If you love food and want to start your very own business, chances are, you’ve thought about starting a food business at some point. Starting a food business can be challenging, as you need to be so clued up on what’s legal and what’s not, and what you need to do in order to keep things hygienic and healthy. This guide will help you to avoid making a meal out of it, so you can simply get started without worry!
Different Paths Into The Industry
Before you start your own business, you might want to get a feel for the food industry first. Maybe you want to get a job to help you make connections and learn a little before you take a leap of faith. There are plenty of different paths into the industry. You could earn while you learn with an apprenticeship or even join a graduate development program. It’s important you have a passion for the food industry and that you develop transferrable skills. It’s rare that two days are the same, so be prepared to learn about things like process control and efficiency, chemical engineering, and more.
Contacting Your Local Authority And Setting Up
Contacting your local authority is a must before starting any business. When you explain what sort of business you want to start, you will figure out whether you need to register your food business or apply for approval. You’ll also get appropriate training and tools, and be able to organize waste and recycling collection.
There are many other things you need to remember too, such as:
- Understanding the principles of food hygiene.
- Being aware of food law requirements.
- Registering for VAT.
- Keeping records of expenses.
- Applying for appropriate licenses, such as an alcohol license if you plan on selling it.
There are so many useful resources online, so make sure you take your time with them. You may need to consider different things depending on whether you’re starting, say, a restaurant or a street food business. Both will be different. Whatever you start, working in a food business is physically demanding. You will need equipment to make your job easier, such as a stainless steel conveyor similar to those Gough Econ sell. Again, the equipment you need will vary depending on what you’re doing. Sometimes, buying second hand items is a good idea if they are particularly expensive. It’s up to you to make sure they are safe to work with!
Funding Your Food Business
Making sure you have funding to cover all of the pieces and your startup costs for a few months is important too. Will you work with angel investors or go for peer-to-peer lending? Having a business plan is a good idea and will help you to secure the funding you need.
Above all else, you need determination and passion to get the best results from your food business. Competition is growing, so how will you differentiate yourself from other food businesses out there? Leave your thoughts below!
