Postal Letter

I,m thinking of starting my own business delivery homemade soup and sandwichess to schools and offices?

Does anyone know if the insurance cost is high for such a business? Would you think it could be a profitable business?

Public Comments

1. do it
2. Dude i reckon thats a great idea. U just rock up to their workplace and start selling ur sandwiches and stuff to them. Most business ppl hardly have time to eat anything and most prob cant be bothered to wait in line and order. I dont really know how it will work in schools but i reckon the profit will be good in offices. If i was a business man i would invest in this idea.
3. I don't know about the licenses but wherever you make the food will have to be inspected by health & safety and certificated and different chopping boards etc. As for profit, it depends how many other people in your target area are already doing the same thing. I'm not sure how many schools you'll get into but offices in some areas see 2 or 3 sarnie sellers a day. Edit - I did a brief search and found the link below, it seems it has all the info you need: Here's the bones of it though Firstly, any business dealing with food is heavily regulated by Regulation (EC) No. 852/2004 on the hygiene of foodstuffs and the Food Hygiene Regulations 2006, which replaced the Food Safety Regulations 1995. This regulation applies to England but there are equivalent regulations for Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. There is little difference between this and the 1995 law but the main change is that you must now put food safety management procedures in place, and keep up-to-date records of these. More on these regulations can be found in a booklet entitled 'Food hygiene - a guide for businesses' published by the Food Standards Agency. You are also required to register your premises with the environmental health service at your local authority at least 28 days before opening – this is still applicable even if you are using your own kitchen at home. If you use more than one premises you will have to register them all. Rules governing any business that prepares food include: The business premises: Should be clean and in good repair, with adequate drinking water, pest control, lighting, ventilation, lavatory, hand washing and drainage facilities. The room in which food is prepared: Should have surfaces that are easy to clean and disinfect (including wall, floor and tabletop surfaces) and should have adequate facilities for washing food and equipment, storing food and removing waste. The food handlers: Should wear clean clothes and observe good personal hygiene. They should not smoke when preparing food and should be trained in all areas of food hygiene. Equipment, containers and vehicles used to transport food: Should be designed so that they can be easily cleaned and kept in good state of hygiene. Vans will often need to be refrigerated if transporting cooked food. Food storage: Food and food waste should be immediately cleared from surfaces and stored in a closed-lid container. Temperature controls apply to dairy products, cooked products and prepared ready-to-eat uncooked food. Although there is some flexibility, these foods will generally have to be stored at below 8°C, so many caterers have to use refrigerated vehicles. Food hygiene law is rigorous and anyone setting up in business in catering will have to think very carefully about where they set up and what equipment they buy. Remember that environmental health officers make regular inspections of food businesses and have the power of closure if they think you are not up to scratch.
4. It is very profitable but also very cutthroat.You also need a hygene certificate from the council.When starting anything new prepare to have a few setbacks but persevere and you should be ok.Have a lot of fliers made and distribute them in your locality and see how much response you get.That will give you an idea of if its going to take off or not.Good luck.
5. hmmmm that is hard to say. Two thirds of businesses that start with food end up folding..so the demand is high..expectations outrageous...but obviously it does work for some. You should make sure you have really unique well made soups that stand out. Summer might be a harder in selling soups but you might try different salads on those days. I don't know what kind of insurance you might need...but you are serving the public and if they can sue McDonalds for hot coffee and WIN...they can sue for anything. I work in the public and was giving out coffee. I told everyone...please be careful..the coffee is hot...very hot. Soon my boss came back and asked me if I was warning them and I said...YES..that is the first thing I am saying even before I tell them what it is. The woman with him said....No you didn't. I said...Mamm...I just stood here and told everyone...and she looked me in the eye and said...YOU were talking to THEM..not me personally. HEY...I have a microphone I am talking to...they hear me throughout the store...it isn't like it is a secret...she was just not listening. Come on..if there are 15 of you there and I am saying it four or five times to a crowd of people and they are grabbing coffee all at one time...I am talking to YOU too. Yesterday someone came by and asked if my wings were hot..I said... Well you know I hate to answer that other than to tell you what they are. Some people think black pepper is hot and they get mad if I tell them they are not spicy....She looked at me and said very seriously and in a very mean way... I didn't ask you to get on a soap box and give me a speech...I asked if they were spicy. Well they were BBQ...some have a kick and some don't...so I said ....They are ...I paused to watch my mouth and said.....HOT! She left. Oh I could tell you STORIES that would leave you with your mouth open wondering how people can be so rude and nasty. So dealing with the public is not easy and it is hard to know what they are going to complain about and even if it is if it is VALID! It would be better to talk to someone who is a professional about that part of it. It used to be you didn't need insurance...but when you deal with sue happy people...you better be covered. It isn't even the insurance..but I am sure the health dept will have to be involved and other regulations followed....check carefully.... Good luck and I hope you are successful