According to Business of Apps, the projected food delivery market size will reach $320 billion by 2029. For this reason, many business professionals will start their own local delivery businesses in the next few years. But if you want to get in on the action, you’ll need to follow specific steps.
How to Start a Food Delivery Business in 2023
Deciding to use an online food delivery or takeaway model for your restaurant, catering, or other food-related business can feel overwhelming, but this checklist should help you get started.
Start With Delivery Business Basics
All businesses must be registered using a unique name, but your name won’t get customers through the door. Spend the first month researching your market and identifying your niche, developing a pricing strategy, and creating a business plan. These will help you succeed.
Build a Team of Expert Food Couriers
The first decision you’ll make is whether to deliver the food yourself (solo), organize a group of drivers, or hire a third-party delivery partner, like Uber Eats or SkipTheDishes. This guide can give you more details on how to build a team of food couriers for your food delivery business.
There are positives and negatives to each decision. Lack of decent overheads or knowledge may hold you back from building your own team, but you’ll save more money in the long run.
Define Your Kitchen/Delivery Menu
Create a reduced menu filled with delivery-friendly foods for your patrons. If you have a sit-in restaurant, focus on dishes that keep well while in transit. If your business only delivers food, then only cook menu items that are fast and able to stay hot/cold and/or shelf-stable for a while.
Create a “Google My Business” Account
Google My Business is a tool for businesses and organizations to manage their online presence on Google search engines. They help customers find and verify it. Companies can use this tool to manage their information, interact with customers, and expand their organic/local reach.
Even online or delivery-only businesses can use this feature, as the app recently added delivery and takeout filters. With that said, make sure your account links to your website or social media.
Get Your Business Operations in Place
Before you take your first delivery, make sure you’re all ready to go. Check if you have reliable internet, a POS, and enough delivery food containers and thermal bags. If a third party is picking up your deliveries, check if you have an area of delivery collection or a delivery area.
Do you work in a restaurant? Then, consider if you have enough staff for the weekends or who will take the orders during a busy time. Are you able to cut down on wait times? Do you have contactless payment options? You should dot your i’s and cross your t’s to prevent any issues.
Promote and Market Your Delivery Service
Some hometown food delivery businesses will use a digital marketing company to promote their services, but you can do it yourself with a bit of help. Either way, you have to develop a marketing strategy that includes logo design, offline and online marketing, and word-of-mouth.
Content marketing is one of the best ways to keep your website and social media pages updated. You should use various online platforms to generate some buzz before opening day.
Keep Your Customers and Drivers Safe
The pandemic is still affecting the lives of billions of people, so you owe it to yourself and your customers to keep your delivery drivers safe. Make sure they’re trained to social distance, wash their hands regularly, and safely prepare food. Get all necessary permits for safe food handling.
