Definitive manual for internet food business

Whether for the convenience of selling online or the need to market products remotely, more and more companies find the potential of electronic commerce. Selling clothing or electronics online may seem simple, but How to start food business online?

First of all it is important that you know something: it is possible to sell food online! Now, there are different options to do it and also certain peculiarities that characterize the sale of food online.

Throughout this article, we are going to share some important tips for start an online food business. All ready?

How profitable is a food business? 💰

More profitable than you imagine! It is estimated that the profit margin of a food business can be from 30 to 70% depending on the type of business that you have in mind, since opening and maintaining a restaurant is not the same as starting with a dark kitchen or a food truck.

How many restaurants are there in Mexico?

According to data from , in Mexico there are 612 thousand 259 restaurants that offer food and beverage preparation services. They contribute 1% of the annual GDP of our country.

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What business to put on food? 🍔

While you can base it on your season or the businesses near you, here is a list of profitable food business ideas that you can start in this 2022.

1. Tacos
2. Mexican dishes
3. Pizza
4. Sushi
5. Burgers
6. fries and wings
7. crepes

Each of them will have more opportunities to be successful, as they are based on the list of best-selling foods among Mexicans. You just need to put your unique flavor and that special touch to make it a success.

Food to sell at home 🚲

Are your thing dark kitchens or selling food from home? Here I share a list of food to sell at home that you can start producing now.

1. Mexican dishes
2. Tacos
3. wings
4. Cookies
5. Burgers
6. fast food
7. Pizza
8. Desserts
9. Snack
10. sauces

How to start a food business? 🍩

Although the requirements are different according to the type of business you want to start, these are the most common steps you need to follow to start a food business. Take a look at them!

1. Define your audience and the market you will target.
2. Choose the type of food you want to sell.
3. Create your brand and the image of your food business.
4. Choose the location and the method of sale that you will have in your business.
5. Create a business plan for your business.
6. Obtain the necessary permits to operate.
7. Find suppliers and distributors of supplies for your brand.
8. Buy the necessary equipment to start selling.
9. Hire and train the staff that will help you get your business up and running.
10. Prepare your opening and launch campaign to the public.

How much to invest in a food business?

According to calculations by the Mexican Association of Restaurants and Franchises, The initial investment of a food business ranges from 100 thousand pesos to 5 million pesosdepending on the characteristics of your business.

How to start a food business with little money?

Starting your own food business doesn’t have to break the bank. Here we give you some ideas to start your food business with a low investment:

1. It starts as a dark kitchen.
2. Sell ​​food online.
3. Lean on a concept or a special date.

Now we explain each of these strategies.

1. Start as a dark kitchen

Have you heard of the concept of dark kitchens? A dark kitchen or ghost kitchen is a kitchen facility dedicated to the production of food, with the particularity that it is only enabled for the production and delivery of food at home, since it does not have a dining area, restaurant or delivery to the customer.

Unlike a restaurant, a bistro or even a food truck, the dark kitchen allows the investment to be lower, saving you what you would spend on chairs, furniture, utensils and even waiters’ salaries, security and others, making it possible for the cost majority when opening your business is in tools or supplies. It is one of the best ways to start a food business with little money and also to test your gastronomic concept.

2. Sell food online

Online you can always find customers willing to try your creations. Whether you start selling food online with your own page or through an app, if you promote your posts on social networks by limiting them to a home delivery area, more customers will be able to reach you without having a fixed location.

Use social networks to sell!

Facebook, Instagram and Twitter can be very useful channels when it comes to gaining new customers quickly. and carry out an advertising campaign on social networks. Use segmentation to reach neighborhoods, delegations or even precise locations from kilometers around, so that you can reach potential customers interested in your services and products. This way you will be able to optimize your investment in digital advertising.

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3. Lean on a concept or a special date

Music fan? Why not combine your passion for your musical groups with food and create a Beatle Burger with some Floyd Fries? You will become the sensation for all those diners hungry for something different. Or how about a special version of your pizza for February 14, making a special edition in the shape of a heart. Sounds good, doesn’t it? Supporting yourself with concepts or a special date can help you start your food business with little money and grow little by little as the profits arrive.

How to sell food online? 🍰

Perfect! Now that you know how you want to operate your food business, we guide you to start selling your products online. Follow these easy steps!

1. Choose the platform on which you will sell food online.
2. Take amazing product photos.
3. Adapt your pricing strategy.
4. Make noise on social networks.
5. It gives an incredible follow-up to the diner.

We explain what each one consists of, so that you have no doubts.

1. Choose the platform on which you will sell food online

When we think of selling food online, we immediately associate the idea with apps like Uber Eats or Rappi. However, these solutions are aimed at restaurants and dishes for immediate consumption, which generate a commission for the seller.

But the sale of food is not limited to that! There is a whole universe of options that includes snacks, cakes, vegetables, frozen foods and much more.

That is why it can be an excellent option for all these types of businesses. In addition, it leaves the entire company strategy in the hands of the merchant, this means that the brand will maintain full control over the food business, without having to submit to the rules of others. And if you need it, lean on the generator to find the perfect name for the new business.

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2. Take amazing product photos

The phrase “From sight, love is born” applies better than any to food businesses and that is that an incredible product photo can make anyone’s appetite. Make sure that the images that you will upload to your online store or to the app are appealing. In addition, they will help you answer possible questions that your customers may have.

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3. Adapt your pricing strategy

Since selling from your own online store is not the same as selling through applications such as Uber Eats or Rappi, you must adapt your pricing strategy to be able to cover the extra commissions and prevent the platform from “eating” your profits. Keeping this calculation in mind will help you apply special promotions depending on the behavior of your guests.

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4. Make noise on social networks

Shout it out to the world! If you are present in applications or exclusively through your website, tell your guests. Prepare a social media campaign that will help you gain potential customers and let them know about the different purchasing methods you have, as well as the different distribution channels available for your food business.

5. Give an incredible follow-up to the diner

In addition to having an FAQ page and answering the most common questions from your customers, something that will help you give an incredible service is keeping the channels of communication open and answering their questions. Whether by phone, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook or Twitter, make sure you follow up on the comments and reviews of your buyers.

Advantages of online food businesses

Having your own e-commerce to sell food has many advantages, including:

• It makes your brand stand out, facilitating its good positioning.
• You do not have to adapt to the policies of other companies that directly impact your business, such as the high rates of certain food delivery applications, for example.
• Increase your profit margin, since you will have much more flexibility to define fixed and variable expenses (cost of the platform, payment for integrations, commissions, etc.).
• You can design your store and display your products as you like.
• You work with the shipping methods you want and, if you choose to create one, you can make automatic shipping integrations in your e-commerce.
• You choose the payment methods that best suit your needs.

In addition to food, having an online store can complement your strategy, especially in times of crisis (as happened with the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic). With your own virtual store it will be possible to continue selling, even at times when people prefer to stay at home.

Virtual store vs. apps which is better? 💻

As we mentioned before, there are specialized food delivery applications, which can be used by food businesses to increase the reach of their brand and receive orders.

Let’s look at some of the most popular options in Mexico for a restaurant or virtual restaurant—also known as dark kitchen (ghost kitchen) or ghost restaurant (ghost restaurant)—, which is nothing more than a food business that has a kitchen, but does not have a space open to the public to receive guests.

• rappi
• Uber Eats
• without apron
• Didi Food
• kitten

However, food businesses also have the option of setting up their own virtual restaurant with a custom design, choosing their payment and shipping methods, and taking care of their own logistics. Then, which is better?

Each food business is different and, therefore, for some the use of food sales apps could be essential; while for others it might be enough to open a virtual restaurant.

Below we will review some advantages and disadvantages of each of them:

Advantages of sales apps…