Starting your own business may be a daunting task, however, if you do thorough research and equip yourself with information, you increase your chances of success. COVID-19 has had a massive impact on the food industry, kicking many out of business. However, others have adapted and succeeded by implementing a delivery service.
The food delivery trend was already rising before COVID-19, with 1231 million people using delivery services in 2020 alone. Successful restaurants tapped into this challenge by implementing a delivery service so customers could avoid risking getting infected. This way, they reinforced the tendency, and now even more food chain stores offer delivery service.
So, wielding the experience of others who have started their delivery business, you can look up lots of information online on how to start a food delivery business. This article is one of them. Here we’ll guide you through the essential steps of the process and make sure you don’t make a rookie mistake.
Above all else, you need to research your market. This includes identifying competitors, considering partnerships, performing a long-term analysis, and looking for market gaps. You will need to spot price patterns, menu content, and strategies. As for partnerships, you can choose a third-party delivery platform such as Glovo or Ubereats, however, keep in mind that you will need to pay them commission, delivery, and listing fees.
After the research, you will need to settle on what you offer. In the beginning, it would be sensible to build a small delivery menu, which includes your most strategic dishes. It may consist of breakfast, lunch, and dinner sets or an exquisite dish that your customers can’t get elsewhere. For the diversity, you may as well put some mainstream food on your menu so that the customers can enjoy simple dishes as well.
We’ve talked about the importance of social media for small businesses in our previous blog, but let’s do a quick recap. In the 21st century, it would be a massive disservice to your business not to bring it online. Once your menu is ready, you need to set up social media accounts for your business in the networks where your potential customers spend a lot of time. There you can present your business and menu attractively and engage your customers to increase their loyalty and gain new buyers.
As we wrote before, delivery management software is an indispensable asset for small and medium-sized businesses. If, for the time being, you’re running on a low budget and can’t afford to hire a third-party company that sometimes comes with expenses, you should try delivery management software. Not only will it give you direct control over your logistics and customer insights, but it will also save you lots of money and resources to grow in a direction you’ve chosen. Usually, delivery management software comes with features such as real-time monitoring, route optimization, analytics, and task assignment.
Google My Business is one of the best ways your customers can find you. According to data, 43% of Google searches are based on location settings. If you want to attract more visitors through the internet, set up your Google Business account, create your links and add them to your listing. After you’re done, google will recommend your spot as the best local choice to searching customers.
Last but not least, here comes sanitation and hygiene measures. In order to offer your customers the best food, it is crucial to have a safe, regularly-cleaned space where you prepare your products. This way, your food delivery business will provide your clients with quality food and not risk getting out of business because of penalties. A short list of sanitation musts includes waste disposal, vermin control, toilet facilities, washing facilities, etc.
To sum it up, the rise of deliveries that COVID-19 has brought will most likely remain. So, if you were wondering how to start a food delivery business, this list will act as a guide when you get to the process. If you decide to acquire your own delivery management software, take a look at CayPilot pricing or start your free trial today.