“Do you take orders online?” – This has evolved as a common question among all those of your friends who enjoy what you cook. Now, if your answer is “No”, it not only disappoints your customer but at the same time shrinks your opportunity to grow.
Don’t worry if you find it difficult to know where to turn for help when running a food business from home, because eComStart is ready to be here and help you.
Irrespective of the size of your business, let’s go into the details of this guide to learn how to start a food business from home.
Contents
1. Can I start a food business from home?
Yes, the answer is that you can definitely start your home-based food business, no matter how old you are or which job you have.
Enjoy the process of chopping up vegetables and making a sauce from scratch?
Find joy in trying out new recipes?
Or want to share your foodie photos with more people?
Then what are you waiting for? Now is a great time to take the plunge and start your food business!
2. How to start an online small food business from home
2.1. Decide your home-based food business idea
If you get ready to kickstart your culinary journey, the next step is to look for different business ideas and decide which one will light you up.
One of the most common ideas for small food businesses that comes to mind first is baked goods from home. It requires low start-up costs, the food products are easy to package and sell, and the demand for baked goods is high.
Another option is to become a teacher with interesting cooking classes. It will be fun to share your deep knowledge in choosing fresh ingredients or helpful tips in making homemade snacks with other food lovers.
It is also an ideal choice to find a different niche by focusing on specialized nutritional and dietary needs. Of course, you can decide to go on with selling unique specialty food items, like delicious hot sauces or fruit-flavored beverages.
With so many options available, just review your skills, follow your heart, and go for your passion and interests. And if you are looking for more ideas and guidelines to start a business, just feel free to explore our eComStart resources!
2.2. Research food market
When conducting market research, you will have deeper insights into customer needs and preferences.
In the next 5 years, the food industry worldwide is projected to grow by 6.74% (Statista). Along with improving living standards, people are willing to spend more time and money on serving themselves with nutrient-rich and well-prepared diets.
This is just the first step of your journey in finding the fit between product and market. Meaningful insights will inform your food business’s smart decisions.
2.3. Create a business plan
A business plan will give you a significant overview and planning framework for your startup. Here is an example of a food business plan with some questions for your reference.
| Area | Question |
| Market | What niche market is your business working in? |
| How does your food product benefit the customer? | |
| What is the growth potential of this market? | |
| Which channels will you use to enter the food market and promote your business? | |
| Product | What products are you going to sell at launch to ensure market acceptance? |
| What are the costs of your food product? How do you decide the selling prices? | |
| What innovative products could you release in the growth phase of your food business? | |
| How long will it take you to fully develop the starting product line or assortment? | |
| Business | What business structure will you use at launch? |
| What access do you have to unique resources in terms of ingredients, cooking methods, or marketing strategies? | |
| What is the short and long-term profit potential of this business? | |
| Why is starting a food business from home such a good fit for you? | |
| Business owner | Why is starting a food business from home such a good fit for you personally? |
| In what way have you prepared or positioned yourself for this business idea? | |
| What is your commitment to this business? | |
| What personal networks do you have to help build this business? |
2.4. Check relevant laws
When searching for steps on how to sell food from home, you will be reminded of important food laws.
Depending on each state you are living in and the different business models you are working on, there are slight variations in laws. It is your task to read them carefully and make sure that your business complies with the laws strictly, regarding kitchen inspection, zoning permits & business licenses, and pet permissions. They can include:
- Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) Plan
- The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
- Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA)
2.5. Obtain necessary licenses and permits
When it comes to how to start an online food business from home, make sure that you register your business with your local authority at least 28 days before it is officially launched.
In addition, please keep in mind that it is essential to apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN), no matter how small your operation is. You can get an EIN online through the IRS website by answering the online questions correctly. Any state has its filing fees for a company setup (on average, $100).
2.6. Decide your products
It is time to decide which exactly you will stock. Do you specialize in everyday meals or party food and desserts? Are you an expert in baby nutrition or vegetarian diets? Ask yourself where you will flourish and fire up.
For example, if your plan of starting a food business at home focuses on beverages, then which will be your main type of drinks, coffee, tea, bubble tea, or juice? Then when it comes to coffee as an instance, you need to list down the detailed menu.
A small tip here is to find out what the latest menu trends are (especially for your target market) and tailor your offering to them.
2.7. Find the ingredient suppliers
The success of your food business relies on the quality of the ingredients you use.
When you’re on the hunt for wholesale food ingredient suppliers, you can seek help from online supplier directories like Alibaba, Global Sources, and ThomasNet. They often list various suppliers, including those specializing in unique and fresh ingredients. In addition, you can attend food industry trade shows and exhibitions to have contacts with reputable suppliers.
Your supplier is required to indicate that they are committed to high-quality standards. The supplier must also confirm they will be committed to you, as a customer, throughout the period you expect to work together.
And question how much authority this supplier has over their policies, processes, procedures, and supply chain. How will they guarantee that they produce consistently and reliably?
Collaboration with a reliable ingredient supplier will be an essential exercise to learn how to start a home cooking business successfully.
2.8. Purchase equipment
After we determine the first stages of how to start a home-based food business, it is time for your kitchen to shine. You need to prepare the equipment for your working space, including:
- For cooking: Frying pan, baking sheet, colander, whisk, vegetable peeler, microwave, refrigerator, etc.
- For packaging: Labeling machine, shrink-wrapping machine, food-grade packaging materials, packaging design software, etc.
Whatever the purpose of the equipment, high-quality equipment will ensure your business complies with relevant food safety regulations. To guarantee the high quality of your food products, check and evaluate them thoroughly.
2.9. Calculate costs
Let’s do simple math to know the cost of starting a food business, which can include:
- Kitchen equipment
- Licensing and permits
- Raw ingredients
- Packaging
- Utilities (gas, water, and electricity)
- And other hidden costs
Based on these numbers, you will know how to make the price decision for your food products.
2.10. Establish your brand online
Now, from having no idea of how to start a home cooking business to the last step to learning how to sell online, we will get into building a brand presence and launching your online business.
Packaging
Before going on with technical marketing strategies, a small note here is that don’t underrate the packaging step. How your product is packaged will impact its flavors, hygiene, and presentation. It is as important as your recipe & ingredients.
Seeking unique food business name ideas, build your brand logo, choose the right packaging, and brand it well for instant recognition, that will give your products an eye-catching appearance.
Create an online store
When going on your journey on how to start a small food business, you can mark your food brand presence and existence on the Internet by setting up a website. With the help of top-notch e-commerce platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce, it is easier than ever to create an online store easily within a few minutes.
If you want to check out more helpful insights, let’s take a look at these step-by-step guidelines from eComStart on how to pave the path to a successful online business!
Marketing strategies
Your cuisine and pricing will determine your target customer, so let the marketing plan that you prepared before do its work. You can build a story around yourself and your brand and get some portfolio shoots done.
In addition, food photography and Instagram marketing are the secrets to unlocking the potential of your marketing strategy. High-quality photos can put you in power with any strong competitors.
3. Examples of successful home-based food businesses
3.1. Monginis
Monginis online cake store offers an extensive menu of delicious, handcrafted cakes that are sure to impress any crowd. Whether you are looking for an elegant birthday cake or something more festive, it has the perfect dessert for any occasion.
3.2. Sous Chef
Sous Chef works smoothly as their slogan, “bringing the world to your kitchen”. At this ingredients, cookware, and tableware store, there is a variety of the ultimate selection of international specialty foods at prices that will amaze you. Is it what your kitchen is looking for? If so, explore Sous Chef today!
4. The last words
In summary, we hope that this article helps you answer the question of how to start your own food business from home. If you want to flow with the current trend, incorporating an online food business will be an ideal choice.
Let’s get up and running for your business journey now!
And don’t forget to list eComStart resources as your close friend in this eCommerce venture, we are more willing than ever to make a small contribution to your success as a businessman!
5. FAQs
