Tips on Starting an Online Food Delivery Business

In this pandemic, lots of businesses have taken their operations online to fit the current situation. The food delivery business is one of the most profitable among these ventures. Because people still avoid going out, they’re more likely to order their food online, making it a lucrative business to get into. Existing online stores offer various options, from desserts to full-blown meals made from easy Filipino recipes, so why not join the fray as well? Still, it’s not without its trials and challenges. There are lots of factors you need to consider before you start.

Determine how much budget you’ll need

Much like any business venture, the first step is determining the budget you’ll need to set up an online food delivery shop. Take into consideration the prices of the ingredients, the kitchen appliances you’ll need (if you don’t already have them), the delivery partner fee (if choosing an external courier), and even the price of delivery vehicles and gas (if doing your own deliveries). Don’t charge in blindly, as doing so can leave you struggling financially.

Do proper market research

Of course, with so many online food services popping up everywhere, you need to make sure you have something to stand out with. Proper market research includes knowing who your target market is, the kind of food they want, who your competitors are, and what makes them successful. From here, you can come up with your product line and business model to make sure you can get loyal customers even with other players involved.

Look for a trustworthy delivery partner

Since it’s a delivery business, looking for a proper delivery partner is crucial. Research on different courier and delivery brands first. Know how much they charge for delivering food, their available vehicle options, their safety measures, the areas they cater to, etc. Alternatively, you can also do your own deliveries, but make sure you’ve canvassed the expenses necessary for that as well.

Fulfill your legal requirements

Depending on how large a scale you wish to take your food business, you’ll need to fulfill certain legal requirements to operate. The legal requirements include registering the business name to DTI, registering to BIR, and getting a mayor’s permit and barangay business clearance. Fix these first beforehand so that you don’t land in hot water during your operations.

Use great ingredients for your dishes

Now that all of that is out of the way, the rest resides on the actual food you make. Get good ingredients for your food to help you cook great meals. Your actual cooking skills are still crucial in ensuring quality, but with the right ingredients, you’re halfway there. Products from AJI-NO-MOTO® such as AJI-NO-MOTO® UMAMI SEASONING can also be added to give your dishes the signature oomph in quality food and elevate them beyond what’s expected. Aside from that, the improvement brought by these products to your dishes can give them more commercial appeal, earning you more customers, exposure, and good will. As for recipes, you can use your own or look for alternatives online. For example, if you’re going for a traditional ulam food business, lots of easy Filipino recipes are available for your reference.

Promote on social media and other online platforms

Lastly, maintaining the presence of your business online means using the right social media tools to promote it. Choose a viable platform for your official page, whether on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter and post regularly for better reach. You can even run ads and target those who fit your audience demographic to ensure your posts are being seen. Create an appealing tone and voice for your posts as well for better engagement from your target market.

Having an online food delivery business is no walk in the park. It takes a lot of effort, research, and legwork to ensure everything goes smoothly. By following the tips above, you’ll be off to a great start despite the challenges. With this, we wish all food entrepreneurs out there good luck! And if you need better ingredients to make your menu more delicious, look through our inventory of Ajinomoto products!