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Start a business

Thinking about starting a food business?

Good. Before looking at packages, work through the business itself.

You do not need a 50-page business plan. You do need clear answers to a few practical questions.

Photography to be suppliedWide documentary shot: a neighbourhood street at merienda time, carts and small stalls, people walking past
01

How much can you comfortably invest?

Comfortable means you could lose part of it without harming your household.

Count the full opening budget, not just the package. Then keep a separate working-capital buffer for the months before sales cover costs.

Write down your answer
  • Total amount available, without borrowing
  • How much you could borrow, and the monthly repayment
  • How many months of costs you could carry with low sales
02

Where could you operate?

A specific site you can describe beats “somewhere busy.”

Think about who passes, at what times, and what they already buy. Rental terms and property requirements belong in the budget, too.

Write down your answer
  • Two or three possible sites, by name
  • Who uses each area and when
  • Known rent, deposit and property rules
03

Who will run the outlet?

You, a family member or hired crew — each needs a different setup.

If you will not be there most days, plan how stock, cash and reporting will work before you open, not after.

Write down your answer
  • Who opens and closes each day
  • Who handles cash and stock counts
  • How you will check the numbers
04

What does the local market already buy?

Existing demand is evidence. A gap is an opportunity — or a warning.

Walk the area at different times. Note what is selling, at what price, and where queues form.

Write down your answer
  • Nearby food and drink sellers
  • Typical prices customers pay
  • Busy hours and quiet hours
05

How much monthly cost can the business carry?

Rent, crew, supplies and utilities arrive every month, whatever the sales.

Estimate fixed monthly costs first. Then ask honestly what daily sales would be needed to cover them.

Write down your answer
  • Monthly rent and utilities
  • Crew salaries and benefits
  • Daily sales needed to break even

Have rough answers? Let’s narrow the options.

The Franchise Finder takes about three minutes. Your answers carry over if you decide to talk to us.

Use the Franchise Finder