Whether you want to grow your company because you are ambitious, or you choose to expand because it’s needed to keep your business alive during lockdowns and Covid, you surely want to set it up for success.
1. Research
Having already an established food business doesn’t mean you can go online with exactly the same menu. Research the market and check what is already available or saturated. Stay true to yourself and your existing business while trying to be a pioneer. Some consulting might be in place before starting.
2. Investment
Going online means investing in new equipment, packaging, technology, expertise, advertisement, etc. Find out exactly how much everything costs and how much you can spend or borrow.
3. Communication
Can you use existing sources such as a website and social media to connect with your existing customers? Will you create a major launch party or use local channels to inform the community about your new service?
4. Ordering Platform
Online marketing and ordering platforms are popping up quicker than ever. It is a good time to take advantage of this growth and jump on the wagon. Be careful to compare and choose a platform that fits your company, location and needs.
Third party companies, such as UberEATS and Grubhub are established, and you will be able to connect quickly with customers who are already customized with the programs.
You can set up your own system for which some companies are offering free sign up. Check out SevenRooms, Toast Now and Upserve.
5. Packaging
Modifying cooking techniques and appropriate packaging for hot and cold food will be needed to assure a great experience at the customers end. Get you branding right because the visual appeal and presentation are representing both you and your company. Label everything and consider leaving a note with nutritional information or instructions. Always make sure that packaging meets rules and regulations.
6. Delivery and Logistics
Make food that ‘travels’ well. Taste, consistency and look should still be perfect upon delivery.
If you use your own drivers, think about security for them as well as following hygiene guidelines during the ride and deliveries. Will you charge a fee for delivery or is it calculated into your menu price?
7. Pricing
Pricing correctly is difficult. There is no exact formula and you might not make profit in the beginning of your online adventure. Know your cost and price your food according to what you think your customers want to pay for it. Your profit margin will depend on the amount of orders, the location and how you present it. Menu engineering is a fancy word for checking what sells well or not but it will tell you where to change the menu and what to adjust in terms of recipe, ingredients, or even choose different suppliers.
8. Payment
If you offer a service, you probably want to get paid. All major credit cards are taken by Paypal, Stripe and Square. The payment processing is easy and they only charge a small percentage per transaction.
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