Watching some local builders queuing up to enter a building site today I noticed a number of them that had McDonalds or local sandwich shop packaging in their hands. I’ve also had a number of requests for more posts on cheap business opportunities that anyone can start-up so I began to think.
It seems to me that the majority of our workforce buys their lunch and usually they buy it either from the onsite supplier, from a supplier who visits the site or from a local shop within at most 10 minutes walk/drive.
So if you’re looking for a cheap business opportunity then making sandwiches for local workers could be it. The start-up costs are low, all you need to do is buy some raw materials: a few loaves of bread; some fillings; and something to package the sandwiches in. Even shopping at a supermarket you can probably start up for little more than £20. I expect you’d be able to make at least £40 selling those give you a 50% margin. If you re-invest all the takings on the second and third day then by the fourth you should be self funding and generating a profit. This assume of course that you can sell what you’re making.
Let’s imagine that you’re making 100 packs of sandwiches per day - is it that hard to sell them? I don’t think so. It might just be a case of visiting 5-10 offices/units on a trading estate or industrial park and finding ten customers at each, or a large building site (hint stand outside from 7:45 am). Some businesses will even let you onto the premises to sell your sandwiches as it helps their workers (and it means their workers don’t leave the office over lunchtime and are thus likely to do more work). The great thing is once you’ve found your ten or so regular offices you don’t need to do much more selling (unless you plan to grow).
Now lets suppose you sell the sandwiches at £2 an go and they cost you £1 a go to make then you’re quickly turning over £200 per day, or £1000 per week of which roughly 50% is profit. If you start selling drinks, crisp and chocolate alongside the sandwiches (maybe even as a meal deal) you could easily double that level of profit.
So if you want a nice simple, cheap business opportunity - give em sandwiches!
This blog is about business opportunities and ideas that I spot, think of or hear about and think are useful and interesting. It is intended to provide ideas and inspriation for you to help you find the right business idea for you to then grow it into a successful business.
Yes, seems like a nice easy-entry cash business idea, but is it that simple? Aren’t there several council, EH and H&S food prep regulations to comply with? Complying with red-tape often means extra costs.
While you’re right that some business owners/managers allow food sellers onto their premises others can be ‘hostile’. The potential market is big, when you consider all workplace settings. I’d imagine the competition would be immediate and pretty fierce - established sandwich roundsmen aren’t that happy about newbies stepping on their toes! It would keep one fit thou
Yes you’re right if you want to pursue it properly you will need to take a food hygiene course.
Equally you’re right about established vendors, although oddly a good number of places aren’t yet covered, i.e. the two large building sites I pass regularly at the moment.
On my industrial estate where my storage depots are there arnt any sandwich rounds either, Instead of sandwichs you could do pasties, pies or something that. you could buy in and not have to deal with making them, Thus cutting down on prep time etc. All sites i.e building sites have access to a micro wave!
Every 1 loves pies!
ben
Nice post, John.
Yes, there are probably many technicalities and realities to making such a small business succeed.
But I like your practical approach: solving customer needs is a great place to start for anyone looking for business opportunities.
Ben,
Good idea, although I’d leave pies etc. until you’ve proven a market for the business as they are likely to cost you more than making a few sandwiches and can therefore justify the investment in more expensive stock (and at such a point find a trade supplier).
Plenty of potential, but could be a bit of sandwich rage from other vendors.Best to do a recce of the sites before you set up.
What happens re: the local council and health inspectors etc. Is it a case of start trading then see what happens ? You often see roadside greasy spoon portacabins in laybys is that just chancers or can you get legal permissionto sell food etc?
Hi John - This is a very profitable idea. A guy used to deliver sandwiches and soup to my old office, then in the afternoons, he used to do building work. He said he made far more from selling the sandwiches than he did from the building work. He used the same van too!
What would be good is a sandwich float somewhere on industrial estate where you can build a relationship with your customers and actually make fresh, custom made sandwiches for everyone. When are you going to sell them however? You will have to be in 20 different places all at once during the lunch break.
Hello. In order to do this you will need your food preparation areas inspected and approved by your local environmental health (this is a free service) and you need to register your premises 28 days prior to beginging trading. You must also be very careful about temperature control when transporting your sandwiches especially on hot days. You will need a dedicated fridge and storage areas separate from your domestic food. Also remember that whilst non of this is enforcable by law, if someone gets ill after eating one of your sandwiches and you are found to be in breach of health laws you could face 1000 pound fine for each breach as well as up to 5 years in prison. It does have the potential to be a good earner though.
I had a sandwich round for five years between 1990 and 1995. I loved every minute although it was very hard work. I was up at 6 every morning to greet the baker who supplied my fresh rolls, cakes etc. I also had a lovely indian lady who baked all her own pies, ie. samosas, pasties and I sold them still hot and believe me I would have been lynched if I did not have them. The hard part was actually getting the round established it took me weeks, for every 10 knock Backs I maybe got one yes not to mention the local competition, intimidation, threats etc. You need to be tough to survive, but I worked hard and had a wonderful customer base, I love to work with people and it helps to get on with all types. My children are now all grown up and I am now thinking of doing it all over again with a girlfriend and I cant wait…
Great on paper, I don’t think this would work quite so well in real life. The best thing though is that you could test this idea very easily:
Go down your Supermarket early in the AM and buy 100 of their ready made sandwiches, then go along round the industrial estates or wherever and try to sell them. Of course you won’t make any profit, but you’ll find out for comparatively little cost and hassle what the demand is like.