If you\u2019re wondering how to start a meal prep business, this post is for you. In it, we\u2019ll discuss the step-by-step process that you need to follow to create quick, easy, and delicious meals for your customers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Starting a meal prep business has become increasingly popular in recent years. Now more than ever, customers are demanding instant and healthy food<\/a> that they can make quickly, without the hassle of coming up with their own recipes or shopping for ingredients. It\u2019s become so popular that some food prep companies have sold for millions of dollars. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Starting a food business<\/a>, though, isn\u2019t always easy. Not only do you have to think about the logistics, but the marketing, food quality, and recipes too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Read on to learn more about what\u2019s involved in creating a successful venture in this thriving industry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Before we get into the step-by-step process of actually setting up a meal assembly business, it\u2019s worthwhile asking why you might want to do that. So, what are the benefits? <\/p>\n\n\n\n The obvious one is that starting a meal planning business allows you to be your own boss. If you can create a sustainable business model, you\u2019ll be able to leave your regular 9 to 5 behind and pursue something that you really care about. <\/p>\n\n\n\n What\u2019s more, meal prep businesses are a form of public service. Yes, profit is still important, but you\u2019re also helping people eat healthier at the same time. By offering meal preparation services, you\u2019re getting your customers out of the habit of ordering take-outs and helping them eat a balanced diet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Lastly, the financial rewards of setting up meal prep companies and later selling them can be extraordinary. Many entrepreneurs scale their businesses and then sell them to large conglomerates for millions of dollars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So what do you need to do to start a meal preparation business? Let\u2019s take a look: <\/p>\n\n\n\n There are already several big players in the meal prep market, each with loyal followings. Therefore, like any other industry, you’ll need to find a niche \u2013 a specific area in which you can excel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to niches, you have multiple options. One place you can start is with uncooked meals. Companies that follow setups like this include Green Chef, Mindful Chef, and Hello Fresh. The value for consumers is that meal kits supply all of the ingredients they need in the proportions they need them. While nothing is cooked beforehand and some chopping is required, they dramatically reduce the amount of mental energy (and often cost) involved in preparing daily meals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The other option is to prepare ready-to-eat meals. From a logistics perspective, this is slightly more challenging since it is harder to keep pre-cooked food both fresh and healthy. However, there are businesses experimenting with this model, such as Allplants. Meal prep programs go beyond traditional microwaveable ready meals but keep preparation required by the customer minimal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Then there are companies that host meal prep workshops. Here customers learn how to make tasty meals quickly from simple ingredients. They can then go home and practice what they\u2019ve learned in the kitchen. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some more meal prep niches that you might want to explore: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Once you have a rough idea of what your niche will be, the next step is to create a business plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Your plan should include the following elements: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you get stuck, use an online meal prep business plan template to guide you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For your meal prep services business to function legally, it requires various licenses and permits. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The type of licenses and permits you require depends on the business entity you choose and your location. Entrepreneurs starting up at home have different permit requirements from those setting up in commercial premises. Furthermore, federal, state, and local governments may also require different types of permits. Since this step often takes the most time, it\u2019s worth beginning it as soon as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Here we list some of the food prep licenses and permits that you might need. Check the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Learning how to start a meal prep business also requires finding out more about insurance. You\u2019ll need the following: <\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have employees, you will also need to take out workers\u2019 compensation insurance. This cover protects you if employees get sick or hurt on the job. It pays for things like medical bills, lost wages, ongoing care, such as physical therapy, and funeral costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can fund your meal prep startup out of pocket, but most entrepreneurs seek external sources to get them off the ground. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Small business funding options include: <\/p>\n\n\n\n The average meal kit delivery service works with dozens of suppliers. Not only do they have to source all the food for their boxes, but also the packaging as well. Many have an outer bag or box that they transport meal kits in, and then smaller pots and containers for ingredients with special requirements, such as yogurt, sauces, spices, oils, etc. They also need ice packs to keep certain ingredients cool during transit to prevent spoiling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Start researching who your suppliers will be as early as you can, and then ask them if they are able to distribute units of food to you in quantities your customers need for a single meal. In some cases, you may find that preparation is necessary on your end since many wholesale food suppliers lack flexibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll also want to work with a packaging provider that complements your niche. For instance, if you market yourself as a sustainable alternative to conventional meal prep businesses, it doesn\u2019t make sense to put food in polystyrene containers. Recycled paper is a better option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Getting your food prep marketing strategy right is perhaps the hardest part of the process. If you can inspire consumers to use your brand, you can often set up a highly profitable business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some marketing ideas to help you along:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Customers who have a great experience with you are much more likely to come back for more in the future. To achieve this, you\u2019ll need to: <\/p>\n\n\n\n Word-of-mouth is a powerful vehicle for getting more people to try your brand. Offer your core customers an impeccable service, and they will market your business to their friends on your behalf. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Like other products on the market, you\u2019ll also want to ensure that your packaging is bold and stands out. Today\u2019s consumers want sustainable, attractive packaging that they can recycle. Many also want to feel like they are treating themselves, not just going with whatever represents the best value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many Instagrammers prepare meals to go and share them on the popular social network. You can do the same. By posting images of your meal prep service, you can show your audience your processes to build trust and prove to them just how easy it is to prepare a meal using your service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Social media is free to use and allows you to connect with a lot of people. You can post whenever you add a new recipe to your collection or come up with a new idea. Just make sure that whatever content you create is relevant to your audience. Listen to community feedback, and respond appropriately. <\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to selling food, photography is critical. Brands that take great images of their recipes whet their audiences\u2019 appetite and get them in the mood for spending. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking and editing great food photos is very challenging, though. Therefore, don\u2019t try to do it yourself. Instead, hire a professional food photographer to do it for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Prices for this can be quite high, but the investment is worth it. Just make sure that you finalize all your recipes and products before getting a photographer so you won\u2019t have to hire them multiple times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Festivals are a great place for getting your brand message out to the public. The large audience combined with the spirit of the event creates positive associations with your brand with minimal effort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If possible, look for suitable events in your niche. For instance, if you want to build a kids’ food prep company, go to children\u2019s events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Physical leaflets or menus are another powerful way to spread the word about your business. You can hand these out to prospective customers directly, bypassing the need to raise awareness online, which can be challenging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n In summary, learning how to start a meal prep business is surprisingly easy. Mostly, you are following the same steps as you would for any other enterprise. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The biggest difference comes from how you market your business. The meal prep industry relies heavily on quality photography and marketing that explains the economic value of these services. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Customers can sometimes experience sticker shock when it comes to meal prep prices. Therefore, businesses in this sector need to educate their audiences on all of the benefits of the service. For instance, saving time on shopping and thinking about recipes or the cost of actually getting to the store. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Meal prep business profits can be high, but you\u2019ll need to scale. The faster you can get to 10,000 subscribed customers, the better. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy Starting a Meal Prep Business From Home Is a Great Idea<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Start a Meal Prep Delivery Business<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Find Your Niche<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Step 2: Create a Business Plan<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Step 3: Get the Necessary Licenses and Permits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Step 4: Get Insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Step 5: Get Funding<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Step 6: Find Your Suppliers<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Step 7: Market Your New Business<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Make Customer Service Your Top Priority<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Tell People In Your Community About Your Project<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Make Your Packaging Bold<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Talk About Your Company in Social Media<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Prioritize Photography<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Sell at a Festival<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Print Out Leaflets<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Further Reading<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n