There are several ways to start a restaurant delivery service. The first is to start a restaurant and add a delivery service. Another way is to own a delivery service and attach to some restaurants in your locality. Other methods include franchising, becoming a partner or buying into an existing delivery service.
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Who can start a restaurant delivery service?
If you want to start a restaurant you need a certified
chef or cook. Other requirements include accounting knowledge, good
interpersonal skill. The business is capital intensive, challenging and highly
competitive. However an operator that focuses on only the delivery end requires
only operational vehicles and network with restaurants.
Starting a Restaurant
Starting a restaurant from scratch is very capital
intensive. You will need to lease a good location with lots of vehicular or human
traffic. The location should have a fitted kitchen, dinner for customers,
storage and good parking. A location with all these attribute especially in
urban area is expensive.
Restaurant Equipment
The cost of starting a restaurant from scratch is very
expensive. Majority of the cost goes into equipment. General equipment are
cooking, ovens, refrigerator and food holding/warming equipment. Others are
commercial sink, beverage equipment, shelves, storage, dish washing, food display
and merchandizing.
1. Commercial Cooking Equipment
Restaurant rangers
Steaming equipment
Grills
Fryers
Toasters
Rice cooker
2. Ovens
Commercial microwaves
Combination oven
Convection oven
Conveyor ovens
3. Refrigerator
refrigerated prep table
bar refrigeration
worktop refrigerators
Reach-in freezer
under counter refrigerator
4. Food holding ad Warming equipment
electric steam tables
cold food table
countertop food warmers
proofing cabinets
holding cabinets
5. Commercial sink
under-bar sink
hand sink
compartment sink
6. Beverage equipment
Slushy machines
Beer dispensers
Coffee maker
Underbar equipment
shelves
storage
7. Dish washing
Dish cabinet
Grease traps
Dish table commercial dish washer
8. Food display and merchandizing
Hot dog maker
Vending carts
Popcorn equipment
Commercial ice maker
Kitchen and Staff
Kitchen equipment include gas cooker, pots, pans, cutlery
plates, bows, and oven. Make sure the kitchen is well equipped and very clean.
The establishment must pass a basic cleanliness, health, safety test. Staff are
chef, cooks, servers, manager, cleaners and cashier.
Restaurant Staff
Chef
Cooks
Servers
Manager
Cleaners
Cashier
Dispatch rider
Advertising
To attract customers place a large signboard in-front if
the establishment. Use print media such as flyers, billboard, and complimentary
cards. Use social media like Facebook, Instagram, and twitter. Make sure the
meals are high quality properly priced.
signboard in-front
flyers
billboard
complimentary cards
social media
proper pricing
How to Start a Delivery Service
Types of Delivery Service
There are different types are brick and mortar restaurant
and online delivery service. An online service could be an actual restaurant or
a home cooked foods delivery. Other types are fast food, pizza, quick meals or
breakfast.
Home Delivery
Home cooked service is fast becoming a profitable
business venture. This is because of the advent of the internet, blogs,
websites and social media channels. An online home restaurant could attract
customers through social media advertisement. They need to specify locality and
area of operation.
Delivery Service
To start you need to determine if you want to start from
scratch, joining a franchise or become a partner. Other considerations are mode
of transportation like motorcycle delivery, car, bus, bicycle delivery. The
most practical restaurant delivery vehicle is motorcycle. The service could be
independent or part of a restaurant.
Vehicles
Car
Bus
Sports Utility Vehicle
Motorcycle
Bicycle
Franchising
Franchising is a fast way to start a restaurant or
delivery service. Although expensive the franchise owner would provide
training, branding and support. You gain technical knowledge and an established
brand as a partner.
Delivery Costs
The cost considerations are cost of fuel, utility bills,
servicing the vehicle and time. If you have staff then factor their wages, tax,
advertisement.
Funding a Restaurant Delivery Service
Funding depends on the business plan and services. A
restaurant will require huge funding to start operations. However focusing only
on delivery will require less funding.
You need money to purchase the vehicle, rent an office,
hire staff, advertise, utility bills and legal fees Raise funds through
personal savings or borrow from friends and family. Other funding sources are
bank loans, crowd funding, venture capitalist, angel investors.
Funding
personal savings
borrow from friends and family
commercial bank loans
crowd funding
venture capitalist
angel investors
Legal
There are state and federal laws guiding the food
industry. Laws focus on health/safety, zoning, incorporation and permits. You
need tax identification number, driving license, vehicle particulars and
insurance.
How to Start Food Delivery from Home
Home cooked meals have enjoyed huge demand and popularity
in recent times. The industry is thriving with many players providing food
delivery service. Entrepreneurs in this niche industry are making good earnings
and smiling to the bank. Here are a few ideas on how to start the business.
Research
The first step is to carry out a comprehensive research
on the industry. Make sure the research focuses on target market, type of meals
and locality. If you are located in a commercial area with office buildings
then you might have a good customer base.
Prepare quality food and offer competitive prices. You
need proper time management and proper logistics. You need a mode of
transportation like foot, bicycle, motorcycle or vehicle.
Startup Capital
Startup capital is relatively low because major equipment
are already in your home. Cost considerations are advertisement, packaging,
utilities and ingredients. Factor cost per meal, labor and transportation.
Costs
packaging
transportation
utilities
ingredients
advertisement
Equipment
You will prepare the food at home using your cooker, oven
and other utilities. Additional equipment are takeaway packs like cardboard
meal containers, food containers. You need plastic utensils like spoons, forks,
knives. Others are tissue paper, serviette, napkins, receipt booklets.
Home equipment
cooker
cooking utensils
Large cooking pot
Large warmers
Oven
Refrigerator
Spoon
serviette
napkins
License and Permit
Permits include tax, doing business, sanitary and food
handling permit.
Marketing
Use print such as flyers, posters, business cards.
Facebook and Instagram is a good way to reach potential customers. Approach
offices in your area with sample meals as a promotional gimmick.
Build a Website
Build a website and include high definition images of
meals add contact information, locality, phone number and services.