Picking a diet and doing it well is the key to a successful meal preparation business. Whether you are sourcing high quality ingredients for your customers to prepare at home or readymade meals. It is ideal to target one type of diet. Some examples of include
- Diabetic Diet
- Senior citizen diet
- Paleo diet
- Dairy Free diet
- Gluten free
- Vegan/vegetarian
The type of diet you pick to master will determine what meals you serve and what type of client you attract. If you are coming from a food based or a nutritionist background its best to go with the diet you have the most expertise on and trust the most. This will ensure you believe in the product you are serving and understand what needs to go into your meals.
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Business models
There is no established platform for meal preparation businesses such as UberEATS or Door Dash. Therefore, understanding how you are going to reach your customers is vital. Starting a website is one way you can get give your customers access to your products. However, you still need to decide on a business model. Making sure you have the staff available, the correct equipment and premise will determine which business model you can access.
Meal kit delivery
Delivering a meal kit for your consumers who still want to make their food is one option you could take. This involves a meal-kit with measured ingredients, including the recipe, right at the customer’s doorstep. With this model you must have a strong ability to source a variety of high quality ingredients.
Storable food orders
This involves the customer placing an order on your website for delivery or pick-up. Then you set a deadline for when it will be filled and ready.
Some customers like to order a week or months’ worth of food at a time. This will mean you will need to able to cope with high volume orders. Thus, the size of your premise, staff and storage space will determine if you can undertake this model. Thus, offering your customers a month or week’s supply of food at a time might not be an option if you are starting out from home.
Legal requirements
The Safe Food Australian and the Food Standards Code apply to all food service businesses. Home based food businesses (if you start your business initially from home) must adhere to the standards and practices of these guidelines regarding food storage, handling and hygiene.
However, to sell food within NSW you need to license as regulated by NSW law. Therefore, as this varies from state to state is important you talk to a business lawyer to make sure you comply with the relevant law. Also as laws and regulations adapt to COVID-19 around food service legal advice is highly advisable.
Marketing
Getting your product and business out there is vital when you first start your business. It’s important to understand that you will probably not have a huge budget to spend on marketing initially. Social media is a great tool to establish a base following. It can be argued that visual platforms such as Instagram serve a meal preparation business best. So, don’t be afraid to start a page and post some photos of your products. Furthermore collaborating with other people in your field on Instagram can help with exposure. For example, if your meal prep business promotes a healthy lifestyle offering free trails to fitness influencers in exchange posts could be ideal.
Keep in mind this isn’t the only way to market your business. Therefore, it is wise to undertake some market research to find out where you can find your target market.
Packaging and delivery
Starting a meal preparation business could require you to deliver your products to the doors of your consumers. Thus, it is important to find the right packaging for your food as delivering damaged goods can cost your business money. The type of packaging you choose not only needs to look professional but protect your product. Therefore finding the right packaging supplier and process is just as important as your product.
Starting your meal preparation business
Keep in mind, before you can legally provide a meal preparation service you will first need to register for an Australian Business Number (ABN). An ABN allows you to be identified by and interact with other businesses. It is also a necessary requirement by the government for tax and administration purposes before you start trading.
Picking the right type of business structure for you and your business is crucial. This will determine the licenses you require, the tax you will pay and how much control you have over the business. There are many types of business structures within Australia whether you’re by yourself as a sole trader or engaged in a partnership with a business partner. Talking to a business lawyer is a great way to ensure you pick the best structure that suits your business.
Additionally, finding a name and most importantly a logo will help define your business within the industry. Protecting this is vital so registering your business name and trademarking your logo is something every business owner needs to do.
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