How To Start A Food Delivery Business From Home

There are more than five million small businesses in the UK, providing more than sixty percent of all private-sector jobs. Some small businesses require a significant amount of money to start, but a few require very little except effort on your part.

Food delivery businesses, for example, allow you to connect customers to businesses that don’t offer delivery. You’re also tapping into a massive market. The average British household spends five pounds per person per week on takeaway meals. Here’s how to start a food delivery business from home.

Choose the Right Company Structure

If you want to start a company in the UK, you have three structures you can choose from: a sole proprietorship, partnership, or a limited company. All three have their pros and cons depending on what you’re trying to do.

Sole proprietorships are the easiest to start, but you leave your personal possessions wide open if your business runs into debt or you face legal action. Partnerships can allow you to spread that liability across all members but will still put you at risk. The best option is a limited company that will operate as its own entity. While it’s more complex to start than other options, it is well worth it when considering the protection and tax benefits it offers.

Take Care of the Paperwork

You don’t have to have a minimum amount of capital to start a business in the UK. However, you do have to do a bit of paperwork. You may need to register with Companies House. You should register with the tax authorities. You must register with the government if you’ll be employing people. This can all be done online and typically take just a few days to complete. Get a basic understanding of things like employment contracts and the minimum wage.

You’ll need to line up several types of insurance. If you decide to hire employees, you’ll need to get employers liability insurance. And it probably goes without saying that you’ll need insurance for the vehicle you use to make deliveries.

One way that you can save on van insurance is by getting multiple van insurance quotes. You can do this by visiting a comparison site - QuoteZone is a popular one to use. They help you to compare quotes from more than fifty insurers, allowing you to pick the insurance policy that fits your business model and budget. They even offer targeted insurance policies for modified refrigerated vans and catering vans if you decide to go that route later on.

The UK doesn’t require you to complete specific training or get certain qualifications before opening a restaurant or food delivery service. However, you will need to get certain licences when you’re setting up the business, such as a food hygiene certificate.

Plan Your Logistics

You’re going to have to take care to plan your logistics and this includes searching for the best food delivery dispatch software, to ensure that your business’ back office runs smoothly. Whether you decide to connect with restaurants via a delivery service like Deliveroo or Uber Eats, or you plan to partner with a few specific restaurants and deliver for them exclusively, it’s critical that you work out your costs and pricing before you begin taking orders.

Or, if you run a business in multiple locations, you might contact a logistics company for transportation of food products. If you get in touch with such a company, make sure you buy cargo insurance to protect your shipments. You can click here to read more about the benefits of cargo insurance.

Enhance The Customer Experience

One important aspect to consider when planning your food delivery business from home is the packaging and presentation of your deliveries. Ensuring that the food arrives in optimal condition and is well-presented can greatly enhance the customer experience. A thoughtful addition to your delivery process could be the inclusion of thank you bags with each order.

By using bags that say thank you on them, you can express your gratitude as soon as your customer receives your products. When you're unable to say thank you in-person, as with food deliveries, this is especially important. In this way, you not only show your customers that you value their support, but you also create a positive and memorable impression that encourages repeat business and word-of-mouth recommendations.

Remember, in the highly competitive food delivery market, customer satisfaction and loyalty are key to the success of your business.

Conclusion

Britons spend about £8 billion on restaurant delivery every year. It is a market you can enter with a great idea, little money, and working out of your home if you have a good plan in place.