics or stuff that's going to use more ink on your label - no-ones really going to notice it for more than a nano second anyway). Use your label to seal the wrapper.

7 - Someone mentioned going out and looking at your industrial parks to see what happens at lunch time which is a great idea before you really get started. People buy from people so talk to your customers, find out what they like/prefer and build that relationship with them so they come out when you turn up and not the others

8 - Use facebook for a business page, they can message you if they want something. Look at doing some kind of meal deal sandwich/baguette + crisps/snack + drink for £5 or what ever the going rate is, that way you can put a little more through the till. Crisps and drinks don't tend to need specialist storage at home - an under-stairs cupboard or corner of your room?

9 - I'd stick with industrial parks and business estates - schools is not where the money is.

10 - Make what you do better/different/consistent to what's been before.

11- Boxes will take over your home, so if your house proud - get a unit.

 

[Noah]

10 - Make what you do better/different/consistent to what's been before.

Yes. Not cheaper. Cheaper works. In the short term.

 

[David1570]

In response to the questions for the food elements of your plan:

1 - You register with your local council as a food business - Food Standards Agency are a government agency who offer advice and guidelines, as a professional food producer, to follow.

2 - You will need public liability as well as product liability from day one - it doesn't matter if you become self employed or LTD - so get covered from day one - it only takes one stray thing to enter your production chain (and quite a lot of them will if you do it on your patio).

3 - You won't be allowed to use your patio - so look at how to make your kitchen more streamlined for sandwich making. If you need a separate fridge, then keep it in the dining room or a room next to the kitchen if you don't have room (it doesn't need to be in the kitchen but it must be in a clean dry area - so not in an old tin shed), get a portable hand washing facility ( quite expensive) some I know cook food at a market and events and they use one.

4 - Unless your car is immaculate or you can make it look semi-professional EHO isn't going to be impressed with you using a regular car, it needs to be fit for purpose - a cool box may do the job but it isn't going to look professional (if your doing a van round where people come out to you on an impulse buy)- that may not bother some but it may put some people off. Maybe you could look at getting a second hand refrigerated van from auto trader or some other auto website.

5 - There is a website called alacalc where you can input your ingredients and it will give you the nutritional info you need for labelling and it also highlights the allergens and lists the ingredients in order for you, so all you have to do is copy and paste the info. Yes it costs a lot but it's professional software and it can do more ( Like portion control, costings, wastage) - and no there isn't a free version out there that does anywhere near what this app does!

6 - Search the web for label printers - Brother make a few. I would keep your labels plain and clear (as in no fancy graphics or stuff that's going to use more ink on your label - no-ones really going to notice it for more than a nano second anyway). Use your label to seal the wrapper.

7 - Someone mentioned going out and looking at your industrial parks to see what happens at lunch time which is a great idea before you really get started. People buy from people so talk to your customers, find out what they like/prefer and build that relationship with them so they come out when you turn up and not the others

8 - Use facebook for a business page, they can message you if they want something. Look at doing some kind of meal deal sandwich/baguette + crisps/snack + drink for £5 or what ever the going rate is, that way you can put a little more through the till. Crisps and drinks don't tend to need specialist storage at home - an under-stairs cupboard or corner of your room?

9 - I'd stick with industrial parks and business estates - schools is not where the money is.

10 - Make what you do better/different/consistent to what's been before.

11- Boxes will take over your home, so if your house proud - get a unit.

Dear friends

I have been thinking of starting a lunch delivery business from my home with my wife. My target customers would be office and school workers. I will be making fresh food at home such as sandwich, pasta, salad, wrap, baguette and fruit salad etc., and deliver to business with my own car.

After spending a lot of time researching about this type of business, I have prepared a plan as outlined below.

Can someone advice me if I am heading in the right direction? Any advice and answer to my questions below would be extremely helpful.


Step1: Preparing A5 size leaflet with small introduction of my business plan followed by survey questions about a) type of food they normally eat at lunch b) where do they normally buy their lunch c) how do they feel if I delivered fresh food at their desk at an affordable price d) what is their weekly budget

Step2: I am going to print about 1000 leaflets and distribute them to office and local school. I will then collect these leaflets from the receptionist few days later. If I see there is enough demand for my service then I will start this business.

Step3: Contact local council’s environment officer to discuss my plan. I am thinking of utilizing my little patio in back garden to prepare food by installing temporary roof over it. I believe that I need separate fridge and washing facility and food hygiene certificate.

Step4: If council happy with my plan, then I am going to find a web designer to build a website. I don’t know how much that will cost? Can I

Step5: Register with food standard agency and follow their guidelines. Get necessary insurance to cover business such as product liability insurance. Set up private limited liability company few months later.


Questions:

1. Can I buy domain name from Go Daddy and mention on my survey question leaflet about future web address of my business?
   
   
   
2. Shall I mention on the leaflet that I am new on this business? I am wondering if customers will be interested as they are probably used to buying lunch from branded shop.
   
   
   
3. I want low start up business cost. Can I build my own website or do I need professionally looking website? If yes, how much does it cost to build website or apps?
   
   
   
   
4. I will be running this business with my wife because I don’t want to employ anyone until it grows. Can I set up website so that it only takes certain numbers of order?
   
   
   
5. Will council allow me to prepare food from patio at the back garden? I will install roof and washing facility there.
   
   
   
6. Where can I do sandwich making course?
   
   
   
7. How do I calculate nutrition information of ingredients? How do I get nutrition information and use by date sticker printed?
   
   
   
8. Where can I buy sandwich sealing machine? How much do they cost?
   

First of all, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks all these lovely people who have provided me with so much valuable information. I will certainly take a note of your suggestion and do more research as some of you suggested before starting this business.

I work full time and am trying to get extra little side income. I have been thinking about many different things before this idea came into my mind and am not sure if I will be successful. I want to run a trial programme with little investment before fully committed and investing large amount.

One of my questions was how to limit maximum order quantity on website and some of you may have found this question bit awkward. This is because I don’t have enough manpower at the beginning for preparation and delivering food. My wife will be preparing sandwich and I will be delivery man until I am in a position to employ staff.


Am I required by law to inform council, food standard agency and buying business insurance policy and set up limited company during trial period?

Once again thank you very much for your valuable information.

 

[ecommerce84]

Am I required by law to inform council, food standard agency and buying business insurance policy and set up limited company during trial period?

You are required by law to register with the council as a food business 28 days BEFORE you start selling any food, so yes you will need to register even for a trial period.

Pop your postcode Ito this website and it will tell you which council you need to apply to and how to do it: https://www.gov.uk/food-business-registration

You do not need to register with the Food Standards Agency.

You do not need to register as a Linited Company, you can trade as a sole trader or partnership with your wife.

Insurance is there to protect YOU. Buy it. It will look cheap in comparison to any claim against you without it.

I would highly recommend complete your Food Hygiene Level 2, it will open your eyes on all sorts. I use this one by NCASS and it takes about 4 hours online: https://www.ncass.org.uk/training-area/food-hygiene-training/food-hygiene-level-2

 

[Chris Ashdown]

Remember two people have died from allergic reaction from sandwiches supplied by major outfits in the last year which have been well publicised, so you will definitely need insurance and ingredients lists will be probably a requirement by law in the next year as being discussed by government at present time

Your kitchen bust also not cross contaminate other foods, not just meats but other ingredients, there are a lot of allergies out there that can kill or effect people

I guess the insurance company will have there own demands on what is acceptable regarding working area

 

[bodgitt&scarperLTD]

One of my questions was how to limit maximum order quantity on website and some of you may have found this question bit awkward. This is because I don’t have enough manpower at the beginning for preparation and delivering food. My wife will be preparing sandwich and I will be delivery man until I am in a position to employ staff.
.

This is not a mindset with which to succeed at business. Just trust us on this one.

if you feel you are starting to get overwhelmed with orders (and realistically that's not going to be a problem starting out) then you simply raise your prices. A few customers stop ordering. The rest pay more. Guess what? You get the same money for less work.

If I win too many of the jobs I quote for then that means I am too cheap, and at risk of becoming a busy fool.

 

[Charliechops]

Am I required by law to inform council, food standard agency and buying business insurance policy and set up limited company during trial period?

if you intend to sell then yes (and even if you give it away to those who aren't friends/family) you have to inform the council - no you don't inform food standards agency and yes to public liability and insurance as it only takes one stray chicken bone, under cooked prawn, stray cat hair, or some one with an allergy to an ingredient and you'll be in trouble.

good luck with it if you decide to do it.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Very quick thread hijack...

Does anybody know when supermarkets started selling pre-packed sandwiches?

 

[David1570]

Thank you to all these lovely people for providing me with extensive piece of information covering many different areas of lunch delivery business. I take on board all of your comments and suggestion and find this very useful.

Initially I wanted to start this business on a large scale with my wife and a friend but after careful consideration I have now decided to start this business on a very small scale with just my wife because I don’t think it will be possible for me to do it on large scale as I work full time on 24 hours rotational shifts and cost involved. My partner is housewife.

Please find below my new business plan and correct me if I am wrong anywhere because I am very new to this business. I understand your time is valuable but will appreciate your comments and suggestion as this will help me to follow correct step by step procedure.

Step 1. I will phone council environmental health office to inspect my kitchen. I looked at cost of hiring commercial kitchen in London and they are approximately £75 per day which I can’t afford.

Step 2. I am hoping that council will allow me to run business from home with some modification of kitchen.

Step 3. If I am successful in step 2 then I will print some leaflet with survey type question and take them to local office and school close to home, to ascertain what type of lunch food they normally buy, what time do they like their lunch delivered to their office and what is their weekly budget. I will also target office in areas where they don’t have shop close to their business.

Step 4. I will complete food hygiene course and also look for sandwich making course online.

Step 5. I will contact food standard agency and ask them about their guidance on allergy, labelling and packing information.

Step 6. I won’t build any website or take online order at this stage as I don’t have enough manpower and can’t employ staff until business grows. At this moment, I am only looking for small side income.

Step 7. Food delivery, packing, allergy, nutrition and calories information???

I have no idea about above. Can someone help me?

Will council allow me to deliver food with my car? I have Volkswagen polo 1.2 car

Step 8. If everything goes well then I will calculate cost of making sandwich and try to work out net profit margin.

Step 9. Big problem??? I can’t sell sandwich every week of the month because of my shift work. In a month I may be able to sell sandwich 3 weeks. I am still thinking what to tell my customer about one week that I can’t sell sandwich. I can’t leave my secured job to start full time sandwich delivery business until it replaces my full time salary and this will take time.

Step 9. If everything goes well then I will buy second hand fridge, sandwich sealing machine, sandwich packing box and get allergy, nutrition and calories information sticker printed.

Step 10. If I can make small margin of profit and there is a demand of service from survey questions then I will run a trial period for 1 to 2 weeks. During that time I will prepare different types of sandwich, salad and baguette and take them to my target customers and try to sell them at cost price. After trial period, I will some idea what sell well and if my target customers like my food.

Step 11. I am only looking for few hundred pound a month side income at this stage. If I think this is possible without too much difficult then I will continue with this business.


I would appreciate any idea, comments or suggestion you may have.

 

[jules1970]

Dear friends

I have been thinking of starting a lunch delivery business from my home with my wife. My target customers would be office and school workers. I will be making fresh food at home such as sandwich, pasta, salad, wrap, baguette and fruit salad etc., and deliver to business with my own car.

After spending a lot of time researching about this type of business, I have prepared a plan as outlined below.

Can someone advice me if I am heading in the right direction? Any advice and answer to my questions below would be extremely helpful.


Step1: Preparing A5 size leaflet with small introduction of my business plan followed by survey questions about a) type of food they normally eat at lunch b) where do they normally buy their lunch c) how do they feel if I delivered fresh food at their desk at an affordable price d) what is their weekly budget

Step2: I am going to print about 1000 leaflets and distribute them to office and local school. I will then collect these leaflets from the receptionist few days later. If I see there is enough demand for my service then I will start this business.

Step3: Contact local council’s environment officer to discuss my plan. I am thinking of utilizing my little patio in back garden to prepare food by installing temporary roof over it. I believe that I need separate fridge and washing facility and food hygiene certificate.

Step4: If council happy with my plan, then I am going to find a web designer to build a website. I don’t know how much that will cost? Can I

Step5: Register with food standard agency and follow their guidelines. Get necessary insurance to cover business such as product liability insurance. Set up private limited liability company few months later.


Questions:

1. Can I buy domain name from Go Daddy and mention on my survey question leaflet about future web address of my business?
   
   
   
2. Shall I mention on the leaflet that I am new on this business? I am wondering if customers will be interested as they are probably used to buying lunch from branded shop.
   
   
   
3. I want low start up business cost. Can I build my own website or do I need professionally looking website? If yes, how much does it cost to build website or apps?
   
   
   
   
4. I will be running this business with my wife because I don’t want to employ anyone until it grows. Can I set up website so that it only takes certain numbers of order?
   
   
   
5. Will council allow me to prepare food from patio at the back garden? I will install roof and washing facility there.
   
   
   
6. Where can I do sandwich making course?
   
   
   
7. How do I calculate nutrition information of ingredients? How do I get nutrition information and use by date sticker printed?
   
   
   
8. Where can I buy sandwich sealing machine? How much do they cost?
   

Hi David

I use to run my catering biz from home, and know all that you need to do.

1. Use wix it's free
2. I think leaflets are a waste of your money, go out around all industrial estates, local office blocks any where where it's difficult to get to shops.
3. As said wix is free and they have templates already set up.
4. Take orders while you are out visiting
5. No you must do a basic hygiene course call your local council they will tell you what you need to do. You must use a indoor kitchen with stainless steel tops. Again you will learn this all.
6. As above
7. On all products you will need to put on your stickers nutrition. It will be all from your fillings and bakery. You will be taught by the course
8. You don't need them you can buy in bulk ones with kids and seal with stickers.

Good luck
Julie

 

[jules1970]

Hi David

I use to run my catering biz from home, and know all that you need to do.

1. Use wix it's free
2. I think leaflets are a waste of your money, go out around all industrial estates, local office blocks any where where it's difficult to get to shops.
3. As said wix is free and they have templates already set up.
4. Take orders while you are out visiting
5. No you must do a basic hygiene course call your local council they will tell you what you need to do. You must use a indoor kitchen with stainless steel tops. Again you will learn this all.
6. As above
7. On all products you will need to put on your stickers nutrition. It will be all from your fillings and bakery. You will be taught by the course
8. You don't need them you can buy in bulk ones with kids and seal with stickers.

Good luck
Julie

Lids*

 

[Mark T Jones]

Unfortunately you are still completely missing the point regarding customer behaviour and marketing

This is their daily sandwich, not a high value spend.

You can reasonably assume that they couldn’t care less about your experience or your other job

What they care about is (in no particular order)

Is it nice
Is it reasonably priced
Is it reliable

The first to are for you to research - they won’t fill out forms to give you the information, you have to go out and do the research

The third will be your downfall. When you aren’t there they will go somewhere else, and as long as somewhere else ticks the boxes they will stay there.

 

[Dan101]

A lot of posts exercising extreme caution, but I say just do it! Caveat to that...do it right! I opened a 30 seater Hamburger Diner having never even working in a restaurant before. I found an old beat up unit, put in a low ball offer for the lease, did it up on the cheap and put together a business with nothing more than a vision and Google for info. I smashed my years targets after about 6 weeks, had better online reviews than any of the other local restaurants and had a thriving little business. I sold a year later at a great ROI to escape the stress and 80 hour work weeks, constantly stinking of beef and grease!

What I attribute to thinkings working out for me:

I found the right area for my product. Nobody else was specialising in what I was offering.

My food (American, Man V Food style stuff) was very Social Media friendly and attracted a lot of attention online.

My quality standards and processes were intense. If a chip didn't crisp the right way I would throw the batch out and start again. I ensured that no matter when someone came in they got the same high level of service and percect food.

Don't be scared off by dealing with the Council, HMRC, Insurers etc. In reality these people are actually very pleasant and easy to deal with. Insurance was about £300 for the year and was all sorted within a 20 minute phone call. My payroll and tax return was all done for about £350 for the year by a local Accountant, I did very little admin. With regards to the EHO it's a pretty painless process as long as you have done everything correctly; registered your kitchen with them, have all your food safety and procedures recorded etc. There are lots of templates and instructions for this online. Get a good grade on your first inspection and it could lilely be a couple of years before you see them again.

You need to stand out from the crowd and produce food that not only tastes great but people want to be seen eating. People walking along holding their big paper Starbucks cup at some level are enjoying being seen with the Starbucks cup. Make yourself a brand. Use Instagram and Facebook. Don't be a dated 1970's looking sandwich bar spreading Flora onto 2 slices of Sunblest white bread. Use special ingredients to make special sandwiches.

 

[Mark Laurie]

Very quick thread hijack...

Does anybody know when supermarkets started selling pre-packed sandwiches?

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/24/how-the-sandwich-consumed-britain
http://thesandwichguide.com/sandwich-history/

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

I'm sorry, but you need to forget this idea. Why are you so hell bent on starting sandwich deliveries?

- You should not need a course in sandwich making. I doubt one even exists. If you can't work out how to make a nice sandwich, you shouldn't even be thinking about opening this business.

- You can't run this kind of business 3 weeks out of 4. Your customers don't care about your other job. They care about getting a regular service at a regular time, not wondering whether you're going to turn up this week. And they're certainly not going to put it in their diaries that the sandwich man is off this week

- There will already be somebody offering this kind of service in the location you are targeting. If there isn't, there's a reason why

- It doesn't look in the slightest bit professional to turn up in a VW polo with a bag full of sandwiches. People won't pre-order from you. They will want to browse what you have available that day and pick something. They might also want something specific, which a catering van or bricks & mortar shop can prepare for them there and then.

Unless we have seriously missed the point here, you have no USP that will seriously differentiate you from (I imagine) existing delivery services and probably plentiful food places locally, all servicing peoples' lunch requirements. What exactly are you going to offer that will make them buy from you over wherever they get their food now?

You might have half a chance if you differentiated somehow. Instead of sandwiches, why not focus on slimming world friendly lunch options - sandwich alternatives that aren't just another salad bowl. Or focus on the "lean in 15" type diet and target lunches that fit that (with either of these you have to be careful how you word them, you can't just use their name). If people are following a specific diet (and I would say these are the 2 most common right now) it can be hard to grab food on the go that fits in with that. This might even open up more opportunities to then do Slimming World breakfasts and get peoples' business twice a day. A third could be slimming world meal preps that you deliver with their lunch for them to heat up at night.

However, if you need a course just to make sandwiches and have no kind of dedicated delivery vehicle then you are going to struggle with any of the above ideas.

Sorry to be blunt but you appear to be heading down a black hole here, with one idea that's been plucked from somewhere and now desperately trying to make it fit to your lifestyle, capabilities and equipment, rather than the other way round.

 

[Financial-Modeller]

Step1: Preparing A5 size leaflet with small introduction of my business plan followed by survey questions about a) type of food they normally eat at lunch...

Your first question is wrong.

You don't want to know what they do eat; you want to know what they would like to eat.

Then sell it to them.

 

[DmitryAleksandrov]

Your plan is okay, but better is to order professional business plan at any consulting company. Approximately it costs £400-500 in London. It will show you your weaknesses, strengths and allow you to understand what to do from professional point of view.

 

[Chris Ashdown]

And better still is to make your own business plan yourself so you can fully think through your planning, , understand your competition, work out your cash flow requirements and how you are going to sell the end product

No consultant can do it better than yourself, consultants can be useful where they have a in depth knowledge of the area you are going into for advice, but i doubt you would ever find one in your area

 

[BusterBloodvessel]

Also, ignore Dmitry telling you to get a consultant. Completely the wrong thing to do. Not that any reputable business consultant would do consultancy for you on a sandwich business anyway.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

https://www.theguardian.com/news/2017/nov/24/how-the-sandwich-consumed-britain
http://thesandwichguide.com/sandwich-history/

Thanks Mark. I was once the manager of a small supermarket that was opposite the town council offices. We had no deli so fold a few pork pies etc., from the fridge. One day I had the idea to buy bread from the artisan bakers next door, unpack some sliced ham, boil a few eggs, grate a little cheese and had one of the checkout girls prepare sandwiches and rolls. They flew out the door. Sandwiches in garages, walk in Subway type joints didn't exist. Even the pubs only had cheese rolls under a plastic lid at the back of the bar. This was back in 1977! One of a few ideas I let slip through my hands but not the worst.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Back on topic......

QUOTE: Instead of sandwiches, why not focus on slimming world friendly lunch options - sandwich alternatives that aren't just another salad bowl...

That would probably reduce the potential market by about 90%!!?

Regarding delivery in your car. I'm pretty sure you have to have a refrigerated vehicle to comply with health and hygiene regulations.

 

[David1570]

Thank you all for your valuable comments and suggestion.
Lucan Unlordly mentioned that I need refrigerated vehicle. Can I not buy a few sandwich cool box and put all my sandwich inside cool box on my back sit or boot as refrigerated vehicle is very expensive and I am not sure how my business will run? I am only going to deliver local and will carry 20 -30 sandwich at one time. I have seen restaurant and take away delivering all sorts of food without refrigerated vehicle. May be in future I will consider buying refrigerated vehicle.

Someone also mention about taking order online. If too many people order online in last minutes then I will have problem in preparing and delivering on time due to lack of manpower. The whole idea is to start business by serving a few local places. Find out what type of food people like and if they enjoy my food and then gradually invest more money into business and start employing people.

 

[David1570]

I'm sorry, but you need to forget this idea. Why are you so hell bent on starting sandwich deliveries?

- You should not need a course in sandwich making. I doubt one even exists. If you can't work out how to make a nice sandwich, you shouldn't even be thinking about opening this business.

- You can't run this kind of business 3 weeks out of 4. Your customers don't care about your other job. They care about getting a regular service at a regular time, not wondering whether you're going to turn up this week. And they're certainly not going to put it in their diaries that the sandwich man is off this week

- There will already be somebody offering this kind of service in the location you are targeting. If there isn't, there's a reason why

- It doesn't look in the slightest bit professional to turn up in a VW polo with a bag full of sandwiches. People won't pre-order from you. They will want to browse what you have available that day and pick something. They might also want something specific, which a catering van or bricks & mortar shop can prepare for them there and then.

Unless we have seriously missed the point here, you have no USP that will seriously differentiate you from (I imagine) existing delivery services and probably plentiful food places locally, all servicing peoples' lunch requirements. What exactly are you going to offer that will make them buy from you over wherever they get their food now?

You might have half a chance if you differentiated somehow. Instead of sandwiches, why not focus on slimming world friendly lunch options - sandwich alternatives that aren't just another salad bowl. Or focus on the "lean in 15" type diet and target lunches that fit that (with either of these you have to be careful how you word them, you can't just use their name). If people are following a specific diet (and I would say these are the 2 most common right now) it can be hard to grab food on the go that fits in with that. This might even open up more opportunities to then do Slimming World breakfasts and get peoples' business twice a day. A third could be slimming world meal preps that you deliver with their lunch for them to heat up at night.

However, if you need a course just to make sandwiches and have no kind of dedicated delivery vehicle then you are going to struggle with any of the above ideas.

Sorry to be blunt but you appear to be heading down a black hole here, with one idea that's been plucked from somewhere and now desperately trying to make it fit to your lifestyle, capabilities and equipment, rather than the other way round.

Thank you for your valuable comments and suggestions.
You are quite right that I can't run business 3 weeks out of 4 without proper car. I have heard a lot of stories people starting business on small scale without giving up their present job and gradually invest and employ start as business starts to grow and finally leave their job. It is very difficult to give up present job to start business full time.

I am thinking about starting this business on part time basis at the beginning. Please correct me if I am wrong. What I am thinking is to prepare 20-30 sandwiches with home made recipe and target office or schools where they don't have nearby shop. I will tell them that next week I will be covering another areas and week after I will back again. It may sound stupid. If it doesn't work, then I will have to find a business partner who will deliver food on my absence.

 

[Dan101]

You do not need refridgerated vehicle for this. Rules for precise temperature control apply for deliveries of food that is to be resold by the receiver later on. So for instance if you were selling a bulk load of sandwiches to a corner shop that they were going to stock their fridge with and resell, then you would need precise temperature control measures. You are basically a fast food takeaway business. When you order a pizza/indian/chinese/kebab does the food arrive in a special van with a heater for the hot stuff and a fridge for the cold stuff? Of course it doesn't, it pulls up in an old Nissan Micra and is carried in a picnic box that looks like it was brought in a sale at Wilkinsons in 1988.

Online/App ordering software is a must now and very cheap to get going with. It all has features where you can increase wait time estimates when you are busy or even refuse to approve order requests alltogether if required.