How to start a takeaway business from home
As a result of the extended lockdowns we have faced across the country, lots of people have become comfortable in their home environment and enjoy the perks of staying at home more than ever. The restaurant and takeaway industry has seen a spike in the success of to-the-door delivery services and there is demand for a range of food options.
As well as this, many people are growing more used to working from home and have seen the benefits of being able to wake up and work wherever they are. For this reason, starting a takeaway business from home could be a great idea for you. There is a lot to do when starting a business, however, so read on to find out more about how to set up your very own takeaway business...
Register your business
Even if your business is being run from your own home, you will need to register it before you do anything else. This is something you need to do even if you aren't selling food. As long as you plan to serve food regularly and in an organised fashion, you are seen as a food business. There's no reason to worry though - applying only takes a few minutes, is completely free, and you can't be turned down.
Once you have registered your food business, local officers will need to visit your establishment to ensure that you are following food safety guidelines and have a high enough standard when it comes to food safety processes and procedures.
Register as self-employed
If you are planning on opening your takeaway business as a source of income, you will also need to register with HMRC as self-employed. This is an important step even if the food business is not your sole income or if you have another job simultaneously since not doing so could result in a fine.
As part of the process, you will need to give details about your food business and once you are registered as self-employed you will have to pay taxes by going through a self-assessment.
Consider food hygiene
When it comes to opening a food business that people will trust and offers a high quality of service, health and safety, and food hygiene are the most important things to consider. There are four crucial parts that factor into the safety of your food. These vital parts of your process that you must pay the most attention to doing carefully and properly are cleaning, cooking, chilling, and avoiding cross-contamination.
When cooking
It is vital to pay close attention when cooking meats especially. The cooking process kills bacteria which could be harmful and incorrectly cooking meat can lead to this bacteria being consumed. If your establishment is responsible for this, there could be some serious consequences.
When opening a new food business, it is likely that you will need to invest in some larger, quality cooking equipment. Cooksmill Aluminium Cookware is a great range to set your business up with reliable equipment that you can trust to produce great food. We have light, medium, and heavy duty cooking pans in a large variety of sizes so you can find the right pan not only for your menu but for your budget too.
When storing
A lot of food needs to be chilled in order to store it for extended periods of time. It's best to chill food as quickly as possible and avoid leaving it standing at room temperature. You will also need to be careful about the storage container you use as this is important to keep a high standard. Food storage containers can be used in temperatures ranging all the way from -40 degrees C to +90 degrees C which means they can easily be used in heat as well as for storage in a fridge or freezer without any fear of damage. Cooksmill's range of food storage containers can take you all the way from preparation to storage to transportation. As with our cooking pots, there's a huge choice of sizes and materials to choose from.
Optimise your takeaway service
In order to deliver great quality to customers and keep them coming back, you need to serve food in a way that looks appealing and travels well. Paper containers come in a huge range to fit whatever food you are planning to sell and you can choose the kind you prefer which will be best to keep your delicacies intact. Paper with its eco friendly credentials is popular with both businesses and customers who are looking to make ethical choices. However, aluminium containers are still the right choice for some greasy foods such as curry, they also hold the heat well for transportation. If plastic food containers would suit your food better you can still make good choices such as looking for recycled and compostable materials. Take a look at our range of biodegradable food containers, cutlery, and straws.
Once you have all these items in place, you can start serving customers so get the word out, and start your food business today!
If you wish to enquire about any of Cooksmill's products or services, or if you are just after some friendly, professional advice, contact us today using the form on our website, by calling 0161 886 4989, or by emailing info@cooksmill.co.uk.
