21 Food Business Ideas You Can Start from Home

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21 Food
Business Ideas
You Can Start
from Home
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Familiarize Yourself with Rules,
Regulations and Local Laws
To start a home-based business, you want to contact your city for information
on licensing, permits and local zoning laws for operating a business out of your
home.

If you will be preparing food in your home that you plan to sell, check with
your state’s health department about having you cooking space inspected for
business use. In order to receive a license to operate, your cooking area will
need to pass the inspection.

In the case that zoning or cooking area regulations do not allow you to prepare
food in your home, all is not lost! Many cities rent out commercial cooking
space that you can use, and then you can manage the rest of your business
tasks from home.

If you will be packaging food items, ask your state’s health department about
labeling requirements. Packaged items may be required to carry a standard
recipe and other information on the label.


Get Your Business Plan Together

A business plan can show you whether or not your business idea can be
profitable, so it’s best to complete this step before investing in supplies
and equipment. A business plan will also help you figure out the best
way to generate customers, and how long it will take to turn a profit.

Many small business owners choose to use business plan templates.
This enables them to avoid the cost of hiring a professional and avoid
the common mistakes that happen when writing a plan from scratch.


Purchase Supplies and Equipment

Once you know you have a viable business idea and you can prepare
food in your home to sell, it’s time to invest in supplies and equipment.
If you already cook in your spare time, you may have many of the
items you need.

If you need additional cookware or food prep items, restaurant supply
stores can be a good resource for wholesale equipment.

What you may not have are packaging supplies like bags, boxes, tins,
shipping materials and labels. Here is a list of product packaging
companies that supply a wide variety of items - from pink cupcake
boxes to vinyl pouches to candy jars to wine packaging supplies to
complete custom-designed production.


Find Customers
If you do not like to sell, a simple way to attract new clients is to let
people try your specialty food items or treats for free. Make a list of
local companies, organizations and events where you can distribute
free samples of your product, gift baskets or small catered meals.

People like to try things for free, and once they know about you, they
can contact you for more orders. (It’s human nature to want to return
favors.)

Furthermore, you’ll get more bang for your buck by contacting larger
groups of people instead of individuals. Not only do you reach more
people at one time, you can secure larger orders in the future.

Remember to include your business card, a menu or list of items you
carry plus information on how to place an order. As an extra incentive,
include a coupon or special discount. What you are doing is getting
new customers in the habit of doing business with you.


With Food Prep


Cupcake Business
The market for cupcakes is growing. They aren’t just
for kids’ birthday parties anymore. They are now after-
dinner treats and even afternoon snacks. If we don’t
watch out, we will soon be eating them for breakfast.

All kidding aside, the expansion in this market is
bringing more opportunities to crafty entrepreneurs -
you just need to come up with a unique and creative
cupcake idea. Here are some examples:

Businesses are finding that they can sell more
cupcakes by making them more convenient to buy.
Sprinkles even started selling their cupcakes by
vending machine - as if it wasn’t already convenient
enough to get a cupcake already.

Cupcakes are becoming more glamorous and
carrying a higher price tag. New York’s Sweet
Revenge serves their cupcakes with forks - and
booze.

Now part of wedding cakes and other baked
sculptures, as we’ve seen on TV shows like Cupcake
Wars, cupcakes are sold in larger numbers.

Resource:
How to Start a Home Based Cupcake Business


Cake Decorating Business
As long as there are parties and other events that
serve dessert, there will be a need for cake
decorators. The key is to choose a specific niche and
focus on a select group of customers.

For a cake decorator, being able to create unique
designs is of course important. However, now
consumers are also shopping for healthier options,
such as organic, low-fat or gluten free cakes. Those
who provide these alternatives can tap into a big
and growing market.

If you enjoy baking and decorating, but you don’t
want to do it everyday, you can tap into another big
market of do-it-yourselfers.

Teach others how to decorate cakes, create
decorations they can use on their own baked items
or design baking supplies that make it easier for
people to make their own stylish and professional-
looking cakes.

Resource:
Starting a Cake Decorating Business


Cookie Business
Just like cakes and cupcakes, cookies are expanding to
new markets, such as cookie bouquets or gourmet
cookie sandwiches. A big difference, however, is that
cookies can be easily shipped by mail.

This advantage makes it a lot easier to operate your
business from home.

Starting a mail-order cookie company or cookie-of-the-
month business carries less risk and cost than
delivering bulkier, more perishable baked goods. You
can also sell through a website to a larger geographic
market.

Consumers are also shopping for healthier options,
such as all-natural, low-sugar or gluten free
alternatives. (I actually think there is a fine line
between some of the “protein bars” and cookies.)

The bottom line is that I think you can sell a cookie to
pretty much about anyone - just switch the ingredients
to meet your market’s needs (and make it good of
course!).

Resources:
How to Start a Home-Based Cookie Business
How to Start a Dog Treat Business


Beekeeping Business
As a beekeeper, you can produce and sell honey,
among other things. People like to eat honey because
it tastes good, but now there is a growing market of
people buying local honey for its supposed health
benefits.

Making flavored honey is another way to gain market
share, since many supermarkets don’t offer a wide
variety of flavors. This makes it easier to compete in
the marketplace, and I personally think there are a lot
of adventurous eaters out there who just want to try
new and different food.

Offering seasonal flavors can also be a great way to
inspire gift-giving purchases. Combining multiple
flavors in attractive packaging makes for easy gift-
giving.

Taking this idea a step further, beekeepers can offer a
“flavor-of-the-month” service. Set up a website that
displays packages, prices and options, and this makes
gift giving and personal shopping easy.

Resources:
How to Start a Beekeeping Business
Turning Beekeeping into a Lip Balm Business


Beer Making Business
If you want to start a business around beer, you
can brew it, teach other people how to brew it,
sell equipment and supplies to home brewers and
more.

If you want to brew and sell your own beer, keep
in mind that each state has it’s own licensing
requirements and regulations on beer making
(where it is brewed and sold and who can brew
it).

Commercial home brewers also need to check
local zoning laws to ensure that they can operate
a beer-making business on the property.

Resources:
Brewing Supplies & Equipment
Free 6-Day Home Brew Course
Brew Guide with 640 Beer Recipes
How to Teach Online with a Classroom Website


Home-Based Wine Business
Many people who want to get into the wine business
think they don’t have enough money - or land. This is
not necessarily true.

Sure, you can start a large winery, grow acres of
grapes and operate large production facility. However,
you can also start a virtual winery or “micro winery”
for a lot less money - and no land required!

In addition, wine enthusiasts can sell wine online
without having to grow it or they can teach other
people how to make wine through teaching web-based
classes or writing digital books.

Gary Vaynerchuck started the Wine Library website,
selling wine and then talking about it on his own Wine
Library TV. The concept took off, and he now has a
huge loyal following.

This goes to show that when you’re passionate about
something, you can turn it into a successful business.

Resource:
How to Start a Wine Business from Home


Make & Sell Gourmet Food
If you have a unique product idea or family recipe,
you can start a business making and selling your
specialty food items from home.

Your home-based cooking space will need to pass
an inspection by your state’s Department of
Health prior to you receiving a license.
Alternatively, you can usually rent commercial
cooking space in your city.

You may also be required to maintain a standard
recipe for product labeling purposes.

Once you have a packaged product, you can sell
through online marketplaces like Foodzie and
Abe’s Market. You can also set up your own
website, sell at farmer’s markets or through retail
outlets.

Resources:
How to Start a Gourmet Food Business
Affordable Labels for Food Products


Organic Farming
There is a growing awareness of organic health
benefits, and a demand for organic produce.
Organic farmers can help meet this demand, even
on a small scale.

Some grocery stores make an effort to buy
organic items from local farms, and growers can
sell their produce at farmer’s markets and even
directly from the farm. Restaurants can also be
another resource of buyers.

Resource:
Farm Business Plans & Resources


Grow & Sell Herbs
If you like to garden, you can start a business
from your own backyard at home. You surprisingly
don’t have to have a farm or even large plot of
land to sell plants, herbs or even small trees.

Once you know what you want to grow and how to
grow it, the next step is to find places to sell it or
businesses who will buy from you. Restaurants,
health food stores and food co-ops can be good
places to contact.

Set up a arrangements where businesses place
orders from you on a regular basis, and you can
end up with consistent income every week.

Resource:

Mike McGroarty offers free online training for
people interested in starting a home-based
gardening business. Find out how here.


Without Food Prep


Recipe Website
For chefs who want to share their creative ideas with
others instead of cooking for them, a recipe website
can be the ideal solution. In addition to sharing
recipes, you can teach people about various cooking
methods, entertaining and even diet strategies.

Setting up a recipe website can be fairly inexpensive
and simple. Many recipe websites are free for visitors,
as they generate income from advertisers.

There are already several generic recipe sharing sites
already established, so instead of trying to compete
against them - choose a specialized niche.

Niches like “gluten free recipes” or “microwave
cooking” make it easier to attract the right visitors,
and build a loyal following. By building a loyal
following, you increase your monthly visitors, which in
turn attracts more advertisers - and revenue.

Resources:
Weebly: Free Website Builder
Make Money with Ads on Your Website
Recipe Content You Can Add to Your Site
How to Write & Publish Your Own Cookbook


Candy Bouquet Business
Edible bouquets are a popular alternative to
flowers, and of course, you can eat them. What’s
nice about candy bouquets vs other food like fruit,
is that it doesn’t perish as quickly.

This makes a candy bouquet business less
expensive to start - and less risky.

Being able to create fun and interesting bouquet
designs will enable you to sell more. You can do
this with regular candy you find at the store,
gourmet candy or confections you make yourself.

You can sell candy bouquets online through a
website, offer a local delivery service or partner
with gift shops in your area to re-sell them for
you.

Resource:
How to Make and Sell Candy Bouquets


Mail Order Coffee Business
There are plenty of people who still enjoy drinking
coffee at home and who look for interesting
varieties of coffee beans to buy.

To sell coffee beans to this market, you would
need to build a website and get several types of
beans that are not widely available elsewhere. You
could also set up a coffee-of-the-month
membership club, where shoppers decide which
type of bean they want each month.

Don’t limit your profits. A mail order coffee
business can sell coffee beans - but also other
items that would interest coffee drinkers (ie
coffee-flavored edibles, coffee making supplies,
gift items, etc.).

Resources:
National Coffee Association List of Resources
Shopify Online Store Builder


Vending Machine Business
Starting a vending machine business does not
require special skills or experience. You can start
by purchasing a vending machine, items to sell
and securing a location for your machine.

The hard part comes when you’re trying to find a
good, profitable location. You want to place your
machines where human traffic is constant, but
often these spots are already occupied or not
available.

A poor location can end up being an expensive
mistake. That’s why some entrepreneurs choose
to work with a franchise operation that can
provide them with extra training and support - as
well as the business opportunity.

Resources:
VendStar Franchise
Vending Business-in-a-Box


Go Mobile


Hot Dog Cart Business
A hot dog cart business is ideal for people who want to
work for themselves, but don’t want to be stuck in the
house all day. You can spend your time outdoors,
surrounded by people and many times, entertainment.

Some hot dog cart vendors operate in a single
location, while others take their carts to special events
and community gatherings where they are likely to get
a lot of business.

Generally, hot dog vendors are required to get a food
handling permit and street vending license. You will
need a cart, supplies and food to sell, and then you
can be on your way to making profits.

After getting the hang of running a single hot dog cart,
you can expand your business to include multiple
vehicles and employ people to operate them for you.
You get a cut in the profits and can make a sizable
income without even manning a cart!

Resources:
How to Start a Hot Dog Cart
Creative Mobile Systems, Inc.


Ice Cream Truck
Today’s ice cream truck business has gone beyond
the traditional musical truck that drives around the
neighborhood with screaming kids chasing after it.

Now there’s gourmet flavors, toppings and even self-
serve options that an ice cream truck can deliver. In
fact, creative entrepreneurs like Rachel Sprinkle-
Strong of the Popcycle Creamery run their ice cream
business from bike-carts. Talk about starting a low-
budget business!

Similar to hot dog cart vendors, ice cream trucks can
work a single vicinity or travel to multiple locations.
Like the traditional neighborhood ice cream truck,
you could advertise a schedule, but work commercial
or public areas rather than residential.

You may need to get a food handling permit and
street vending license from your city.

Resources:
How to Start an Ice Cream Truck Business
Get a Bike: Start a Business


Catering Business
Caterers can get hired for all sorts of events from
small family gatherings to weddings and large
corporate functions.

Much of the food preparation and some cooking
can be done from home, while the final cooking is
completed on site.

Especially with larger events, there are a lot of
variables and things that are out of your control.
As a caterer, it is essential to handle stressful
situations. Those who are well-organized and work
well with others tend to do well in this field.

One successful event can lead to lead to another,
since word-of-mouth referrals plays a big part in
growing a catering business.

Resources:
Tips on Starting a Catering Business
Kitchens on Wheels


Personal Chef Service
As a personal chef, you can prepare meals in
advance and deliver them to clients, or you can do
the cooking on site.

Clients are typically busy families or corporate
executives, and they can be people with special
dietary needs or people who simply don’t like to
cook.

A career as a personal chef can be a great option
for those who enjoy cooking, but who don’t want
the stress that comes with working large events or
managing lots of people.

Resource:
Personal Chef Business: How to Get Started


Lunch Truck Business
There is a growing popularity in mobile food
businesses. For a business owner, it can be a lot
cheaper than starting a full-fledged restaurant.
Consumers get convenience - and often a fun, unique
experience with some of the new creative food truck
concepts.

You can sell all sorts of food from a lunch truck, but
offering quick service and convenient access is
essential.

Several entrepreneurs have put a lot of thought into
coming up with creative company names and investing
in one-of-a-kind vehicle wraps, like the Wicked ‘Wich
out of Sacramento, California. This can really pay off
because of the visual attention it attracts and the free
viral marketing it generates.

Legal requirements vary by location. In some places, a
vendor needs a mobile food vendor license and the
vehicle needs a mobile food vending unit permit.

Resources:
Starting a Food Truck Business
Vending Trucks
Vehicle Wraps & Vehicle Signage


Coffee Truck Business
Coffee is big business. I think you can sell coffee
pretty much anywhere any time of day, and
people will buy it.

We’ve seen companies like Starbuck’s bring coffee
shops to every street corner, and then add a
drive-thru, to make coffee-getting even more
convenient. Now we’re seeing trucks bringing
coffee to the customers.

The key to selling coffee coffee from a truck is
convenience. Yes, people want great coffee and
good service - but they mostly want their coffee to
be where they’re at, when they want it.

A coffee truck could sell coffee pretty much
anywhere, but some of the hot spots include
outside office buildings, events, farmers markets,
etc..

Resources:
Coffee Bean Direct: Wholesale Coffee
How to Sell at Farmer’s Markets


Cupcake Truck Business
Cupcakes have jumped on the mobile food business
bandwagon. A nice feature to running a mobile food
business is that you can easily jump into catering
and food delivery and open up some additional
revenue streams for your business.

When you sell in multiple locations, you can reach
more customers in different areas. You are also
advertising when you drive.

Companies like the Cupcake Cruiser in Fort Collins,
Colorado and the Yum Yum Cupcake Truck in Florida
scout out different spots throughout the month and
post their locations on their website calendars.

Offer unique flavors, creative designs and funky
names for your cupcakes, and you can not only get
people’s attention - but gain a loyal following of
customers as well.

It is likely that you will need to get a mobile food
vendor license from your city and a mobile food
vending unit permit for your vehicle.


Food Writer
Do you appreciate good food - as well as people and
atmosphere? Writing about food can be a great way
to enjoy food and share your expertise without
having to cook all of the time.

Restaurant reviews are valuable - to both restaurant
owners and consumers. Restaurants (especially new
restaurants) appreciate the publicity, and reviews
are like a good referral to travelers (and locals).

Food writers can work as independent contractors,
submitting their reviews to magazines, or other
publications. You can also start a restaurant review
website, where make your money through
companies who advertise on your website.

You can also do freelance writing about food. Many
blog owners look for people to write articles about a
variety of food topics. You can use freelance
websites to find people looking to hire.

Resources:
eLance Freelance Website
Food Writing Business: How to Get Started


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