What is the meal prep delivery business all about?

Meal prep delivery businesses typically prepare home-cooked meals for their customers and deliver directly to their home.

There are many different approaches you can take within this industry; however, the most popular type of meal delivery is one that is:

• Healthy: Geared towards a specific diet or lifestyle
• Low Maintenance: Quick and easy to cook once delivered
• Tasty: Quality ingredients sourced and tastes like a home-cooked meal.
• Custom-made: Ability to tailor to customers needs based on their diet preferences, allergies, etc (ie. gluten-free, vegetarian)

Is the meal prep delivery business for you?

There are a lot of different components to consider when starting a meal prep business.

Let's look at the pros and cons of starting your own meal prep business. 

Pros:

• Flexibility One of the biggest advantages of starting a meal prep business is that you can either offer part-time or full-time services. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own. Or, if you prefer to manage the books and instead delegate the kitchen work to someone else, you can build and manage your own team to do so.
• Ability to start your business from home: It's not necessary to have an office space to get your business started! You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning!
• Rewarding work: If you're someone that truly enjoys the art of food + making peoples lives easier, starting a meal prep business can be really fun and rewarding.

Cons:

• Food prep + delivery logistics can be challenging: If you plan to source local, fresh, organic ingredients + meat options, there is a large planning process involved with delivering meals in a timely and efficient manner. Additionally, it's your responsibility that ingredients do not go bad and arrive in perfect shape (we'll get into this more in the guide below).
• High overhead costs: You will need to anticipate high overhead costs in order to acquire the right supplies + food to get your meal service off the ground.
• Crowded space: There is a lot of competition when it comes to meal prep delivery services, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and demand in your area.
• Motivation: You may find yourself needing delivery drivers + chefs in the kitchen. It's important that you are able to motivate and incentivize your team properly. Learn more about How To Start A Meal Prep Business - Customer Service Fundamentals