business plan template for food delivery service

Food Delivery Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Food Delivery Business Plan

You’ve come to the right place to create your Food Delivery business plan.

We have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans and many have used them to start or grow their Food Delivery companies.

Below is a template to help you create each section of your Food Delivery business plan.

Executive Summary

Business overview.

Dig In is a newly established food delivery business located in San Diego, California. The company will have an online platform that will also be able to be downloaded to users’ phones as an app. Users will be able to create a login profile and have instant access to all the local restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores, and fast food establishments.

The company will outsource its delivery to local drivers that will be employed as Independent Contractors so they will be able to set their own schedule and hours. The drivers will receive orders through their app, select which user they want to deliver to, pick up the food order from the chosen establishment, and deliver to the user in a timely manner.

Dig In will reward users that frequently use their app. Users will be able to earn rewards and discounts for every order they place through the website or app. This will enable users to keep ordering their food delivery through Dig In.

Dig In will be owned and operated by John Hutchinson, a local entrepreneur who has been in the tech industry for over 15 years. He has developed other apps and platforms for tech companies and has started mapping out this business’ platform for over two years. At this point, he has perfected the technology and is ready to reveal the new local food delivery service in San Diego, California.

Product Offering

Dig In will provide food delivery services for the residents of San Diego. Residents who want the convenience of food delivered to their doorstep can download our app, find the establishment of their choice, and order whatever they’re craving for. Most of our sales will come from orders to local restaurants but we will also offer delivery from grocery stores and drug stores. Customers will be charged a small delivery fee or have the option to join our membership for reduced fees and special deals.

Customer Focus

Dig In will target all residents living in and around San Diego. It will appeal to students, families, retirees, white collar, blue collar, and government employees. Because our fees are moderately priced compared to other delivery apps, all income levels will be able to enjoy our delivery services.

Management Team

With his entrepreneurial and tech knowledge, John will be able to quickly fix any issues with the platform. He has also formed relationships with the most sought after restaurants, bakeries, grocery stores in the area to sign them up to be part of the food delivery platform. He has also hired a team of independent food delivery drivers to earn extra money by completing the food delivery orders.

Success Factors

The following success factors will set Dig In apart from the competition:

• Comprehensive List of Restaurants and Food Stores: Dig In will include a more comprehensive list of restaurants, grocery stores, and drug stores for customers to choose from.
• Membership Rewards: Dig In will allow users who create a profile to earn rewards for every order they place through its online platform. The rewards can be redeemed for delivery fee and order discounts.
• Faster Delivery Times: Dig In promises to have faster delivery times than its competitors.
• Pricing: Dig In’s price point for delivery fees is on par with its customers, if not cheaper.

Financial Highlights

Dig In is seeking a total funding of $500,000 of debt capital to launch. The funding will be dedicated for the design and development of the app, marketing expenses, working capital, and three months worth of payroll expenses. The breakout of the funding is below:

• Platform Development: $150,000
• Marketing and Brand Development: $100,000
• Three Months of Overhead Expenses (Payroll, Rent, Utilities): $150,000
• Working Capital: $100,000

The following graph outlines the pro forma financial projections for Dig In:

Company Overview

Who is dig in.

  The company will outsource its delivery to local drivers that will be employed as Independent Contractors so they will be able to set their own schedule and hours. The drivers will receive orders through their app, select which user they want to deliver to, pick up the food order from the chosen establishment, and deliver to the user in a timely manner.

Dig In’s History

John Hutchinson has spent the last 2.5 years creating the food delivery online platform. As a tech entrepreneur, he knows how to map, develop, and implement an online platform. He has been instrumental in creating other apps and platforms for ecommerce companies and has created attractive and efficient apps for numerous Fortune 500 companies.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, John was on lockdown and working from his home. He used other food delivery services, but they were all slow, got his order wrong, or didn’t have a good selection of restaurants and establishments. It was then that he started developing his food delivery business and would implement and perfect all of the things that the competition suffered at.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

• Mapped out the online platform for the food delivery business
• Developed the company’s name, logo, and website
• Approached multiple local restaurants, grocery stores, and bakeries to be a part of Dig In’s platform
• Determined necessary insurance and legal requirements
• Began recruiting key employees
• Written and developed the Delivery Driver processes and procedures.

Dig In’s Services

Industry analysis.

The Food Delivery industry has grown substantially in the past five years. The convenience of ordering food from home has appealed to large demographics and now nearly everyone orders through a food delivery app at some point. Food delivery apps became a necessity during the COVID pandemic and now they are a mainstay in modern society.

According to Grand View Research, the Food Delivery industry is set to grow at a CAGR of 18.7% from now until 2030. What helps this growth is the increasing popularity of smartphones and the expansion of these services overseas. Food delivery apps are becoming an essential tool in modern society, which makes this a great time to create a new food delivery service.

Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

Dig In will target millennials, young professionals, and college age students as this demographic is more comfortable with online delivery services and regularly use other similar apps such as Uber and Tasty.

However, we expect Dig In will appeal to other demographics as well as it will be a convenient and moderately priced option to get food delivered quickly. For example, we expect working parents will enjoy our app as well as elderly residents who have trouble leaving their home to go grocery shopping or go to a restaurant.

The precise demographics of the San Diego area are as follows:

Customer Segmentation

Dig In will primarily target the following customer profiles:

• Young professionals
• College students
• Working parents

Competitive Analysis

Direct and indirect competitors.

Dig In will be competing with other popular food delivery apps. A profile of each competitor is below.

Food at Your Door

Food at Your Door is an online and mobile platform for restaurant pick-up and delivery orders. The company is known for connecting over 30 million customers and processes on average about 500,000 daily orders in most cities around the United States. Customers are able to search for restaurants, order directly through the website or app, and then await their delivery from independent contractor drivers.

The company generates revenue from delivery fees paid by consumers as well as commissions paid by participating restaurants. Food at Your Door’s other offerings include a program for corporate food ordering, website design and hosting for participating restaurants, and point-of-sale integration services. The company is continuously updating its platform with innovative technological advancements to stay on top of the competition.

Fast Foodie

Fast Foodie is a technology company that connects people with the most popular food establishments in their neighborhoods. They enable local businesses to meet consumers’ needs of ease and convenience while enabling their independent contractors to generate an additional source of income. The company is passionate about transforming local businesses and dedicated to enabling new ways of working, earning, and living. They empower their local economies by ensuring that people have equal access to opportunities to reach their full potential.

Fast Foodie has expanded their database to include not only restaurants, but convenience stores, pet stores, grocery stores, and drug stores.

Ding Dong is an operator of an on-demand goods delivery platform that is intended to facilitate smooth delivery of essential goods. The company’s platform offers full-service and in-store shopper services through a network of independent shoppers with same-day delivery and pickup service of fresh groceries and everyday essentials. This enables users to select items from their favorite grocery stores and get them delivered almost instantly.

Ding Dong was the first online platform to expand their services and products by including anything that can be purchased at a local grocery store, convenience store, or drug store. The drivers/shoppers are required to ensure delivery during the selected timeframe that the user selects.

Competitive Advantage

Dig In offers several advantages over its competition. Those advantages are:

Marketing Plan

Brand & value proposition.

Dig In will offer the unique value proposition to its clientele:

• Comprehensive list of restaurants and grocery stores
• Membership rewards and specials
• Faster delivery times
• Moderately priced fee structure

Promotions Strategy

The promotions strategy for Dig In are as follows:

Social Media

Dig In will utilize the most popular social media platforms for ads since the majority of the clientele will be active on social media. The company will also have business accounts on each major platform to post regularly of food options that are available for delivery.

Collateral Material

Dig In will develop numerous collateral materials to have on hand to give out to potential customers at the local farmers markets, events, or restaurant or store events.

Website/SEO

Dig In will invest heavily in developing a professional website and app that displays all of the restaurant and store options the company will be able to deliver for. The company will also invest heavily in SEO so that the brand’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Billboards/Signage

Dig In will invest in attractive signage and billboards to increase the brand awareness of the local food delivery business.

Dig In’s fee structure will be moderate so clients feel they receive great value when placing their food delivery orders.

Operations Plan

Operation Functions: The following will be the operations plan for Dig In.

• John Hutchinson will operate as the CEO of Dig In. In addition to running the general operations, he will oversee the app development and provide app support.
• John will hire 2-3 additional web engineers to run the website and app.
• John will hire 20-30 delivery drivers to work on an independent contractor basis.
• John will also hire an administrative team for accounting/bookkeeping, sales and marketing, and customer service support.

Milestones:

Dig In will have the following milestones complete in the next six months.

• 8/202X – Finalize app development
• 9/202X – Hire and train initial staff
• 10/202X – Kickoff of promotional campaign
• 11/202X – Launch Dig In
• 12/202X – Reach break-even

Financial Plan

Key revenue & costs.

Dig In’s revenues will come primarily from the fees it receives from the food delivery orders.

The delivery driver commissions, website platform fees, supplies, marketing, and labor expenses will be the key cost drivers of Dig In.

Funding Requirements and Use of Funds

Key assumptions.

The following table outlines the key assumptions required in order to achieve the revenue and cost numbers in the financials and pay off the business loan.

• Initial Number of Orders Per Day: 100
• Average Order per Customer: $25.00

Financial Projections

Income statement, balance sheet, cash flow statement, food delivery business plan faqs, what is a food delivery business plan.

A food delivery business plan is a plan to start and/or grow your food delivery business. Among other things, it outlines your business concept, identifies your target customers, presents your marketing plan and details your financial projections.

You can easily complete your Food Delivery business plan using our Food Delivery Business Plan Template here .

What are the Main Types of Food Delivery Businesses?

There are a number of different kinds of food delivery businesses , some examples include: Restaurant Delivery, Meal Kit Delivery, Grocery Delivery, and Veggie Box Delivery.

How Do You Get Funding for Your Food Delivery Business Plan?

Food Delivery businesses are often funded through small business loans. Personal savings, credit card financing and angel investors are also popular forms of funding.

What are the Steps To Start a Food Delivery Business?

Starting a food delivery business can be an exciting endeavor. Having a clear roadmap of the steps to start a business will help you stay focused on your goals and get started faster.

1. Develop A Food Delivery Business Plan - The first step in starting a business is to create a detailed food delivery business plan that outlines all aspects of the venture. This should include potential market size and target customers, the services or products you will offer, pricing strategies and a detailed financial forecast. 

2. Choose Your Legal Structure - It's important to select an appropriate legal entity for your food delivery business. This could be a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship. Each type has its own benefits and drawbacks so it’s important to do research and choose wisely so that your food delivery business is in compliance with local laws.

3. Register Your Food Delivery Business - Once you have chosen a legal structure, the next step is to register your food delivery business with the government or state where you’re operating from. This includes obtaining licenses and permits as required by federal, state, and local laws.

4. Identify Financing Options - It’s likely that you’ll need some capital to start your food delivery business, so take some time to identify what financing options are available such as bank loans, investor funding, grants, or crowdfunding platforms.

5. Choose a Location - Whether you plan on operating out of a physical location or not, you should always have an idea of where you’ll be based should it become necessary in the future as well as what kind of space would be suitable for your operations.

6. Hire Employees - There are several ways to find qualified employees including job boards like LinkedIn or Indeed as well as hiring agencies if needed – depending on what type of employees you need it might also be more effective to reach out directly through networking events.

7. Acquire Necessary Food Delivery Equipment & Supplies - In order to start your food delivery business, you'll need to purchase all of the necessary equipment and supplies to run a successful operation.

8. Market & Promote Your Business - Once you have all the necessary pieces in place, it’s time to start promoting and marketing your food delivery business. This includes creating a website, utilizing social media platforms like Facebook or Twitter, and having an effective Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategy. You should also consider traditional marketing techniques such as radio or print advertising. 

Learn more about how to start a successful food delivery business:

• How to Start a Food Delivery Business

Delivery Service Business Plan: Guide and FREE Template

Did you know that the delivery service industry is expected to reach $658.3 billion by 2031 ? If you’ve been thinking about starting a small business like food delivery or grocery delivery, there has never been a better time. Customer demand is at an all-time high and startup costs are under $10,000 on average. 

The first step to creating a successful delivery service business is — no surprises here — writing a business plan. In this guide, we’ll outline everything you need to know to turn your business idea into reality, and provide a free template for you to get started.

💡If you’re already done your homework and just want to get started, go ahead and start filling out our free delivery service business plan template .

Six reasons to create a business plan for your delivery service 

Did you know that 71% of fast-growing companies have a detailed business plan? And entrepreneurs who have a written plan are 260% more likely to actually start their business and see success. 

That’s because your business plan is your blueprint for getting started, and then guiding you to success in your new business. It will help you:

• Decide if your business idea is viable.
• Conduct a market analysis to understand your competition, customers, and growth ability.
• Set your goals, and create strategies for achieving them.
• Make important decisions about products, marketing, staffing and funding. 
• Raise funding from banks or other investors. 
• Track your progress, growth and profitability.

The main components of a delivery service plan

A business plan is a summary of all your business’s potential operations, so it includes multiple components. Here they are:

1. Executive summary

This section is an introduction to your business, so you want to make it appealing. Answer the following questions: 

• What’s going on in the delivery service industry? 
• What type of delivery service business are you opening? 
• What sets your business apart from well-known delivery options, like FedEx and USPS? 
• Who are the key members of your team? If you are just starting out, your only team member might be you. In this case, list your experience and commitment to success. 
• What are your financial projections showing? What are your operating margins and tentative profitability? 

You don’t want to bore the reader in this section. Make it engaging, and outline key points and advantages of starting your business. Don’t include any negative information.  For example, you shouldn’t say that the delivery service market is oversaturated. If it was, opening a new business wouldn’t be very successful, would it? 

Another common mistake to avoid is understating the qualifications of your team. Don’t say you lack the capital to hire team members, or that you don’t have the necessary experience to run the business. Instead, stay positive with words like “the (company) plans on hiring additional help once we enter a growth phase.”

2. Company overview

The company overview is a deeper dive into the fundamentals of your delivery service. Here, you will pinpoint the type of business you will operate. For example, will you be a pure delivery company, like a courier or express messenger? Or will you be delivering your own products, like food, beverages or flowers? Or maybe you’ll deliver on behalf of other producers, like many grocery delivery services that work with different farmers. Will you offer same-day delivery?

A courier service business plan will be different in some ways from a plan for a grocery delivery service company, but you’ll need to answer all the same questions.

It’s not uncommon for delivery service businesses to engage in more than one service. List all services that you plan on operating. 

In the company overview, you will also outline your “why” for starting the business, important milestones you have already achieved, and information on the legal structure of your business. You may also want to include a mission statement here. 

3. Industry analysis

Now, it’s time to get down to the facts. Include industry growth facts, such as that the compound annual growth rate in the United States is 5.7% or that there are currently over 250,000 courier and local delivery companies . 

Properly completing this section will require some industry and market research. Great research starting points include IBISWorld , the Small Business Administration (SBA), and your state’s website, if you are offering local courier services.  This is not only beneficial to show the opportunities in the market, but you will also develop insights into how to set yourself apart from competitors. 

Be sure you include information on market conditions, main competitors, key suppliers, current trends, and where the industry is headed. 

4. Customer and market analysis

Who is your primary customer? Are you looking to work with individuals or businesses? What types of businesses or individuals are your ideal potential customers? Identifying your target market, and how will you win new customers, is critical to developing accurate marketing strategies. 

Try to be as detailed as possible. Pinpoint the age, gender, geographic location, income levels, and needs of your target market. 

5. Competitive analysis

The competitive analysis section will highlight your competition and how you plan on setting your business apart. You should uncover data to back up your claims. For example, recent studies show that 73% of customers have had bad delivery experiences , and 16% have advised friends or family to avoid the retailer. 

Statistics like these can help to show that prioritizing customer service is how your business will shine. You might choose to include a chart or graph on common traits that your business and competitors have. Identify weaknesses, strengths, pricing differences, and the target market of competitors as well. 

Could you offer local delivery to companies in your area to boost their revenue? How about delivering outside of normal hours, such as overnight? Do you have the capabilities to specialize in fragile package delivery? These are all ways that you can differentiate yourself from competitors. 

6. Marketing strategy

Using all of the information and data you have accumulated, you will piece together a marketing strategy. Going through the four Ps can give you a comprehensive marketing plan:

• Product: Discuss the type of services you are providing again, including the specifics, like late night delivery or fragile package options. 
• Price:   Reinforce your pricing structure and make a comparison with competitors. 
• Place: Identify where you will be delivering. This could be local, regional, or national. 
• Promotions: Put together a general strategy for how you will attract customers. Will you advertise in local papers, or go for a pure e-commerce model? How about social media or email marketing? Talk about how your delivery service website will use SEO, how you’ll build relationships with local businesses, or how you’ll search for jobs on courier listing sites. 

Your marketing strategy is very important for displaying how you will attract customers using your competitive edge. 

6. Operating strategy

This section of your delivery service business plan will outline both the day-to-day operations and the long-term goals of your business. In the executive summary, you touched on a few of your main goals. In this section, you will elaborate on those items. 

Common day-to-day operations might include listing the tasks of your team, like answering calls, scheduling, and dispatching routes to delivery drivers. How will you plan your deliveries? Will you hire your own drivers, or use contractors? What about a vehicle fleet? What software will you use to track deliveries, customer requests, and costs? 

Long-term goals might be increasing revenue by a certain percentage each year, or adding a specific number of trucks every few months. Maybe you want to grow revenue by 3% each year. What can you do to get your business there? Will you increase prices to match inflation, win new customers or hire additional staff? 

Both your short-term and long-term goals need to be reasonable. Don’t say you’ll grow revenue by 50% in your first year, or have 20 delivery team members right from the start. Reasonable goals are easier to work toward and can keep you and your team motivated. 

7. Management team

Your team is essential to the success of your delivery business. If you have a partner with years of industry experience or a manager with a stellar record, incorporate that expertise and experience into this section. 

You should have a clear management structure and chain of command. Keep in mind that job roles can overlap, especially if you only have a few team members. Identify who will handle hiring, day-to-day operations, high-level decisions, and customer service. 

Also, be sure that you include any mentors that are guiding you along the way. This could be an advisor in the industry, a family member, or a friend. 

8. Financial projections

A key component of your delivery business plan is projected financial statements. If you are just starting out, you might not have years of historical financial information. This is why you need to project your expected revenue, operating expenses, assets, and profit based on industry research and your specific business characteristics. 

Your financial plan should include at least five years of financial projections. This helps you determine your business’s chance of being successful and profitable. Prospective lenders and investors will also want to see this information. Here are the main financial statements you will develop: 

• Income statement : This outlines your revenue, expenses, and bottom-line number, known as net income. A positive net income indicates a profitable business, while a negative number suggests you are losing money. 
• Balance sheet : The balance sheet tracks your overall financial health by outlining assets (what you own), liabilities (what you owe), and equity (what you’ve earned, contributed, and taken out of the company). 
• Cash flow statement : This tracks the movement of money in your business. The three main categories found in this document are cash earned or spent from operations, financing activities, and investments. 

It can be hard to plan out all of these expenses, which is why many delivery service businesses use an accountant to help. 

Don’t just hire the first accountant you come across. Interview a few to confirm that you feel comfortable with them and can develop a good working relationship. Also check that they have experience helping startups, especially in the delivery service industry. This is because the business model that delivery service businesses follow isn’t the same as other industries. 

Accountants will usually list the clientele they work with directly on their websites. Otherwise, don’t be afraid to reach out and set up a consultation. 

9. Appendix

The appendix will contain additional schedules, financials, graphs, maps, and supporting information for your delivery service business plan. 

Top things to know before writing your delivery service business plan

Before you create your delivery service business plan, you will need to think about the big picture. This includes evaluating the following components: 

1. What delivery service model will you choose?

In your delivery business plan, you will need to decide exactly what kind of courier or delivery service you want to offer.

First, consider how you will run your daily delivery operations . Will you do it all in-house , including hiring and managing your own drivers? This is how Walden Local in New England does it, using their own branded vehicle fleet and drivers to deliver local meat and fish directly from farms to customers. This gives you total control over delivery operations, but you will need your own delivery vehicles. This can increase the costs, especially when you factor in vehicle maintenance.

Alternatively, you could outsource your actual deliveries via a gig economy app like DoorDash or Uber Eats. Many restaurants and ghost kitchens choose this operating model, preferring to focus their effort on the actual product they’re delivering. 

Second, what delivery time frames will you offer? The three main options here are:

• On-demand delivery: This literally means you will deliver (or pick up and deliver, in the case of a courier service) as soon as the customer places their order. Depending on the exact product, this could be the same day (groceries) or the same hour (restaurants). This is highly convenient for customers, but expensive to operate.
• Batched delivery: If you expect very high volumes, or if you choose to offer next-day delivery or later, you have the option of creating delivery batches so you can create more efficient delivery routes and schedules. This makes it easier to deliver profitably, but isn’t suitable for a business like a restaurant.
• Scheduled delivery : This is a favorite delivery model for subscription services like meal prep companies, and it can make delivery operations much easier. It means pre-planning deliveries to specific areas on specific days — for example, I subscribe to a flower delivery service that means I get fresh blooms on my doorstep every second Wednesday. You will need to be very clear upfront with your customers about how their deliveries will work, but if you manage expectations clearly this can be an excellent option.

You can read more insider tips for starting your own delivery business here . 

2. How will you set up and staff your business? 

During the  business planning process, you should form a legal business structure. This entails registering your business name with your state and applying for an Employer Identification Number. You will need to pick out a business structure, such as a single-member LLC, a partnership, or a corporation. Talking with an accountant can help you find the most favorable structure. 

Keep in mind that staffing can take some time, especially with talent shortages. Before you can accept your first delivery order, you need to go through the hiring and training process with staff members. Knowing how to hire and retain delivery drivers , in particular, can help you save a lot of time and money. 

Do your research on a competitive wage, determine how you will process payroll, pinpoint the benefits you will offer, and create job listings. The right team members working alongside you can help your business thrive. 

3. What delivery management software will you use?

If you want an efficient, profitable delivery service business , sooner or later you’ll need proper delivery management software . Plenty of delivery businesses have started out using nothing but Excel spreadsheets, but that can quickly become a brake on your growth. Considering your delivery software while you’re making your business plan can give you an edge. Look for software that will make it easy to:

• Upload orders
• Use route optimization to plan efficient delivery routes
• Dispatch to a mobile driver app
• Track delivery progress in real time
• Send customer notifications
• Manage driver timesheets and payroll

The right delivery management software can help you achieve profitability, offer a great customer experience, and ensure on-time deliveries.

How to use the template

Now that you know what to include in your delivery service business plan, it’s time to get started. You can open a copy of the template right now and start writing. Here are some tips we’ve learned along the way: 

• Don’t jump around: Work on your delivery business plan section by section, starting at the top. Jumping around results in missed information and confusion. 
• Re-read Sections – It’s helpful to read through each section a few times before you create your own. 
• Be Thorough – The more thorough you are, the more beneficial your plan will be. After all, the goal of a delivery business plan is to provide you with guidance for starting your business. 
• Be Honest – Oftentimes, delivery service business owners adjust their plans to make their business look more attractive. You want to be honest throughout the plan to give you an accurate roadmap of what you need to do to become successful. 

If you are still struggling to piece together your business plan after reading this guide, don’t hesitate to reach out to an expert for help. 

Final Thoughts and Access to Your Free Template

A delivery service business plan is a resource that can bolster the success of your new delivery business. Take the time to conduct research and put thought into your plan. You don’t want to start your business and scramble to figure out who your target market is or how to display your competitive advantage. Here is our free template . 

If you’re in the market for delivery management software, Routific has you covered. We infuse accuracy and efficiency into our platform, giving you the tools to increase profit, meet customer demands, and ensure your team maximizes productivity. Reach out to schedule your free consultation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related articles.

Liked this article? See below for more recommended reading!

Starting Your Own Delivery Business In 2024: Insider Tips

4 Best Practices For Local Grocery Delivery In 2024

Best Last Mile Delivery Software 2024: Reviews & Guide

Food Delivery Business Plan Template

Written by Dave Lavinsky

Food Delivery Business Plan

Over the past 20+ years, we have helped over 1,000 entrepreneurs and business owners create business plans to start and grow their food delivery businesses. On this page, we will first give you some background information with regards to the importance of business planning. We will then go through a food delivery business plan template step-by-step so you can create your plan today.

Download our Ultimate Business Plan Template here >

What is a Food Delivery Business Plan?

A business plan provides a snapshot of your food delivery business as it stands today, and lays out your growth plan for the next five years. It explains your business goals and your strategy for reaching them. It also includes market research to support your plans.

Why You Need a Business Plan for a Food Delivery Service

If you’re looking to start a food delivery business, or grow your existing food delivery business, you need a business plan. A business plan will help you raise funding, if needed, and plan out the growth of your food delivery business in order to improve your chances of success. Your food delivery business plan is a living document that should be updated annually as your company grows and changes.

Sources of Funding for Food Delivery Businesses

With regards to funding, the main sources of funding for a food delivery business are personal savings, credit cards, bank loans and angel investors. With regards to bank loans, banks will want to review your business plan and gain confidence that you will be able to repay your loan and interest. To acquire this confidence, the loan officer will not only want to confirm that your financials are reasonable, but they will also want to see a professional plan. Such a plan will give them the confidence that you can successfully and professionally operate a business. Personal savings is the other most common form of funding for a food delivery business. Personal savings and bank loans are the most common funding paths for food delivery businesses.

Finish Your Business Plan Today!

How to write a food delivery business plan.

If you want to start a food delivery business or expand your current one, you need a business plan. Below are links to each section of your food delivery business plan template:

Executive Summary

Your executive summary provides an introduction to your food delivery business plan, but it is normally the last section you write because it provides a summary of each key section of your plan.

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of food delivery business you are operating and the status. For example, are you a startup, do you have a food delivery business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a food delivery business in multiple regions?

Next, provide an overview of each of the subsequent sections of your plan. For example, give a brief overview of the food delivery industry. Discuss the type of food delivery business you are operating. Detail your direct competitors. Give an overview of your target customers. Provide a snapshot of your marketing plan. Identify the key members of your team. And offer an overview of your financial plan.  

Company Analysis

In your company analysis, you will detail the type of food delivery business you are operating.

For example, you might operate one of the following types of food delivery businesses:

• Restaurant Delivery : this type of business delivers food prepared by a restaurant to the consumer.
• Meal Kit Delivery: this type of business delivers pre-made meal kits.
• Grocery Delivery: this service delivers grocery orders, and may or may not include personal shopping.
• Veggie Box Delivery : this type of service delivers boxes of vegetables and other produce, either as part of a CSA or another type of program.

In addition to explaining the type of food delivery business you will operate, the Company Analysis section of your business plan needs to provide background on the business.

Include answers to question such as:

• When and why did you start the business?
• What milestones have you achieved to date? Milestones could include the number of customers served, number of positive reviews, total number of meals or orders delivered, etc.
• Your legal structure. Are you incorporated as an S-Corp? An LLC? A sole proprietorship? Explain your legal structure here.

Industry Analysis

In your industry analysis, you need to provide an overview of the food delivery industry.

While this may seem unnecessary, it serves multiple purposes.

First, researching the food delivery industry educates you. It helps you understand the market in which you are operating.

Secondly, market research can improve your strategy, particularly if your research identifies market trends.

The third reason for market research is to prove to readers that you are an expert in your industry. By conducting the research and presenting it in your plan, you achieve just that.

The following questions should be answered in the industry analysis section of your food delivery business plan:

• How big is the food delivery industry (in dollars)?
• Is the market declining or increasing?
• Who are the key competitors in the market?
• Who are the key suppliers in the market?
• What trends are affecting the industry?
• What is the industry’s growth forecast over the next 5 – 10 years?
• What is the relevant market size? That is, how big is the potential market for your food delivery business? You can extrapolate such a figure by assessing the size of the market in the entire country and then applying that figure to your local population.

Customer Analysis

The customer analysis section of your food delivery business plan must detail the customers you serve and/or expect to serve.

The following are examples of customer segments: working professionals, university students, families and retirees.

As you can imagine, the customer segment(s) you choose will have a great impact on the type of food delivery business you operate. Clearly, working professionals would respond to different marketing promotions than retirees, for example.

Try to break out your target customers in terms of their demographic and psychographic profiles. With regards to demographics, include a discussion of the ages, genders, locations and income levels of the customers you seek to serve. Because most food delivery businesses primarily serve customers living in their same city or town, such demographic information is easy to find on government websites.

Psychographic profiles explain the wants and needs of your target customers. The more you can understand and define these needs, the better you will do in attracting and retaining your customers.  

Finish Your Food Delivery Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Competitive Analysis

Your competitive analysis should identify the indirect and direct competitors your business faces and then focus on the latter.

Direct competitors are other food delivery businesses.

Indirect competitors are other options that customers have to purchase from that aren’t direct competitors. This includes grocery stores and restaurants. You need to mention such competition as well.

With regards to direct competition, you want to describe the other food delivery businesses with which you compete. Most likely, your direct competitors will be food delivery businesses located very close to your location.

For each such competitor, provide an overview of their businesses and document their strengths and weaknesses. Unless you once worked at your competitors’ businesses, it will be impossible to know everything about them. But you should be able to find out key things about them such as:

• What types of customers do they serve?
• What types of food do they deliver?
• What is their pricing (premium, low, etc.)?
• What are they good at?
• What are their weaknesses?

With regards to the last two questions, think about your answers from the customers’ perspective. And don’t be afraid to ask your competitors’ customers what they like most and least about them.

The final part of your competitive analysis section is to document your areas of competitive advantage. For example:

• Will you provide better food delivery services?
• Will you offer features or services that your competitors don’t offer?
• Will you provide better customer service?
• Will you offer better pricing?

Think about ways you will outperform your competition and document them in this section of your plan.  

Marketing Plan

Traditionally, a marketing plan includes the four P’s: Product, Price, Place, and Promotion. For a food delivery business plan, your marketing plan should include the following:

Product : In the product section, you should reiterate the type of food delivery company that you documented in your Company Analysis. Then, detail the specific products you will be offering. For example, in addition to food delivery, will you provide personal shopping services or any other services?

Price : Document the prices you will offer and how they compare to your competitors. Essentially in the product and price sub-sections of your marketing plan, you are presenting the services you offer and their prices.

Place : Place refers to the location of your food delivery company. Document your location and mention how the location will impact your success. For example, is your food delivery business located in a busy retail district, restaurant district, etc. Discuss how your location might be the ideal location for your operations.

Promotions : The final part of your food delivery marketing plan is the promotions section. Here you will document how you will drive customers to your location(s). The following are some promotional methods you might consider:

• Advertising in local papers and magazines
• Reaching out to local websites
• Social media marketing
• Local radio advertising

Operations Plan

While the earlier sections of your food delivery business plan explained your goals, your operations plan describes how you will meet them. Your operations plan should have two distinct sections as follows.

Everyday short-term processes include all of the tasks involved in running your food delivery business, including processing orders, delivering orders, marketing, and maintaining fleet vehicles.

Long-term goals are the milestones you hope to achieve. These could include the dates when you expect to deliver your 1,000th meal, or when you hope to reach $X in revenue. It could also be when you expect to expand your food delivery business to a new city.  

Management Team

To demonstrate your food delivery business’ ability to succeed, a strong management team is essential. Highlight your key players’ backgrounds, emphasizing those skills and experiences that prove their ability to grow a company.

Ideally you and/or your team members have direct experience in managing food delivery businesses. If so, highlight this experience and expertise. But also highlight any experience that you think will help your business succeed.

If your team is lacking, consider assembling an advisory board. An advisory board would include 2 to 8 individuals who would act like mentors to your business. They would help answer questions and provide strategic guidance. If needed, look for advisory board members with experience in managing food delivery businesses or successfully running small businesses.  

Financial Plan

Your financial plan should include your 5-year financial statement broken out both monthly or quarterly for the first year and then annually. Your financial statements include your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow statements.

In developing your income statement, you need to devise assumptions. For example, will you deliver 100 meals per day or per week? And will sales grow by 2% or 10% per year? As you can imagine, your choice of assumptions will greatly impact the financial forecasts for your business. As much as possible, conduct research to try to root your assumptions in reality.

Balance Sheets : Balance sheets show your assets and liabilities. While balance sheets can include much information, try to simplify them to the key items you need to know about. For instance, if you spend $50,000 on building out your food delivery business, this will not give you immediate profits. Rather it is an asset that will hopefully help you generate profits for years to come. Likewise, if a bank writes you a check for $50,000, you don’t need to pay it back immediately. Rather, that is a liability you will pay back over time.

In developing your Income Statement and Balance Sheets be sure to include several of the key costs needed in starting or growing a food delivery business:

• Location build-out (if applicable) including design fees, construction, etc.
• Cost of equipment and supplies, including company vehicles
• Payroll or salaries paid to staff
• Business insurance
• Taxes and permits
• Legal expenses

Attach your full financial projections in the appendix of your plan along with any supporting documents that make your plan more compelling. For example, you might include your company vehicle lease or timetables for delivery days you are working on.  

Putting together a business plan for your food delivery is a worthwhile endeavor. If you follow the template above, by the time you are done, you will truly be an expert. You will really understand the food delivery industry, your competition, and your customers. You will have developed a marketing plan and will really understand what it takes to launch and grow a successful food delivery business.  

Food Delivery Business Plan FAQs

What is the easiest way to complete my food delivery business plan.

Growthink's Ultimate Business Plan Template allows you to quickly and easily complete your Food Delivery Business Plan.

What is the Goal of a Business Plan's Executive Summary?

The goal of your Executive Summary is to quickly engage the reader. Explain to them the type of food delivery business you are operating and the status; for example, are you a startup, do you have a food delivery business that you would like to grow, or are you operating a chain of food delivery businesses?

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your Food Delivery business plan?

OR, Let Us Develop Your Plan For You

Since 1999, Growthink has developed business plans for thousands of companies who have gone on to achieve tremendous success.   Click here to see how Growthink’s business plan advisors can give you a winning business plan.

Other Helpful Business Plan Articles & Templates

Delivery Service Business Plan Template [Updated 2024]

Delivery Service Business Plan Template

If you want to start a successful delivery business or expand your current delivery service company, you need a business plan.

Fortunately, you’re in the right place. Our team has helped develop over 100,000 business plans over the past 20 years, including thousands of delivery service business plans.

The following delivery service business plan template and example gives you the key elements you must include in your plan. It can be used to create a business plan for a food delivery service, same day delivery, restaurant delivery service, grocery delivery or any other type of delivery services businesses. In our experience speaking with lenders and investors, the template is organized in the precise format they want.

You can download our business plan template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.  

Example Business Plan For Delivery Service Businesses

I. executive summary, business overview.

[Company Name] is a new delivery service that operates in [location]. Our mission is to deliver parcels, documents, and packages for a variety of businesses and individuals located in [location] and the surrounding area. We offer delivery for all local industries and businesses, including the medical industry, retail establishments, corporate offices, and more. We ensure great customer service, special services, and speedy delivery for a moderate price. We aim to be as good as larger chains (such as FedEx and UPS) but offer more unique services for a more affordable price.

Services Provided

[Company Name] will deliver parcels, packages, and documents from local companies and residents to their local destinations. Packages can be of any size and weight, as long as they fit into one of our vehicles.

Furthermore, we offer a variety of shipping methods, from economy to same day delivery. We are flexible with the goods we deliver, as we want to fulfill all our customer’s delivery needs. Below are a few of the services that our customers will enjoy with us:

• Same day delivery
• On-call services
• Monthly rates and volume discounts
• Route delivery
• Special handling services and requests

Customers can order their services either by calling us, scheduling a delivery on our website, or setting up a service in our app.

Customer Focus

[Company Name] will primarily serve businesses and industries in or near [location]. As the company grows, we will look to serve nearby communities as well. We are open to serving any business or industry that fits our needs. These can include, but are not limited to:

• Medical industries and health professionals
• Corporate offices
• Retail establishments
• Food and beverage
• Attorneys and law firms
• Real estate agents
• Insurance companies
• Construction companies
• Accountants and personal finance consultants

Though we expect to primarily work with local businesses, solopreneurs and local residents are also welcomed to utilize our services.

Management Team

[Company Name] is owned and run by [Founder’s Name]. [Founder’s Name] has worked for national delivery services for [X] years, serving as a driver, manager, and trainer for much of that time. He has found the work highly rewarding, but noticed that national chains are often too expensive for customers and lack the personal detail a local company can provide.

Though he has never run a delivery service himself, he has worked in the industry long enough to gain an in-depth knowledge of the business, including the operations side (e.g., running day-to-day operations) and the business management side (e.g., staffing, marketing, etc.).

Success Factors

[Company Name] is qualified to succeed due to the following reasons:

• The company will provide valuable delivery services to local businesses who don’t want to work with impersonal national chains.
• The management team has a track record of success and experience in the delivery service market.
• [Company Name] will provide high quality customer service and a variety of services catered to every business that partners with us.

Financial Highlights

[Company Name] is currently seeking $575,000 to launch. Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

• Office design/build: $200,000
• Vehicle purchases and maintenance: $200,000
• Technology development and maintenance: $50,000
• Working capital: $125,000 to pay for marketing, salaries, and lease costs until [Company Name] reaches break-even

Top line projections over the next five years are as follows:

II. Company Overview

You can download our Business Plan Template (including a full, customizable financial model) to your computer here.

Who is [Company Name]?

[Company Name] is a new delivery service that operates in [location]. We will provide local businesses with fast, efficient, and smooth delivery services to ensure all their packages and parcels get to their destination quickly and in perfect condition. We offer delivery services for all local industries and businesses, including the medical industry, retail establishments, corporate offices, and more. We ensure quality, good customer service, and speedy delivery for a moderate price. We aim to be the dominant local delivery service that [location] can count on for all their delivery needs.

[Company Name] is run by its founder, [Founder’s Name], who has worked for the delivery service market for [X] years. He worked for national delivery chains during that time but wanted a company that offered more moderate pricing and focused on local relationships. He surveyed many local businesses and residents to see if they would be interested in a more localized delivery service. The survey had overwhelmingly positive responses, so [Founder’s Name] immediately began to research all the necessary elements to build his own delivery service.

[Company Name]’s History

[Founder’s Name] incorporated [Company Name] on [date of incorporation]. He has been primarily running the business from his home and personal vehicle but has found a potential commercial office space to lease. Once the lease is approved, all operations will be run from there. He will also purchase delivery vans that will be specifically used for delivery services and other business-related reasons.

Since incorporation, the company has achieved the following milestones:

• Located a commercial office space and wrote a Letter of Intent to lease it
• Developed the company’s name, logo and website
• Developed the app and began testing it
• Began recruiting key employees and drivers
• Began partnering with local businesses and stores
• Surveyed other possible locations for expansion

[Company Name]’s Products/Services

[Company Name] will deliver parcels, packages, and documents from local companies to their local destinations. We can deliver almost any product, including medical products, perishables, and legal documents. Packages can be of any size and weight, as long as they fit into one of our vehicles.

Furthermore, we offer a variety of shipping methods from economy to express and priority. We are flexible with what we deliver, as we want to fulfill all of our customer’s delivery news. Below are a few of the services that our customers will enjoy with us:

Customers can order their services either by calling us or setting up an order in our app.

III. Industry Analysis

Thanks to the digital age, there is great demand for delivery services. From food and groceries to medical products, every industry needs to transport goods and packages to its partners and customers. Almost every business and customer buys their products online these days, meaning that every business of every sector has some need for a delivery service.

Moreover, industries are demanding more from their couriers, such as same day delivery and special handling requests. Many national chains do not offer flexible pricing and services to meet their needs. Luckily, local couriers and delivery services can meet this demand.

The global courier service market was valued at $381 billion last year and is projected to reach $658.3 billion over the next 10 years. Furthermore, the industry is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 5.7%. This shows that the courier industry is booming and has no plans to change anytime soon. There has never been a better time to start a delivery service.

IV. Customer Analysis

Demographic profile of target market.

[Company Name] will primarily serve local businesses located in [location]. We are open to serving most industries, including medical, legal, and real estate. However, we are also open to helping local residents with their delivery needs as well.

Customer Segmentation

We will primarily target the following customer segments:

• Local businesses : Our primary customer segment will be local businesses across a variety of industries. We aim to develop long-term relationships with these businesses while providing specialized delivery services that exceed expectations. We expect to make a majority of our revenue from these businesses so much of our marketing efforts will target them.
• Solopreneurs : Solopreneurs (such as solo attorneys and personal financial advisors) have unique businesses and require exceptional delivery services. Their needs are often not accommodated well by large chain delivery models. We offer flexible and special services to help solopreneurs with all of their requests.
• Individuals : Local residents have their own unique delivery needs as well. Though we expect most of our sales to come through businesses, we will offer special delivery services to individuals who want a more personalized delivery experience.

V. Competitive Analysis

Direct & indirect competitors.

The following delivery service companies do business within a 20-mile radius of [Company Name], thus providing either direct or indirect competition for customers:

Downtown Courier Services Downtown Courier Services has been a successful courier and delivery service in downtown [location] for years. They provide delivery services to a variety of businesses located downtown and offer great services such as same day delivery, special handling requests, and on call services.

Though Downtown Courier Services is likely to remain successful, they operate in an extremely limited market. They only cater to businesses located in downtown [location] and only deliver packages for a handful of industries. [Company Name] will have a much larger market and geographic range of operation.

National Parcel Service Established in 1977, National Parcel Service has been a dominant delivery company nationwide. Offering a variety of print, ship, and delivery services, it has become a convenient delivery service for both businesses and individuals.

While we expect National Parcel Service to continue to thrive, the business’ reputation has drastically decreased over recent years. Price hikes, restrictions on services, and labor strikes have given the company a negative public outlook. Individuals and local businesses expect high-quality services when prices increase, and National Parcel Service has not delivered on that. Furthermore, National Parcel Service does not have a history of maintaining long-term relationships with its customers nor treating its employees well. Local residents and companies are looking for a more ethical and friendly service to use instead.

Medical Delivery Inc. Medical Delivery Inc. has provided an essential service for medical offices and health professionals since 1995. They deliver all sorts of medical products, including equipment, lab specimens, and test results. They also offer on-call services, same day delivery, and fixed route deliveries.

While Medical Delivery Inc. will continue to thrive, they only deliver medical products and are not open to delivering for other industries. Therefore, we will only see competition from them in this one sector.

Competitive Advantage

[Company Name] enjoys several advantages over its competitors. These advantages include:

• Client-oriented service : [Company Name] will put a focus on customer service and maintaining long-term relationships. We aim to be the best delivery service in the area by catering to our customer’s needs and developing a strong connection with them.
• Management : [Founder’s Name] has been extremely successful working in the industry and will be able to use his previous experience to provide the best delivery and customer service experiences. His unique qualifications will serve customers in a much more sophisticated manner than [Company Name]’s competitors.
• Relationships : [Founder’s Name] knows many of the local leaders, business managers and other influencers within [location]. With his [X] years of experience and good relationships with business leaders in the area, he will be able to develop an initial client base.
• Technology : The delivery service market is one industry that struggles to keep up with technology. Unlike our competitors we will develop an app that will make scheduling delivery services quick and painless. However, we still have a phone number and website for those who prefer to schedule their services through those mediums.

VI. Marketing Plan

The [company name] brand.

[Company Name] seeks to position itself as a strong competitor in the delivery service market. Customers can expect great customer service, speedy delivery, and an overall wonderful experience by ordering through our delivery service.

Promotions Strategy

The [Company Name] brand will focus on the Company’s unique value proposition:

• Safe and secured local deliveries of any package type, size, or weight
• Service built on long-term relationships and personal attention
• Premium services at affordable prices

Advertisement Advertisements in print publications like newspapers, magazines, etc., are an excellent way for businesses to connect with their audience. The company will advertise its company offerings in popular local magazines and news dailies. Obtaining relevant placements in industry magazines and journals will also help in increasing brand visibility.

Social Media Marketing Social media is one of the most cost-effective and practical marketing methods for improving brand visibility. The company will use social media to develop engaging content and post customer reviews to increase audience awareness and loyalty.

Website [Company Name] will develop a professional website where people can learn about our service and the industries covered. The website will utilize SEO to increase traffic, and to ensure that the company’s website will appear at the top of search engine results.

Billboards [Company Name] will secure a billboard in the area that captures the attention of residents and local businesses. The billboard will draw attention to the new business and its service offerings.

Referrals [Company Name] understands that the best promotion comes from satisfied customers. The company will encourage its clients to refer other businesses by providing economic or financial incentives for every new client produced.

Special Offers Offers and incentives are an excellent approach to assisting businesses in replenishing the churn in their customer base that they lose each year. The company will introduce special offers to attract new consumers and encourage repeat deliveries, which will be quite advantageous in the long run.

Pricing Strategy

[Company Name]’s pricing will be moderate, so customers feel they receive great value for their customized and professional delivery services. The customer can expect to receive quality services at a more affordable price than what they pay at pricey national courier services.

VII. Operations Plan

Functional roles.

To execute [Company Name]’s business model, the company needs to perform several functions, including the following:

Service Functions

• Driving to customers and picking up packages
• Delivering packages in a timely manner
• Getting signatures when required
• Providing excellent customer service throughout the process

Technology Functions

• Curating the app and website for the best customer experience
• Troubleshooting problems and errors
• Creating frequent updates to keep up with latest technology changes

Administrative Functions

• Bookkeeping
• Scheduling deliveries
• General customer service
• Hiring and training staff

VIII. Management Team

Management team members.

[Company Name] is owned and run by [Founder’s Name]. [Founder’s Name] has worked for national delivery services for [X] years, serving as a driver, manager, and trainer for much of that time. He has found the work highly rewarding, but discovered that national chains are often too expensive for customers and lack the personal detail a local company can provide.

Hiring Plan

[Founder’s Name] will serve as the Manager and CEO of [Company Name]. The following personnel are what the company needs to hire:

• Drivers (3 to start)
• Administrative staff (1 to start)
• Software and app developers (1 to start)
• Customer service associates (2 to start)

IX. Financial Plan

Revenue and cost drivers.

[Company Name]’s revenue will primarily come from delivery fees and providing extra services (such as on-call services).

The major costs drivers for the company will consist of salaries, marketing costs, vehicle purchases and maintenance, and lease expenses.

Capital Requirements and Use of Funds

[Company Name] is currently seeking $575,000 to launch. The capital will be used for funding capital expenditures and location build-out, hiring initial employees, marketing expenses, and working capital.

Specifically, these funds will be used as follows:

Key Assumptions

  5 Year Annual Income Statement

Comments are closed.

Crafting a Winning Business Plan for Your Delivery Service

• Last Updated: May 2, 2024

• A delivery service business plan should consist of key elements like market analysis, pricing strategies, and marketing plans.
• Also, you need to develop a strong brand identity and reputation for reliable and efficient delivery services to compete in the market.
• Newly developed business plans should focus on customer satisfaction and building strong relationships with them.

The delivery services business industry is BOOMING ! New delivery service businesses are popping every day around the world. Whether you’re starting a business dealing in same-day delivery, or if your customers are in another area of the delivery industry, you need a plan!

A business plan for delivery service companies is essential for success. This article will look to get you situated, started, and get you on your way to creating a delivery business or courier business that will attract customers & create repeat customers and hopefully provide you with everything to get started.

This guide will be helpful for you whether you need details on how to start a grocery delivery service business, courier service business, grocery delivery service, or any business with a component of delivery service.

Table of Contents

Why have a Delivery Business Plan?

What are the parts of a business plan for delivery service, how to write a business plan for delivery service.

• Get Started With Your Online Delivery Service Business Plan

There are many reasons to have a delivery service business plan . First and foremost, it’s a tool to help you make important decisions, helping you navigate difficult decisions. Good planning allows you to reduce expenses, create a better experience for customers, and ultimately have a higher chance of success.

A delivery service business plan can also access startup capital, funding, partners, and even recruit employees. This is true whether you are starting a goods delivery or grocery delivery business or any other type of small business.

If you have the question “ How to start a delivery service business ?” going in your mind, then keep reading. You will find the answers.

Upper Route Planner

A Simple-to-use route planner that every one is talking about.

• Save up to 95% of planning time
• Save up to 40% of time on the road
• Plan 500 stops at once

Small business owners have argued how to prepare business plans for ages. The delivery service is no different because there are a variety of ways a delivery service plan can be written.

Whether you are trying to write a grocery delivery business plan , courier delivery service business plan, or a flower delivery service plan, this guide will help you through it.

The following points will guide you about what to work on when you are preparing a proposal for delivery service business:

Overview of Your Delivery Services Business Plan

Typically, this is called the “Executive summary” it will summarize the key points of your enterprise.

Market analysis

This is the foundation for the whole delivery service business plan. Information on the delivery industry in your area will lead you to a higher likelihood of success.

It helps you figure out your delivery business model, finding and adding delivery strategy, and give several small delivery business ideas .

Company Profile

Most sample business plan templates will have this section as well. It’s all about your courier service business . What type of customers are they going to have? What is your business name? Are you a good business owner? Give the overview!

This part will require you to create a unique logo, the kind of business delivery services you will offer.

Marketing and Sales

This section is all about promoting, selling, and building a robust marketing plan! Who are your customers in your area? How will you promote your business and reach that target market? How will your sales engine keep generating you the money you need to ensure you have ongoing customers and a successful small business or courier business.

Operational Plan for Delivery Service

Who is part of your team? Who are the business owners? How are you going to reach those target customers? What demands are you meeting? Are you going to their homes? Or doing deliveries only to businesses? 

All businesses need to worry about the money. The most important part (arguably) of the service delivery plan is the financials. Whether you’re a goods delivery business or a courier business, you want to ensure that you get the financials done right. 

Executive Summary

This section is really a summary of the rest of the other sections. So just put the most salient parts here! This page should be a maximum of one page long!

Section 1 – Market Analysis / Industry Analysis

As mentioned, this section is all about an overview of the delivery businesses in your city. And understand how the industry works. Here are the factors you’ll want to have in this section:

• Industry Analysis: This is a bigger picture view. For instance, if you are a courier business dealing with parcels, you want to know the world’s big picture view and in the USA. This helps to get a perspective. If you are a goods delivery business, shipping goods from clothing to subscription boxes, you’ll also want a bigger picture view. Take a look at the business model followed in industry internationally.
• Local competitive analysis: For a proper competitive analysis, you’ll also want to look at local businesses and service providers in competition. You’ll first want to know which competitors are in your area competing for the same market. If your prospective customers are looking for deliveries for specific goods (like brewery kegs or dairy products), is there a competitor? If you are planning a courier service, are other delivery  companies dealing in this area? If so, what are they charging? How are they executing? This data is gold! It helps you gain competitive advantage over others.
• SWOT Analysis: A market and competitive analysis will push you to create a SWOT analysis of your business. It is the best way to get started with a plan.
• The Opportunity: After a great analysis, this allows us to identify the opportunity for that type of company in your region. Get as specific as you can (dollars and cents).

Section 2 – Company Profile

This second part flows well from section 1 as it says how you will “deliver the goods,” so to speak (whether or not you’re literally going to deliver goods)! This is also your personal account of your business. The sections to include are the following:

• Company Name: What is your company name? 
• Business Overview:  More or less a one-liner explaining the whole delivery company organization model. Mention your Mission and Vision Statement. Give a brief delivery service business description.
• Type of business: In this section, you’ll specify what type of company you are (food delivery service, flower delivery servicer, or a goods delivery service). Are you a single car driver to serve small businesses, or are you planning a large scale courier business?
• Products or Services Offered: What services are offered? Are you a goods delivery business? Or are you delivering documents? Or are you doing deliveries for products?
• Unique Value Proposition: How are you doing to differentiate yourself from others? (hint: it’s easy quality, speed, price, experience, same day deliveries or ideally all of them!)

Section 3 – Marketing Strategy and Business Development

The engine that keeps the business running is money. To get the money, you need clients. To get clients, you need to attract them with marketing. Here are the sections you’ll need for section3.

• Target Customer and niche: This is taken from the market analysis, ideally. At this point, you’ll have done sufficient research, and you’ll have a great idea of customer discovery, who you are targeting and why!
• Marketing Assets: To do marketing, you’ll need a whole variety of what they call “marketing assets” this includes branding, logo, business cards, websites, brochures, etc.
• Marketing Strategy: How are you going to get the word out? What channels are you going to use? Online or digital marketing? Or are you going to go “old school” like radio ads? Recruiting a cut-throat marketing strategy will help you step up.
• Customer Service: How are you going to deliver excellent customer service? What kind of delivery options are you offering? What are the payment options you offer? 
• Sales and Business Development: And of course, how are you going to carry out your sales? Do you have a sales process? Are you going to get clients to fill out an online form? This is where you write this all out.

Section 4 – Team and Operations

This section is about business structure, operations, and really how your company works overall!

• Business Structure: This includes specific legal elements like the legal structure and the type of business license you will get.
• Employees: Will you need employees? Are they full-time? Or Part-time? Will you start with contract drivers? Who are the co-owners?
• Equipment: In here talk, about that you need to carry out your duties. This includes equipment, the vehicle you will use, the computers, and so on.
• Operations: Where will you operate? Out of an office? How will the whole company communicate internally etc.?

Section 5 – Financials

This section is all about money! Honestly, every business is about money. As an entrepreneur, you know  it’s also about the funding, cash flow. Here are several things to think about:

• Startup costs: What are the costs involved to get started?
• Revenues/Sales projection: How much do you plan on making in year 1? Year 2? Generally, projections are for 2 or 3 years for an initial plan and 5 years for a more established company.
• Expenses: What are the expenses you will encounter? These are generally divided into two types. The first is called Cost of Goods Sold, or Cost of services sold. The second type is called operational expenses, which are also known as “overhead” this would include vehicle costs, fuel costs (delivery costs) office costs, and so on.

Make a check list of all the points mentioned above and any other aspects you feel are important for your niche. A good checklist will make it easier for you to get started with your business plan for delivery service. You will not miss out on anything.

The key is not to get stuck with the delivery service business ideas in your head: get it out! Please put the delivery services business plan on paper. And make sure you get ideas from talking to as many people in your target market. Many courier services get stuck and spend too much time ruminating on the business ideas; the best thing to do is quickly get the first version, validate it, and update it as you need it.

The number one thing to do to start a business, any business, is to start by researching and business planning. The problem is that you don’t want to do too much of that. The key to business success is the balance between taking action and making informed decisions. Keep experimenting, and you’ll find it. ?

All delivery businesses charge a different rate for their services. For instance, what a courier delivery business earns from a single delivery will differ from what business delivering food earns. But a delivery business is highly profitable as the demand for products and services to be delivered at the doorstep of the customers is increasing. This improves the scope for profitability for all kinds of delivery businesses.

Start with Your Online Delivery Service Business Plan

This is part of an ongoing series to help more businesses to get started and get going with a delivery aspect. We have several other blogs as a part of this series that covers:

• Courier delivery business;
• Food delivery service;
• Alcohol delivery service;
• Grocery delivery business.

We hope this has been useful, and as always, we are there to serve you, our users and get you successfully delivering and making a profit. We hope that this article finds you in good health. Stay safe and safe travels.

Rakesh Patel, author of two defining books on reverse geotagging, is a trusted authority in routing and logistics. His innovative solutions at Upper Route Planner have simplified logistics for businesses across the board. A thought leader in the field, Rakesh's insights are shaping the future of modern-day logistics, making him your go-to expert for all things route optimization. Read more.

Sign Up Now!

Get weekly updates from Upper Route Planner.

Related Posts

How to Get A Driving Job with No Experience?

Shipping vs Delivery – Revealing the Differences in Detail

What is Curbside Pickup and Delivery? Is This Popular Service Trend Right for Your Business?

The Ultimate Guide to Finding the Best-Paying Delivery Jobs in 2024

10 Best Shoes for Delivery Drivers in 2024

Delivery Planning: How to Do Automated Route Planning and Optimization?

Sign Up with Upper Route Planner and automate your daily business process route planning, scheduling, and optimizing!

Life's Complicated Enough. Your Routing doesn't have to be.

Plan routes, manage drivers and stops, send timely customer notifications, collect proof of delivery and much more with just a few clicks.

https://www.upperinc.com/blog/delivery-service-business-plan/

Grab a FREE Trial of Upper

• Plan routes with hundreds of stops in a minute
• Schedule routes months in advance
• Collect reliable proof of delivery
• Track drivers live for real-time updates
• Experience unparalleled customer support

Grab a FREE Trial of Upper TODAY!

• Schedule routes in advance for weeks
• Collect proof of delivery to maintain accountability
• Experience 24/7 customer support
• Smart reporting to get real-time insights

8+ SAMPLE Delivery Service Business Plan in PDF

Delivery Service Business Plan

8+ sample delivery service business plan, what is a delivery service business plan, different types of business plans, benefits of a business plan, tips for maximizing delivery services, how to write a delivery service business plan, what are the costs involved in opening a delivery service, who needs a business plan, why should you have a delivery service business plan.

Project Delivery Service Business Plan

Delivery Service Business Operations Plan

Sample Delivery Service Business Plan

Restaurant Delivery Service Business Plan

Standard Delivery Service Business Plan

Basic Delivery Service Business Plan

IT Delivery Service Business Plan

Food Delivery Service Business Plan

1. executive summary, 2. business overview, 3. market analysis and competition, 4. sales and marketing plan, 5. ownership and management plan, 6. financial plan, share this post on your network, file formats, word templates, google docs templates, excel templates, powerpoint templates, google sheets templates, google slides templates, pdf templates, publisher templates, psd templates, indesign templates, illustrator templates, pages templates, keynote templates, numbers templates, outlook templates, you may also like these articles, 5+ sample investment company business plan in pdf.

What do you do when you have tons of spare cash lying around your home or burning a hole in your wallet or expensive jeans pocket? For some people, the…

41+ SAMPLE Unit Plan Templates in PDF | MS Word

As a teacher, you might know about every school policy, the steps to keep classrooms safe for intellectual development, how to set up an organized classroom, and the proposed…

browse by categories

• Questionnaire
• Description
• Reconciliation
• Certificate
• Spreadsheet

Information

• privacy policy
• Terms & Conditions

Free Food Delivery Business Plan Template

Free Download this Food Delivery Business Plan Template Design in Word, Google Docs, Apple Pages Format. Easily Editable, Printable, Downloadable.

If you’re thinking of starting up a food delivery business, then be sure to make good use of our Food Delivery Business Plan template in preparation of opening up your business. Our plan template comes immediately useable right after download for your convenience. Narrow down the food items that your target market is bound to order to prepare for the corresponding items needed. Easily come up with a meal plan to help speed up and standardize the making of meals. Offer a fast and efficient food delivery service using our template. Be sure to download our template today for use on your food delivery business.

No  template.net  attribution required

You may also like

Need a business plan? Call now:

Talk to our experts:

• Business Plan for Investors
• Bank/SBA Business Plan
• Operational/Strategic Planning
• L1 Visa Business Plan
• E1 Treaty Trader Visa Business Plan
• E2 Treaty Investor Visa Business Plan
• EB1 Business Plan
• EB2 Visa Business Plan
• EB5 Business Plan
• Innovator Founder Visa Business Plan
• UK Start-Up Visa Business Plan
• UK Expansion Worker Visa Business Plan
• Manitoba MPNP Visa Business Plan
• Start-Up Visa Business Plan
• Nova Scotia NSNP Visa Business Plan
• British Columbia BC PNP Visa Business Plan
• Self-Employed Visa Business Plan
• OINP Entrepreneur Stream Business Plan
• LMIA Owner Operator Business Plan
• ICT Work Permit Business Plan
• LMIA Mobility Program – C11 Entrepreneur Business Plan
• USMCA (ex-NAFTA) Business Plan
• Franchise Business Planning 
• Landlord Business Plan 
• Nonprofit Start-Up Business Plan 
• USDA Business Plan
• Cannabis business plan 
• eCommerce business plan
• Online Boutique Business Plan
• Mobile Application Business Plan
• Daycare business plan
• Restaurant business plan
• Food Delivery Business Plan
• Real Estate Business Plan
• Business Continuity Plan
• Buy Side Due Diligence Services
• ICO whitepaper
• ICO consulting services
• Confidential Information Memorandum
• Private Placement Memorandum
• Feasibility study
• Fractional CFO
• How it works
• Business Plan Examples

Food Delivery Service Business Plan

Jan.06, 2014

Average rating 3.9 / 5. Vote count: 19

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

Table of Content

Food delivery service is an amazing business idea. It is trending across the world and the popularity is only increasing. The online food delivery is such a latest service that the availability of market opportunities is ever flowing. Yet, another gripping factor of the food delivery service is the small amount of investment needed to start the food business. Anyone who dreams of leaving the job and starting their own food business can do it. About 5000-6000 dollars is all that is needed to be the proud owner of a food enterprise. The budget and the low risk factors make the food delivery a favorite business to start and run. It is a hit among all the young entrepreneurs too.

Hang on! Before you go ahead and make an investment on your new food business endeavor there is a vital thing to do. You have to first craft a premium quality food delivery service business plan. Then, with determination set out following your passion to have your very own food business. If you constantly work hard with complete dedication, nothing can stop you from taking your food business to heights of success.

Models of Food Delivery Business

The food delivery business covers a vast arena. There are various kinds of food delivery. You can choose to start any type of food delivery business as per your preference. As per the service there are home delivery food business plan, food ordering online business, partnered food delivery business and so on. To assist you different food delivery business models have been briefly discussed as follows:

Local Food delivery Business Model

A local food delivery business model is that where the owners chooses to stick to the home area. Doing food business in the local area has some positive sides like the market, prevailing competitors, mode of communication, customer likes and dislikes, etc. are known to you. But, there are certain risks associated to running the food delivery locally. A major risk factor is customer security. The customers may not be steady which can affect the food business adversely.

Organized Food delivery Business Model

As compared to the local food business model, it is far safer to have an organized one. In an organized food business model, you can choose to have a bonded support for all your food supplies. This process is much consistent and structured, making it a better option that the previous one.

Common Health Food Delivery Business Model

In this particular type of model, your thought-process must be focused from consumer’s angle. There is need of doing extensive research of the marketplace to learn which products are already available in abundance. This will reveal the missing products in that particular market. Offer consumers the products that are not readily available to them. Why will any consumer be interested in your products if you offer something similar to other food delivery company? Think of new food products and introduce it in the market. It will attract maximum customers. Thus, by offering new and scarce products, you will be able to reap the best of the market. To make an impact in the market, it is essential to supply unusual products. For instance: Provide nourishing baby food, healthy food for pregnant ladies, organic drinks and so on.

Diet food Delivery Business Model

Currently, majority of the people are conscious of what they eat. Being fit has become a priority. Everyone is focused on exercising and eating carefully. Folks are serious about maintaining a daily diet, calorie intake, amount of sugar/salt, etc. In these conditions, introducing diet foods can be a turning point for your food business. These diet foods can be beneficent to keeping fit, losing weight, also may be good for body ailments. Of course, running this sort of food business comes with massive responsibility. The main idea is to concentrate upon- supplying diet foods which are healthy as also tasty. This, when achieved can make your food business rule the market.

The Dubba-walas delivering food to hundreds of people daily in the metropolitan city of Mumbai, in India, is a brilliant example of successful food delivery service. This Mumbai food delivery service has the six-sigma awards in its bag. Anyone willing to be inspired by the food delivery business should read about the Mumbai dubba-walas.

Food Delivery Business: Know the Most Important Pointers

• Market research: The primary most significant aspect of the food business or any other business is market research. This opens the eyes of the food business owner. The entire market situation is visible clearly. This enables to shed all pre-conceived notions and start afresh. Understanding the market allows to carve the path where you should head. It also helps eliminate the paths that have already been taken by other similar food services. Clarity of market knowledge aids in making sound decisions. It helps decide the precise types of food items to deliver to customers through your food business.
• Long-term goals: A clear mind-set is very important to be specific in terms of the new food business venture. Having a broad all-encompassing food delivery business idea won’t take you anywhere. The point is to being very specific and far-sighted. Utilize all the market research options through which you can collect abundant data before actually entering the food business arena. You can do the research on your own. Use whatever data is already available or you can also outsource it to professionals. Utilize all the information gathered from market survey, to decide on your food products and services. Jot down, long-term goals in your business plan for food delivery service.
• Stand-out: There is no use is doing what everyone else is doing. Make your food business stand-out with fresh foods and transfer options. For instance: If your selected market area doesn’t have any service that delivers food from 8pm-11pm, then you must target those customers. There are students, night-shift employees and working couples who want to order their dinner. So, you can benefit by delivering food or meals at odd hours. Be original with your business plan food delivery service but also keep in mind the market. To beat your competitors come up with fresh ingredients, up-to-date menus, and so on. You can also add something innovative to your existing food products.
• Charge Carefully: The price charged for your food items plays a crucial part to your food business success. You cannot charge as per your will. Firstly, you have to do thorough market survey. Check the rates charged by your competing food businesses. Depending on the market analysis, set the prices for your food products and meal platters. Don’t charge the customers too low, otherwise your food business will run in losses. Neither can you charge too high or else the customers will not order. Strike a balance while charging so that you and your client both have profits and, the customer too is content.
• Constantly Evaluate : When you are running a food business, there is always the risk of your business becoming stagnant. To eliminate that from happening, you must regularly evaluate your food business condition. You must also keep checking the competency and keep updating your plan for food delivery service. The frequent evaluation will give you the idea as to where your food business is going right and where it is lacking behind. This way you will be clear about the changes you make to keep your food business spinning money.

Online Food Delivery Business Plan

Online food delivery services get piping hot yummy meals straight the home. The USP of these online facilities is that anyone can place any food order via a smartphone/tab with internet access. The mouth-watering food being delivered is fresh, healthy and reasonably priced. The online food delivery system is in fashion.

Are you interested to benefit from the online food delivery system? Then read on to discover how you too can start an online site for ordering food. For better grasp of the market dynamics, an idea of the revenue and business model is a must.

A Basic idea

Any individual using an online food ordering website would have to first sign up. The site will lead the user to give other relevant information. For instance: The address where the user wants the food to be delivered, a phone number for reaching out at the time of delivery, choosing the dishes and the delivery time. The choice of availing daily delivery or on select days is also there for the user’s convenience.

Revenue Model of Online Delivery Policy

The revenue model is quite straightforward. The more the number of food boxes delivered per delivery, the more the profit.

Chief Features of Website to Focus On

Do not get lost amidst the thousands of online food ordering sites. To make the site better than your challenging counterparts, designing it brilliantly plays a crucial role. It will draw in maximum customers. A detailed description of website features that makes it a user-friendly online food delivery portal has been discussed as follows:

To make your homepage attractive:

• You need to focus on the Top banner. The key elements such as sign-up or sign-in are present in it.
• The banner image should be tactically built. All the special food items should be displayed online, in a manner that lures the users to place an order.
• The tagline must be striking as well as greeting
• A search bar having a location selecting list is essential, because the food delivery business is location-based.
• A homepage segment on customer feedback. It will allow a path to influence users to opt for your online food delivery service. The reviews and consumer testimonials together work like magic to drive customer traffic to the website. Both start-up businesses as well as well-known business brands can benefit from it. Majority of the first-time users rely on the reviews and testimonials to decide whether to order food online or not.

How-It-Works Page

This page assists new-bees to learn how the online food delivery functions. Any user not knowing about it can read this page and learn the simple process. It may include info about-

• How the online food ordering works
• Delivery of online ordered food/Meals
• The Payment Options for food ordered online

Log-in & Sign-up Page

This page has to be easy and quick. No user would be interested in filling a complicated online sign-up/log-in form that takes too long to complete. There is also the choice to have a pop-up than a full-fledged log-in page. The convenient one-click online login through social networking sites is quite popular. It is very much preferred by users. You may also maintain the customary email sign-up/ log in.

Pre-activation verification system

This is a system where in order to activate their user accounts online the individual has to give an email confirmation. This is necessary as it cut down the possibilities of spam accounts. For phone verification, a One-time-password (OTP) can be sent to the contact number provided by the user.

Account summary

A food ordering website has to have this as it shows all the main details related to the use. User information like- contact details, delivery address, wallet balance and contact details.

As stated above, the homepage has to have a search bar as it plays a vital role. Once the user input the location. Next, the selection for preferred meal such as whether the user wants breakfast, lunch, or dinner must come up. This when chosen by the user, will give the idea of the delivery timing.

When you have a home delivery food business plan , then delicious and personalized food packages are a must. It should be healthy too. Those you order online for their breakfast, lunch or dinner would want foods that are tasty and light, rather than greasy and heavy to digest. Furthermore, rotating the menu and having something new on the list will keep your regular customers interested. They won’t get bored of having to eat the same cuisines and move to other food delivery choices.

The listed food should be:

• Well-designed
• The images of meals platters and foods should be of high quality. Do ensure that the pictures displayed are not of too high resolution, otherwise the loading time will increase and it can really make users leave the site.
• To keep customers interest in mind, it’s best to have vegetarian cuisines separated from non-vegetarian dishes.

Order Placement Process

This need to be kept fast and easy. First, the user would choose the food from the menu list to order. The order place process follows after the food selection process is complete. The user by typing in the contacts details should be led to verifying the order. Next, comes the adding of the delivery address. If the user has saved a default address for delivery, it will show up and can be selected. The final step would be the payment process followed by order confirmation. The user may select the preferred mode of payment such as COD (cash on delivery), debit/ credit card, or Net banking and be done with the purchase easily. The online food delivery business plan needs to mention all the facilities you offer. The online delivery system is a recent market trend and you must surely try it.

Why you need a Delivery Service Business Plan?

The food business can be a start-up or an established one, a business plan plays a crucial part. If you are into food delivery service, then you would need a business plan too. Many food business owners have no idea as to how a ‘business plan’ is to be written. There are several questions that may come up. Why would a food delivery service need a business plan? What sort of benefit will such a plan do to food delivery? Most of the business heads, especially those of a start-up food delivery business feel this way.

Why build a food delivery Business Plan?

A business plan is a document having all the information about your food delivery business. This allows you to present it to anybody interested in supporting your food delivery business venture. It serves more than one purpose:

• A business plan works like an elaborate design encompassing all the deeds required for launching a food delivery business. Additionally, it also works to enhance an already established food delivery business. It has all the intricate business details of the food delivery service (time of delivery, types of food that customers can order; online, phone and textual modes of ordering food, etc.). The market of the food delivery service is mentioned (whether there are other food business, is it a competitive market area, etc.). The food delivery service’s management details are also touched.
• A food delivery business plan works as a benchmark. You can calculate how well your food delivery business has achieved the set targets.
• A food delivery business plan works as an instrument to attract lenders and acquire business loans. It also aids to grip the attention of many other company owners. If your food delivery business plan can make an impact then you can get monetary support. You may also get other resources to support your food delivery service.

What is the Business Plan Standard Format?

A food delivery business plan is usually seen to cover some familiar elements of a food service. Here’s a common format of the food delivery business plan. It will give you a rough idea as to how to a business plan is to be organized.

• Executive Synopsis
• Keys to Success
• Company Synopsis (It gives a basic idea of the food delivery company’s background and history)
• Product Description
• Market Analysis Synopsis
• Strategies and Execution Synopsis
• Management Synopsis
• Financial Analysis

Some business plan may include some further food business and service information. For instance: the company operation methods, the owners, the management, strategies for products and service promotion and marketing and soon.

3 Different Tools to Build a Business Plan Easily: Template, Software, Sample

A large number of services choose various alternatives when crafting a business plan  for their company. Some approaches are quick and easy, while some take time. The diverse tools used for crafting a business plan includes- business plan template, trying a business plan software, downloading a sample business plan, or hiring a professional consultant to build the business plan for you.

Great service

Great service. Good turnaround time and quality work. Thanks!

Business Plan Template

Are you are short of time? Do you want a finished business plan right away? Then, opting for a business plan template can be a great idea.

What is a business plan template?

A business plan template is basically a draft that is already written. The entire business plan is pre-written by professional business plan expert with some blanks left to be filled by individual business owners. You just need to fill in your names and it will become your very own business plan. That is to say, for a food delivery business plan template, browse through the available templates in a website offering business plan templates to find a matching one. Sometimes, the templates don’t have spaces or gaps but have some dummy names which you need to change.

At times, it can be tough to find a matching template. To resolve this issue some website template online services provide a form. Filling in the requirements helps them to find a suitable template. You can jot down some specifics about your food delivery service. For instance: Pointers like, whether you provide breakfast/lunches/ dinners and get a similar business template offered immediately. Once the appropriate template is found, the business owner needs to fill in the personal details in the template and it will be ready. Personal details such as name of the company, the precise services offered, financial date and so on are to be changed.

Is a tailor-made business plan template reliable?

It is pretty common to have doubts when selecting a food delivery business plan template. There may be several questions that cross your mind. Will a template be accurate? Is it safe to depend on a template to build a business plan? How much will it cost? To make a sound decision it is best to see both sides of the coin. So, let’s glance through the positive as well as negative sides of using a business plan template.

Advantages of Business Plan Templates

Shows business plan outline.

A top quality business plan can be very useful to give structure to your thoughts. You will obviously have several things going on in your mind about your food delivery business. But, it can be very difficult to express the thoughts in writing. Often, you may clearly know what you wish to write about your food delivery service but do not know how to start a business plan. A food delivery business plan template can come in handy at such occasions. It works like a guideline. Rather that staring at a white sheet it is a good choice to download a template. It gives the basic outline of a typical business plan. You can just insert any information as per requirement. You also can modify it according to your desire. Download Sample From Here

Provides Detailed Instruction

A first-class business plan template offers a clear idea of how to arrange all the information. When drafting a business plan for your food delivery service you have to keep in mind the investors. It should be written in a manner so that it is organized aptly for the investors to understand your plan and be impressed. It gives a step-by-step instruction to build your food delivery business plan.

Can Be Depended Upon

A superior quality template for business plan is SBA approved. This makes the plan a reliable one. There may be many business plan templates on food delivery service that you come across. Check which templates have the SBA stamp of approval! Those that have the stamp are written in the correct manner. You can use it to craft your food business plan.

Industry Specific and Customizable

The business plan templates are available in a large number. They cover a wide range of businesses and services. For instance: The restaurant and hospitality section envelopes a vast number of services. A food delivery may be big or small, serve a particular dish or have specific delivery timing. A breakfast delivery service business plan will not be similar to a dinner delivery business plan. The availability of such specific service templates is a huge benefit. Additionally, there is also the scope of modifying and personalizing the plan as per business specifics.

They are Free

The best part of a business plan is that they are free. Any business owner can browse through websites offering business plan templates and download them for free.

Limitation of Business Plan Templates

Bulk information input ha to be done personally.

Do not hold the misconception that a template is the final draft completely ready for use. It is a guiding outline of course. But, it’s not a business plan that you can immediately use. After getting a suitable template that fits your food delivery service, you have to work on it. There are several sections that will require accurate input. Take for example, you will need to do all the calculations and insert the financial spread-sheets. This can be tough and time-consuming.

Inserting Spread-sheets from Excel to Word document is Tough

It may not strike you when you download a free template. You realize how complex it is to fill all the data from Excel to Word doc, only when you actually try to do it. Again, while altering the numbers, keeping all of it at par with the latest data is difficult. Additionally, there are the diagrams, tables, and suitable pie charts to be incorporated in the food home delivery business plan template.

Inadequate Instructions

The free templates most often lack in providing proper instructions. This makes it very difficult to craft a business plan. This stands true especially for those who don’t know the exact procedure of writing a business plan. Proper knowledge of the business plan writing procedure is a must to put everything in its proper spot. Moreover, with the inadequate instructions, building the business plan can be an excruciating task.

Finding Appropriate Good Quality Template Is Tough

There are innumerable services offering huge number of templates. Finding the most apt template can be an exhausting task. Furthermore, there are some services that try to cheat customers with a poor quality template. Distinguishing the services offering trustworthy first-rate food business plan template, from those services that are unreliable, can be quite difficult.

Some Sites Charge Fee

Do not be fooled by some shrewd services that try to deceive business owner into paying for a template. Avoid all such sites that charge a fee for a template. Even if they charge a small amount, don’t pay for a template which you can easily avail for free!

Nevertheless, a template can be useful to any business owner seeking a rough idea of how a business plan is crafted correctly. In addition, a template is easy to download. It gives the push that is needed to begin with the business plan writing process. Lastly, being free there is no harm in trying out a template as it might actually be very helpful.

Business Plan Software

Besides the templates there is the business plan software to assist business owners to build an excellent business plan. So, in case the template fails to fulfill all your expectations, then this can be a good pick. Business plan software offers the apt directions and flexible approach sought to complete a business plan. It can be used to develop a business plan for food delivery service.

There are innumerable software tools available online that claim to aid you in building your service business plan. Not all of them are good. It is easy to distinguish good business plan software from a bad one. All you need it to know are the few things that are present only in the best software. Some of the attributes found in top-quality software are:-

• Guiding help for each and every step of forming the business plan
• Video Lessons for better understanding
• The necessary financial estimates are detected automatically
• All the data is automatically arranged in the right order
• Diagrams, charts are put in place

When preparing the business plan for your food delivery service using first-rate business plan software can prove to be a smart move. It saves a lot of time. Maximum business owners, not aware of the business plan software, waste a lot of time in documenting Excel spread-sheets in Word. All such complex task is easily achievable within minutes through the software. That spares the business owners ample time to focus on the other major business areas. Still, if there is any trouble experienced when using the software, there are professionals to help out.

Business Plan Sample

There is yet another tool that can be of great use to you. It is a business plan sample. There are many who confuse a sample with a template. Both are different.

A sample is basically where the entire business plan is written out by an expert. Unlike the template, there are no gaps or blanks in a sample to be filled by the business owner. A sample writer is a professional, trained and experienced in writing business plan examples on various topics. The samples are well-written, proof-read and are arranged as per the standard business plan format. It is easy to locate such samples. There are multiple services who publish business plan documents on their website. Some services charge some fee while many offer it for free.

Download Sample From Here

Steps to Find a Suitable food delivery business plan sample

• To find a meal delivery service business plan sample a business owner needs to visit a site offering sample business plans. There is huge number of websites available so finding one isn’t tough.
• Once such a site if located, the business owner has to click on the business plan samples under the “Restaurant and Hospitality” section.
• The “Restaurant and Hospitality” page will have a sub-page with business plan written on food delivery service only. Click on that.
• Once there, you need to see if you can allocate the business plan specific to the service you offer. For instance, whether your service caters to a particular age group- kids, students, office employees, senior citizens, etc. Then, there are specific cuisines served. Also, your service may have a particular delivery timing focusing on breakfast, lunch or dinner. Check that topic which matches your precise business services .
• If you cannot find the befitting food delivery business plan sample, do not leave the page. There are uncountable samples and it is common not to find what a befitting one. At such instances, you need to call or drop in a form in the website’s contact page. The form usually contains some questions. Those queries, when answered, allows the attendant to know which business plan sample you need exactly. Then, the service assistant helps to find the specific food delivery service business sample for you.

The sample will have everything written down in a manner that would impress the investing clients. Still, since it is a pre-written document, it is likely to be based on general information only. To make it your own food delivery service business plan , it is best to modify the document. Insert all the vital information that can make your food delivery service stand out. Remember that sample is available for use to everyone running a food delivery service. Therefore, edit and change as much as possible to make it a unique and excellent business plan.

If you are short of time you can get professional help. You can directly speak to a professional via emails or the phone. They will customize the sample business plan as per your preferences. They generally do it through a step by step interview process. They ask questions and take your inputs regarding each and every part of the business plan. Ultimately, the completed draft is given to you for review. If you need further changes, you need to point that out. The experts will make all the necessary modifications and send you the finished food delivery service business plan sample, ready for use. Unlike a sample which is readily available for free download; you may have to pay some amount for a tailor-made business plan sample.

Business Plan consultation

If all these fail, you can hire a business plan consultant. There are services that have website portals. There you can find all the details about consultants. They are professional having expertise in building business plan for all sorts of business. It may be a small start-up business or a big renowned one. The crafting of a business plan consists of many intricate detailing at each segments. Furthermore, impressing an investor is not an easy job. A template, software or sample can be helpful. But, to achieve the impeccable business plan specifically designed for your service would require an expert help. This is where a consultation can aid you. You can find all their qualification, experience and previous business plan designs before hiring them. You can speak to them and clear your apprehensions.

They are trained exclusively in crafting business plans. Hence, you can be assured that you are in safe hands. They know their job well. Moreover, you can always share your thought-process and what you need your business plan food delivery service to look like. They being experts in crafting business plans doesn’t mean they will disregard your inputs. On the contrary, they will take develop the business plan exactly as per your expectation. Additionally, the final draft will be in correct format. Its originality and accurateness will grip the investor’s attention and impress them thoroughly.

Lunch Delivery Service

The lunch delivery service is a latest business trend. Large numbers of entrepreneur’s are taking major interest in this particular business. Firstly, this is a very affordable start-up business endeavor. Secondly, it is up to the business owner whether s/he wants to do the business on a small scale or a large one. The recognition and classification of the services areas, various kinds of lunches to be delivered, all come within the lunch delivery service business plan.

Reasons for popularity of lunch delivery service in the offices

The on-set of businesses delivering lunches at offices has been a huge relief to workers across the world, majorly in the metropolitan cities. The lunch delivery business has been hugely popular among the masses, especially office employees, mainly because-

• The present times, when everyone is busy working, there is little time for cooking and packing lunches to work.
• There is no time to go visit a near-by restaurant during lunch-breaks. Often even not enough time to go to the canteen. Thus, the afternoon meals delivered at desks are a great solution. It is a superb way-out especially for those employees who are busy working at desks during lunch hours.
• This is an affordable in-budget option. Ordering an expensive fancy meal at the restaurant can be somewhat off-budget.
• This is a perfect for offices with no canteens or near-by eateries.
• The office canteens have limited options. The rush during lunch hours often exhausts the available dishes. Quality of food is at times poor. Having the same food every single day becomes monotonous and boring.

2 Options for Food Delivery Business

The business owner has two ways to go ahead with the business delivering the lunches on the desired customer location:-

Option 1: The owner running the service can choose to do the whole thing. Various stages are involved in this business. Starting from taking the customer’s order to buying the ingredients, cooking the food, organizing, packing and delivering it to them on time. The service owner may opt to undertake all the responsibility.

Option 2: The business owner can choose to sign an agreement and team up with a food company owner. In this option, the responsibility is shared between the food company and the business owner delivering lunch-packs. The food company handles the first part- cooking plus packing the lunch as per customer order. The owner of the food business handles the second part- delivering lunch-packs to customers.

3 key Elements of Lunch Delivery Business

The popularity of services delivering lunches has inspired people from different backgrounds. The youth, housewives, mothers staying at the house, retired individuals, as well as others from diverse walks of life are becoming fresh entrepreneurs. Their business has been profitable due to its low-cost investment and high-demand feature.

There are 3 key elements of running the business of lunch delivery:-

• Primarily, it’s compulsory for every business associated with delivering food to have the basic permit. A green signal from Health Inspection Department is also a must.
• An appropriate place is needed to systematically arrange all the food.
• To carry the lunch-packs to the customers a suitable mode of transport is necessary. For example, food trucks, vans, etc.

10 Things to Represent in the Business Plan for Lunch Delivery Service

• The factors suggesting that the lunch delivery service is an exclusive one. Factors like- a stand-out lunch menu, regional cuisines, use of fresh local herbs, organic ingredients, prompt deliverance, zero competitors within the vicinity set for lunch delivery, personal request based meals such as sugarless, less salt/chilly, less calorie, and so on.
• There should be clarity of the starting investments made for purchasing all the items. All the paraphernalia which comprise of- the kitchen utensils, movable refrigerator, ovens, coolers, and also delivery van.
• Information of the food supply and wholesale vendors is to be stated. Needs of the working staff too requires illustration.
• Marketing strategies restaurants to form, maintain and boost the customer base. Face-to-face marketing, building online food business website, circulating menu brochures, sending mails directly, etc. being some tactics of achieving it.
• Having a place for food assembly, which fulfills the criteria set by the Health Department
• Wide range of menu choices. Rotation of the menu at regular intervals depending on seasonal change, ingredient availability, customer preferences, etc.
• Routes selected strategically depending on locations that have large number of offices, and also buildings where meetings and social events are held.
• The range of specific target consumer like- office staff, private parties, community gatherings, corporate events, visitors residing in lodges, societal occasions, and formal conferences.
• Different kinds of lunch packing, along with the diverse substances used for packing. Examples would be- lunches packed in boxes, paper packs, steel cases, plastic containers and so on.
• Financial statement asserting the overall performance of the food business in the last 5 Years. It must cover the complete expenditure details. For instance, money spent in buying ingredients, food packaging charge, staff fees, charges for making health department permit, insurance bill, and, transportation price.

5 Things That Play a Crucial Part in the Business Providing Lunch Delivery Services

• Food delivery business entrepreneurs must have excellent management skills.

It’s essential to plan-up in advance to get the lunch ready on due time. It is important to make the plan full-proof. A back-up plan for any emergency situations is important as problems may crop up at the last moment.

• A dependable vehicle for delivering the packed lunches/food is vital.
• Company promotions displaying that all deliveries will be made exactly on time have to achieve it in real. Before making any promises on delivery timing to the prospective customers it is best to clarify certain doubts. For instance: Will it be sensible to give such assurance when providing food delivery service in a busy traffic zone? Will it be possible to deliver lunch-boxes as per time in a place of high populace?
• The owner of the food business must understand the competitors well. At the time of introducing the lunch delivery service business plan to the investors, every fact must be revealed. All records of similar lunch/food delivery businesses such as near-by food joints, restaurants, etc. need to be mentioned.

Our consultants have an all-embracing knowledge and experience in food delivery business plan development in the hospitality and restaurant industries. Reaching out and hiring a consultant is very easy. You can simple call or fill in an online form with your requirements and a consultant will get in touch with you shortly.

Download Food Delivery Service Business Plan Sample in pdf

OGScapital also specializes in writing business plans such as personal chef business plan sample , business plan for a pizza shop , business plan for seafood restaurant , business plan for a startup Subway , fast food restaurants business plan , BBQ business plan and many other business plans

OGSCapital’s team has assisted thousands of entrepreneurs with top-rate business plan development, consultancy and analysis. They’ve helped thousands of SME owners secure more than $1.5 billion in funding, and they can do the same for you.

3 thoughts on “ Food Delivery Service Business Plan ”

Informative blog!

Thank you for your comment.

Thank you for your comment. If you need assistance in writing your business plan please contact us by email: [email protected] or call us at USA +1-619-727-5304, UK +44-203-318-1069, Canada +1-613-699-7822, Australia +61-385-956-735.

Vegetable Farming Business Plan

Trading Business Plan

How To Write A Textile Manufacturing Business Plan

Start a Vending Machine Business in 2024: A Detailed Guide

Oil and Gas Business Plan

What Is Strategic Planning: Definition and Process

Any questions? Get in Touch!

We have been mentioned in the press:

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Search the site:

Delivery Services Business Plans

Bicycle courier business plan.

The Two Wheeled Oracle is a bicycle-based courier service catering to law firms.

Concierge Service Business Plan

Godsend Concierge Service is a full-service concierge business serving the Eugene, Oregon market.

Direct Mail and Shipping Business Plan

The Shipping Centre is a start-up full-service fax transmittal, shipping, and private P.O. Box company.

Dry Cleaning Home Delivery Business Plan

Columbia Cleaners is a start-up dry cleaning, laundry and alterations service business. They are offering a new service, home pickup and delivery of garments and items, instead of the traditional drop.

E-Commerce Start-Up Business Plan

NoHassleReturn.com strives to position itself as a strategic partnership between online merchants, Web hosting companies and portals, shipping companies, and online payment agents such as credit card issuers.

Mail Order Returns Business Plan

QuickReturns is a start-up company offering e-tail returns and reverse logistics services.

Pizza Delivery Business Plan

Tsunami Pizza will offer the best pizza and the fastest delivery service in the area.

Ready to start a packing and shipping business? A business plan is a smart first step. For inspiration, check out these sample business plans for packaging and shipping, direct mail, mail order returns, and other related businesses.

The quickest way to turn a business idea into a business plan

Fill-in-the-blanks and automatic financials make it easy.

No thanks, I prefer writing 40-page documents.

Discover the world’s #1 plan building software

• Bahasa Indonesia
• Slovenščina
• Science & Tech
• Russian Kitchen

Plov delivery service brings Moscow’s offices a taste of the east

Plov. Russian broker’s company offers workers a change from sushi and pizza. Source: Lori / Legion Media

In the spring of 2013 broker Ilkhom Ismailov took an unusual decision – he opened an online restaurant offering delivery to offices and homes. However, the usual sushi and pizza standards were off the menu - Ismailov’s company specializes in the delivery of Central Asian pilaff, or plov , a dish prepared with rice and meat or fish.

Ismailov's business partner is his brother Zafar, who, after a long time mulling whether to leave his construction job for the sake of an internet restaurant, finally took the plunge. In September 2013 the brothers registered their new company “Plov No. 1” and began looking for partners among plov producers in Moscow, something that was not easy.

"In the East there is a tradition: Men get together, usually on Thursdays, to eat plov and share their wise thoughts," explains Ilkhom. "Having been to many restaurants, we realized that it was better to prepare the plov at home by ourselves.

“But then we found a little café where a very talented chef was making the real Uzbek plov. I would come to eat his plov during many business lunches, even if there was traffic and I was coming from the other side of Moscow. When we launched our business, we came to the chef and ‘secured’ him to make plov for our customers."

With a little help from their friends

The Plov No. 1 restaurant began operating in November last year. In the beginning it was just a site with a telephone number that people would call to order plov to their homes or offices.

There was only one combination on the menu: a 300-gram portion of plov and samosa for 450 rubles ($9.5). Ilkhom persuaded his colleagues to order the plov for holidays and special occasions, telling them to be original. It was only thanks to his friends that the brothers began receiving two-three orders a day, but the business's sales margins were almost zero.

Sales went up significantly only in the spring of 2014. There were now three types of plov on the menu: the classical Uzbek plov; the "festive" plov with raisins and pieces of cumin; and the vegetarian plov - all accompanied by a selection of fresh vegetables and Uzbek flatbreads. There was also a minimum order of 1,500 rubles ($35). The site was now receiving five or six orders a day, and sales reached the figure of 500,000 rubles ($10,600) monthly.

Musical inspiration

In May, Sergei Brilin, founder of a Russian logistics company, became the brothers' partner after giving them 12 million rubles ($255,000) for a 30-percent share in the company. "Many people are tired of sushi and pizza today," says Brilin. "So when I learned of the Plov No. 1 project, I decided to participate in the business. I think it's a good project and I love plov as a dish. I cook it myself."

The Ismailov brothers spent their new partner's investment on fitting out the kitchen – a necessary step by then as the volume of orders had reached 20-25 a day.

Another important move for promoting Plov No. 1 was Ilkhom and Zafar's creative decision to change the packaging in which the food was delivered. They created cartons with the label "Plov must go on." They also launched phrases on the social networks alluding to popular songs such as "What a wonderful plov" or "I wanna be ploved by you." Ilkhom says that they did not use the services of branding agencies.

However, now the Ismailov brothers are preparing to invest in classical marketing. In 2015 they plan on spending several million rubles on internet advertisements. The entrepreneurs also regularly participate in the city's food markets in order to increase Muscovites’ love for plov.

The company estimates that during the winter season plov sales could increase substantially. "In November and December it will be quite cold and going out to eat won’t be so thrilling," says Zafar. Moreover, Plov No. 1 now has corporate clients and sometimes even caters for major events.

"Company directors who organize 'plov days' ask us to deliver our plov once week for their teambuilding sessions," explains Ilkhom. "Plov is a dish that unites, that is eaten with others, with your family, with a group."

Potential partners line up for plov

Plov No. 1 now receives about 50 orders a day with an average bill of 1,700 rubles ($36) and a sales margin of about 50 percent. The company's founders calculate that by the end of the year orders will reach 100 a day, with the same average bill, which will help the project start making profits in 2015. The brothers believe that they will be able to recoup the 8 million rubles ($170,000) they have spent so far on the business after a year.

Since it was founded, Plov No. 1 has received 10 potential franchising offers from Russian cities with a population of over 1 million residents, as well as from several European capitals and China. But for now the Ismailov brothers are still not ready to give the brand away to strangers. They are expecting more partners in the next six months from Moscow. Only after this will the startup develop the necessary franchising conditions.

The brothers estimate the market volume of cooked food delivery in Russia to be $1.5-1.7 billion a year and expect it to grow annually by 15-17 percent. However, it is difficult to estimate the plov segment. Before the end of the year they hope to open at least another kitchen, in the southwest of Moscow, and in 2015 to launch mobile apps to facilitate clients' orders.

Full text available at RBC Daily .

All rights reserved by Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

to our newsletter!

Get the week's best stories straight to your inbox

This website uses cookies. Click here to find out more.

Factor Review: I’m a Dietitian and Here Are My Thoughts

The meal delivery service can take the stress out of healthy eating.

We've been independently researching and testing products for over 120 years. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more about our review process.

What is Factor?

How does factor work, meal choices, what does factor cost, nutrition and ingredients, my experience testing factor, who should order factor, is factor worth it, why trust good housekeeping, pros and cons.

• Variety of chef-crafted meals to choose from
• No prep or cooking required
• Easy-to-follow heating instructions
• Add-ons include smoothies, snacks and desserts
• Some meals are high in sodium
• Not ideal for larger families

Factor , also referred to as "Factor 75" or "Factor_" is a premier meal delivery service, offering freshly prepared dishes that arrive ready to heat and enjoy. According to Nick Wernimont, one of its co-founders, Factor was born out of a desire to give people more time in their day for moments to spend with family. With a dynamic weekly menu boasting 35 options prioritizing quality protein sources like chicken, beef, pork and seafood, Factor's meals are meticulously crafted by culinary experts and approved by registered dietitians, which was an added bonus for me.

Free from hormones, antibiotics and refined sugars, each dish promises a restaurant-quality experience (which I can attest to), catering to various eating patterns such as keto, vegetarian and high-protein diets. Differing from typical meal delivery subscriptions, Factor eliminates the need for any preparation or cooking; each meal arrives ready to be heated and savored, with minimal effort — what a dream. And if you find yourself unsure of which meals align with your unique needs or seek additional support to achieve your health and nutrition goals, Factor offers access to a team of registered dietitians available for virtual consultations.

Joining Factor is pretty straightforward, whether using the website or the app. After entering your email and zip code, simply pick a weekly meal plan, which can range from six to 18 meals. Then, explore the extensive menu featuring various chef-crafted dishes and add-ons like fruit smoothies and snacks to customize your order.

Deliveries are available on Saturday through Wednesday, depending on location. Modifications to orders can be made until the cut-off time, providing flexibility to match your lifestyle needs.

After your initial order, you'll then receive a weekly box of fresh meals, and you'll have the option to make changes until your cut-off time. Factor requires a week's notice to prepare meals fresh-to-order, ensuring quality ingredients and to avoid excess. The meals are delivered in insulated boxes with frozen gel packs to maintain freshness, and should be refrigerated upon arrival for optimal taste and quality, lasting up to seven days.

Though options are abundant in certain categories such as keto and high protein, others like dairy-free and vegetarian have fewer choices. Unfortunately, meal modifications aren't available currently. Each meal comes with detailed descriptions, ingredient lists and nutritional information in order to make informed decisions. Alongside ready-to-eat meals, Factor offers proteins, snacks, desserts and smoothies to enhance your order.

While there aren't specific meal plans offered, you can filter meals by different diet categories including:

• Chef’s Picks: A wide range of balanced, chef-made meals using wholesome ingredients to match any lifestyle
• Keto: Tasty, keto-friendly meals with about 15 grams or less of net carbs
• Calorie Smart: Portioned meals with roughly 550 calories or fewer per serving
• Flexitarian: Balanced meals focused on veggies and purposeful proteins for flexible eating habits
• Protein-plus: Satisfying meals loaded with 30 grams or more of protein to support your wellness goals
• Vegan & Veggie: Flavorful, meat-free meals for more plant-based eating options

Factor offers a range of meal plans, from six to 18 servings per week, starting at $11 per serving. Choosing larger bundles, such as the 14- or 18-pack, provides greater value, particularly for those desiring daily meals. By opting for bigger orders, you can enjoy savings, reducing the cost per serving.

• 6-meal plan = $13.49 per serving
• 8-meal plan = $12.99 per serving
• 10-meal plan = $12.49 per serving
• 12-meal plan = $11.99 per serving
• 14-meal plan = $11.49 per serving
• 18-meal plan = $10.99 per serving

Factor meals typically range from 350 to 900 calories per meal, averaging around 600 calories. You can easily check the nutrition facts and ingredients for each meal by clicking on the meal images on Factor's menu page.

Also, if you are looking for assistance in choosing meals aligned with health goals, you can schedule a complimentary nutrition consultation with one of Factor's registered dietitians, which I thought was a nice touch, considering most meal delivery companies don't offer this. While low-sodium options are not available, you can check the sodium content of each meal by clicking on its photo.

Factor prioritizes quality ingredients and ethical sourcing, collaborating closely with food purveyors and animal welfare experts. The company shares its U.S. Chicken Welfare Policy for transparency regarding its standards and future goals. One tester said, “I like that it is free of preservatives, and uses mindfully sourced meats and eggs.”

Detailed nutritional information for each meal is accessible on Factor's menu, and allergen information is provided on the website and meal sleeves. Since Factor cannot accommodate all dietary preferences, customers are encouraged to review ingredients before ordering to ensure they meet their dietary needs.

Ordering and meal selection

I was happy that I could easily check the menu before choosing a meal. Being a food enthusiast, I was attracted to the stunning images of gourmet dishes. Factor's dishes felt like an upgraded version of microwave meals. I'm not a fan of microwaveable meals, which all too often suffer from uneven cooking and mushy or rubbery vegetables and meat. I was prepared for the worst, but very hopeful at the same time.

When deciding on my meal plan, I chose the Flexitarian option to enjoy meals containing both animal- and plant-based proteins, along with plenty of vegetables to keep me satisfied and maintain my energy level. Despite my shellfish allergy and lactose intolerance, the wide array of meal choices allowed me to select without any restrictions. I typically strive for a well-rounded combination of protein, carbohydrates and veggies in each meal, and Factor's offerings exceeded my expectations in providing nutrient-rich, balanced options.

Once I settled on my preferred plan, I carefully selected six meals for my delivery, a very challenging decision. Here's what I ordered:

• Goat Cheese Filet Mignon
• Creamed Spinach and Bacon Chicken
• Cilantro Lime Barramundi
• Baja Salmon with Cauliflower Rice
• Baja Tofu Black Beans and Rice
• Roasted Veggie Pesto Tortellini

The final step involved choosing my delivery date and eagerly anticipating the arrival of my Factor box.

Unboxing the meals

When the box arrived, it was in good condition, and all the ingredients were cool and fresh, thanks to the insulated packaging. Everything inside was well-organized, and the meals looked vibrant and high-quality. I also liked that the packaging was mostly eco-friendly, with options for recycling, reusing or composting.

Prep and cooking

The best part? No prep, no cooking — just a quick poke with a fork to ensure proper heating, then straight into the microwave, which is exactly what I did. Alternatively, the Factor team highly recommends that you can heat meals on a sheet pan in a standard oven. One tester loved the simplicity of it all and commented, “It was easy to heat up the food — two minutes in the microwave, and the meals maintained pleasant flavor, texture and overall freshness.”

I noticed that each meal came with specific heating instructions on the packaging so I felt very confident during this process. All meals have to be fully heated to safe internal temperatures of 165° Fahrenheit. While I made sure I met that requirement, I found that one of the meals, the Filet Mignon needed an extra 30 seconds in the microwave to ensure it was warmed evenly. It's crucial to make sure all parts of the meal are heated properly to avoid any risk of food borne illness. Also, just an FYI, the meal trays are not suitable for convection or toaster oven use. Overall, the instructions were clear and easy to follow, which kept the process moving quick for me since I had a long day of to-do's.

Taste and nutrition

The meals were rich in flavor, showcasing thoughtful recipe development with the use of herbs and spices, which was a highlight for me compared to other pre-made options I've tried. The serving sizes were generous, providing ample portions which I found satisfying. The Cilantro Lime Barramundi stood out as a favorite to me and the testers.

After trying the Salmon and Barramundi, one GH tester noted, “I liked the flavor of the main course as well as the overall portion size. The fish seemed like it was very good quality with nice consistency and meatiness. I also liked that the food wasn't watery.”

One of the downsides was the mushiness of some of the sides. Several testers in the Lab tried the vegetarian and vegan meal options. After trying the Baja Tofu Black Beans and Rice, a vegan option, one tester commented, “While I didn't mind the chewiness, the tofu and rice did feel a tad on the soggy side.” Another tester added, “I didn't love that the tofu was somewhat chewy. I think with the spicy flavors, it would have tasted better crispy. I also felt that the portion was a bit small for dinner because I eat a decent amount of food after working out.”

The second dish, Roasted Veggie Pesto Tortellini, was vegetarian. The pesto on the tortellini had a remarkably fresh taste, surpassing some jarred versions I’ve tried. The tortellini itself was cooked perfectly, boasting delightful flavor and texture. However, it lacked sufficient protein, which was a concern for one tester who follows a vegetarian diet and prefers protein-rich meals. They noted, “It did not have a ton of sources of protein, so it's not something I'd look for in a pre-made meal since pasta is a pretty simple dish to make myself.” I wasn't a big fan of the Filet Mignon since the texture was a bit tough for my liking, but the sides (cheesy grits and roasted carrots) were very flavorful.

One drawback of the meals was their higher sodium content — ranging from 800–1200 mg — making them less suitable for individuals with heart or kidney concerns or individuals at risk. It would be great for Factor to explore developing lower-sodium meal options while still allowing customization with salt to suit individual preferences.

While I appreciated the overall convenience, I wished the company provided recipe cards so I could recreate some dishes at home, particularly the Barramundi as I am always looking for new ways to prepare and enjoy fish. Despite this, the meals were of excellent quality, meeting my flavor expectations. I look forward to trying more recipes, especially during extremely busy weeks.

Factor is perfect for busy individuals or couples who want to eat healthily without the hassle of cooking. It's also a fantastic option for those following specific eating patterns like low-carb, keto or high-protein diets, whether you're physically active or just starting your wellness journey and need a little support.

However, Factor isn't ideal for those who are on a tight budget, have families or have a lot of dietary restrictions and needs. While it's not specifically a meal delivery service for weight loss , Factor's meals can support your unique health goals and the company offers complimentary nutrition consultations with registered dietitians, an added bonus compared to other healthy meal delivery services . Factor also integrates their platform with popular nutrition tracking apps like MyFitnessPal for your convenience.

Absolutely. Factor is a top-notch meal delivery service offering freshly prepared dishes ready to heat and enjoy. With a diverse weekly menu of 35 chef-crafted options emphasizing quality protein sources like chicken, beef, pork, and seafood, Factor caters to various dietary preferences, including keto, high-protein, vegetarian, and more.

While there are some drawbacks, notably the higher sodium content, the convenience and quality of Factor meals make it worthwhile. The service is a bit on the pricier side, with one GH tester who noted, “It's way too expensive for me to ever consider buying it myself.” If you're able to budget for these meals, then it might be worth exploring.

Also keep in mind the meals come prepared, likely one of the reasons why it's a bit on the pricier side. Another tester said, “I've always been overwhelmed by which meal delivery service to choose, but I definitely will be ordering Factor for my husband and me. I really appreciate the quality of the meals and how well-balanced they are.”

Having meals delivered eliminates grocery shopping and meal-prep hassle, and the nutrient-packed, delicious dishes are easy to enjoy with minimal effort. Plus, Factor provides access to registered dietitians for personalized support. Overall, Factor is a fantastic solution for busy individuals looking for nutritious, convenient meal options.

At the Good Housekeeping Institute , we test all different types of food products and services. From healthy snacks and supplements to food subscription boxes and meal delivery services, our experts are committed to bringing you the best of the best when it comes to quality, performance, flavor, nutrition and more. In our most recent study of meal delivery services, we recruited over 300 home cooks across the nation, while our in-house experts also tested the services in our Labs. All in all, we evaluated over 50 different meal delivery services, ranging from traditional kits that come with pre-measured ingredients and a follow-along recipe card to fully prepared options. We tested the services over the course of three months in the categories of overall satisfaction, food quality, cost, recycling efforts and availability.

Valerie Agyeman is a women's health dietitian and the host of the Flourish Heights podcast, where she produces science-driven content covering overlooked nutrition, wellness and women’s health topics. She has over 10 years of nutrition communications, corporate wellness and clinical nutrition experience. Agyeman is a trusted expert and regularly appears on networks including ABC’s Good Morning Washington , and she is a contributing expert to publications like Women’s Health , The Thirty and Shape .

Valerie Agyeman (she/her) is a women's health dietitian and the host of the Flourish Heights podcast, where she produces science-driven content covering overlooked nutrition, wellness and women’s health topics. She has over 10 years of nutrition communications, corporate wellness and clinical nutrition experience. Valerie is a trusted expert and regularly appears on networks including ABC’s Good Morning Washington , and she is a contributing expert to publications like Women’s Health , The Thirty and Shape .

@media(max-width: 64rem){.css-o9j0dn:before{margin-bottom:0.5rem;margin-right:0.625rem;color:#ffffff;width:1.25rem;bottom:-0.2rem;height:1.25rem;content:'_';display:inline-block;position:relative;line-height:1;background-repeat:no-repeat;}.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}}@media(min-width: 48rem){.loaded .css-o9j0dn:before{background-image:url(/_assets/design-tokens/goodhousekeeping/static/images/Clover.5c7a1a0.svg);}} Product Reviews

14 Most Popular Products of May 2024

The Best At-Home Hair Color Brands

The Best Stick Vacuums, Tested by Experts

The Best Split King Adjustable Beds

The Best Socks for Men

10 Best Korean Sunscreens of 2024

The Best Swimsuits on Amazon

The Best Window Air Conditioners for Your Home

The Best Irons for Clothes

Everything You Need to Know About Makeup for Men

Does Wonderskin's Lip Stain Live up to the Hype?