Top 5 Low-Cost Food Business : At Thenewsnamaste, we’re dedicated to keeping you ahead of the curve. It is a lucrative business to start a food venture, and in India, there are many easy and cheap means to become part of this revenue-generating business, particularly via the internet.

Being a home cook enthusiast or owner of a creative food concept, the internet provides potential sources to find customers. Yet, it is nice to know the steps and regulations needed to run efficiently and in compliance.

Here are 5 easy methods to start a low-investment food business in India with recommendations for platforms of sale and documents required:

5 Easy Ways to Start a Low-Investment Online Food Business

1. Home-Based Cloud Kitchen/Delivery Only: This is the most common and economic method. You cook from your home kitchen and concentrate exclusively on online orders and delivery only. This avoids having a dine-in area, substantially lowering the overheads of rent, front-of-house staff, and heavy furnishings.
2. Specialty Baked Goods and Confectionery: Begin by accepting orders at home, if you know how to make cakes, cookies, pastries, or any other confectionery goods. Advertise using word of mouth and social networking sites. Investment is minimal, mostly in ingredients and simple equipment for baking.
3. Healthy Snacks and Tiffin Services: Due to health awareness, everyone is looking for healthy and nutritious food. You can prepare and provide healthy snacks, meal preps, or tiffin services with a specific diet requirement (e.g., gluten-free, low-carb, vegan). You can target working professionals or health-conscious people.
4. Pickles, Jams, and Preserves: Preparation and selling home-made pickles, jams, sauces, and preserves is a low-investment business. The products have good shelf life and a stable market, especially for traditional recipes.
5. Ethnic and Regional Specialties: Emphasis on producing and selling specialty ethnic or regional food or snack that perhaps may not be readily available in your immediate location. This will create a niche for you and attract customers who are seeking the real thing.

Best Platforms to Sell Online in India: Top 5 Low-Cost Food Business

Once you have your product, here are some sites where you can simply start selling:

• Food Aggregator Apps (Swiggy, Zomato): They are the most sought-after platforms for food delivery. You can sign up to be a restaurant partner (with an option usually for home kitchens or cloud kitchens) to access a large customer base. Be careful of their commission percentages.
• Hyperlocal Delivery Apps (such as Dunzo, Rapido): They are best suited for local deliveries within a given radius. You can utilize them to handle the logistics once you have received the orders through other means.
• Social Media Platforms (Facebook, Instagram): Have separate business pages where you can display your food using high-resolution images and videos. You can take orders directly via messages and use social media marketing to reach your audience.
• Online Marketplaces (Etsy India for specialty/unique foods): Although best recognized for handmade goods, sites such as Etsy can be a good fit for specialty foods like gourmet jams, special spice blends, or artisan chocolate.
• Your Own Website (on websites like Shopify, Wix, or local website creators): If you want a more professional appearance and more control, you can build your own e-commerce website. This enables you to establish your brand and handle orders yourself.

Documents and Registrations Required in India:

In order to run your food business lawfully in India, even at a small level from home, you will require some documents and registrations:

1. FSSAI Registration/License: The most essential document for any food business in India, as required by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India.

• Basic FSSAI Registration: For small-scale units with a turnover of ₹12 lakh or less. Most popular category for food businesses which begin operations from home.
• FSSAI State License: Required for businesses having an annual turnover of ₹12 lakh to ₹20 crore.
• You can submit an application for FSSAI license or registration on line through the FoSCoS portal (https://foscos.fssai.gov.in/). It involves submission of application form (Form A for Basic Registration), identity proof, address proof, and information about your food products.
• GST Registration: When your turnover surpasses the threshold limit (presently ₹40 lakh in case of goods and ₹20 lakh in case of services, although this may change depending on the state and nature of business), you need to register under Goods and Services Tax (GST) and should have a GSTIN. Even if your turnover is less than the threshold, voluntary GST registration may help in business development and business credibility.

2. Trade License: You might need a trade license to do business from a residential premise in some local municipal corporations. Check the same with your local municipality.

3. Business Registration (Optional but Recommended): You can register your business as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or One Person Company (OPC) as per your liking and future aspirations. This gives legal recognition to your business.

You can start a food venture at home with low investment if well planned and in accordance with laws. By concentrating on a niche, by making optimal use of online resources, and having the relevant documentation, you can establish a strong and thriving food venture. Never compromise on sanitation and safety of food at any stage to build confidence among your clients.