How to Start Food Delivery Business in Europe?

What could be better than a delicious meal that you don't have to prepare yourself and costs a fair amount? In major cities, online food delivery services bring delicacies from neighborhood restaurants to customers' front doors.

Many businesses have moved their operations online in response to the current pandemic. Among these ventures, the food delivery business is one of the most lucrative. People are more likely to order food online because they still avoid going out, making it a lucrative industry. Why not enter the fray as well? Existing online stores provide various options, from desserts to full-blown meals made from simple European recipes.

Undoubtedly, an investment in the food delivery industry will prosper since it is one of the fastest-growing industries. According to Statista's annual reports, the platform-to-consumer market will have a projected volume of $291.10 billion by 2027. Its CAGR is 8.24% right now. By the end of that year, 19.1% of users are anticipated.

But what is a food delivery service, and why is it a good idea?

Before launching a food delivery business, let's discuss the fundamentals:

What Is The Food Delivery Business?

The service provider or platform owner delivers food to the customer's door in the food delivery business model. Through a website or mobile application, restaurants, brick-and-mortar shops, or outside vendors provide customers with on-demand food delivery service. Customers must browse the application to choose their preferred food, place an online order, and have it delivered to the specified address or location.

Most food delivery services are operated through region-based portals worldwide, ranging from large ones with a presence across an entire country or continent to delivery services that only serve a particular state or region.

Globally, particularly in areas with sizable populations of wealthy middle-class people like Europe, the need to start online food delivery business is steadily increasing. The widespread use of mobile apps among young people in Europe and many young people without jobs who have opportunities to work as delivery valets have contributed to the success of such apps.

Business Models For Food Delivery Business

Choose to start a food delivery business model that fits your business type before you start developing the app. You can look at a few of them below:

Business Model For Aggregators

This business model for online food delivery offers a platform that connects customers and restaurants. It accomplishes this by connecting a variety of restaurants to its platform. The customers can then visit a variety of restaurants all in one location.

Model Of Ordering And Delivering

In this business model for food delivery, the restaurant proprietors hire a food delivery app development company to make prompt and effective deliveries. Since they are in charge of the delivery, the third-party delivery service determines the delivery costs for food orders.

Comprehensive Business Strategy

As the name implies, you handle every food preparation and delivery aspect. Since everything will be done in-house, a sizable investment will be needed. However, because every process stage is under your control in this model, you will make much more money. McDonald's and Domino's are two successful examples of this model.

How To Make Money From Your Food Delivery Business

If you have your own food delivery app, there are three ways you can make money from your business:

Delivery Fees

If you choose an order-only business model for your app, you won't be able to make money from delivery fees because the restaurant handles that. The app only collects and manages orders and serves as an interface between the customer and the restaurant. You can include delivery fees in your revenue model if you choose the order and delivery option.

Commissions

Food delivery apps typically charge restaurants a variable commission for being listed on the app. The commission typically ranges from 5 to 15%, depending on the level of exposure. When customers show interest in the restaurant, the commissions drop to 5–10%.

Applications	Revenue	Monthly Users
DoorDash	$1.92 billion (nine months of 2020)	20 million
GrubHub	$1.3 billion (2020)	22.6 million
Uber Eats	$2 billion	21 million
Postmates	$107 million	10 million
Instacart	13.7 billion	5.5 million

Ad Space

Food delivery apps have a lot of empty space that can be used as a blank canvas for restaurants or other brands to place advertisements. Most apps charge brands and restaurants a variable rent for ad space based on where the ad is displayed.

Essential Elements In Food Delivery App

You must start with an on-demand app development but eventually upgrade to a fully functional one. A dedicated and native mobile app will keep your customers connected as they frequently visit your platform and increase your company's sales opportunities. Customers, delivery valets, restaurants, and the service admin all require their own interfaces when you build the mobile app interface for your online food delivery service.

Customer App

This will function for customers like the food delivery website and simplify ordering food online. It will have different restaurant menus, the ability to choose from various food items, different payment options, and options to track orders on a GPS-enabled map, just like the website interface.

Delivery Drivers App

This interface was created specifically for delivery valets, who can use it to receive notifications of assigned orders and learn more about the location and available payment methods.

Restaurant App

This specialized app interface assists restaurant owners in managing payment, tracking the delivery valet, and accepting and accepting orders.

Admin App

This admin-only interface manages all other app interfaces, such as those for dining establishments, delivery drivers, and customer orders. The admin panel also manages customer service, payment processing, special offers, and promotions.

How To Start A Food Delivery Business In Europe?

Once you've chosen the business model you want to pursue, you can be doubly confident that developing a food delivery application is a business idea with a high chance of success. But it's always a good idea to be aware of the market, your rivals, and any potential obstacles as you embark on this development process. A methodical approach will assist you in successfully achieving the desired outcomes. The following are the steps you can take to launch a food delivery business:

Do Market Research

Creating wholesome meals and spotting profitable business opportunities go hand in hand with successful food delivery. Additionally, numerous opportunities are available to you, given that the market for food delivery services is anticipated to reach $154.34 billion by 2023. Start by investigating the neighborhood market. You can use this to create your restaurant's menu and combine your passion for food with a means of making money.

Talk to any nearby couriers and established restaurants. Check out how frequently and how much people use home delivery services and place food orders. Focus your study on the following topics:

Competitors

Platform-to-consumer and restaurant-to-consumer operators have significant control over the market for food delivery services because they manage their own logistics. To position your business favorably in comparison to the products and services of these competitors, research their pricing strategies, online menus, and marketing strategies.

Find An Opportunity

Look into local food delivery companies to compare their offerings, costs, and client feedback. You're trying to find a market hole to plug. This might kick-start your word-of-mouth advertising and bring in customers right away.

Choose Your Goods Or Services

You must choose whether to prepare specialized meals, provide a menu, or do both. A specialty menu, such as vegan food or fine dining, can be created, or you can offer a selection. Delivering wine and alcoholic beverages could also increase your revenue, but you'll need a license.

Take Care Of Your Financial And Legal Needs

After thoroughly analyzing and researching your niche and target market, the next step is to check the legalities and formalities needed for your business. It is essential to take care of all the paperwork and administrative work in advance so you can later concentrate on other crucial aspects of your online business.

Understanding the laws and rules in your area is crucial if you want to follow the law and maintain all necessary records. Additionally, make sure you obtain all the permits and licenses necessary to launch a food delivery business in your nation by consulting local laws. The next crucial step is choosing your food delivery app development company's organisational structure. The legal business structure will determine the tax and liability for your business.

Establish Your Budget And Costs

According to business owners; a food delivery app typically costs between $30,000 and $70,000, with monthly overheads ranging from $600 to $10,000. Let's talk about some significant expenses related to launching and running a food delivery service:

License

What business licenses are necessary for your city, state, or both? Federal licenses may be required for your particular type of food delivery business, such as transportation or agriculture.

Workplace

Where will your restaurant delivery service be based? For instance, will your home, a commercial kitchen, or a rented office serve as the headquarters for your company?

Insurance

Small businesses typically require liability insurance. You'll also need commercial auto insurance if you're making the deliveries. You might need workers' compensation insurance if you're hiring staff.

Technology

Will you create your own proprietary software in-house or purchase software from a third party? Do you know how to manage the technology, or do you require the services of an IT professional or developer?

Equipment

Are delivery vehicles, specialty food trays, food transportation bags, commercial kitchen equipment, and other items something your business will need?

Marketing

How will you disseminate information about your company to your target market? What advertising tools will you require, such as a website, branded napkins, flyers, and online ads?

Choose The Functionality And Features

The next step is choosing the features and functionalities you want to offer your users after choosing the business structure and adhering to all legal requirements. You can have a competitive advantage over your rivals by having distinctive features. With your added features, your platform will stand out in this fiercely competitive online food delivery market.

The following characteristics are essential for a profitable online food delivery business.

• Push notifications
• Multi-lingual
• Simple ordering process
• Simple registration management
• Order control
• Reports and analytics
• Geo-fencing
• Query Filters
• History of orders
• Reviews and ratings
• Tracking GPS in real-time
• Improved routes
• Multi Payment Options
• Loyalty programs

Purchase Tools And Assemble Your Crew

Now that you have a plan, it's time to gather your team and equip yourself with the necessary resources. Make wise choices regarding both, and you'll position yourself for long-term success.

Right Tech Stack

Utilize the most cutting-edge technology possible. If not, one of your rivals will, and they'll provide a better customer experience. We assist companies in maintaining a competitive edge, generating revenue, and scaling effectively. Our software empowers food delivery businesses by automating customer notifications, driver scheduling, and delivery route planning, among other tasks.

Put Together Your Ideal Team

You must assemble the ideal team if you are a startup. Since you'll collaborate closely with your staff, choose employees who share your values, and hiring wisely will increase revenue. When your food delivery business aims to break even, it is especially crucial to have content employees who enjoy their work because they produce more.

Promote Your Product To The People Who Will Use It

Consider these strategies to market your food delivery service effectively:

Social Media

Engage your audience with enticing images of the food you can serve. No one can resist sharing food photos, especially if they could win a free meal by participating in a photo contest. This is also a good way to increase the visibility of your business.

Website

A user-friendly website is necessary in the modern world. Customers can order food and learn more about your business on your website. By strategically including marketing forms on the website, such as a newsletter opt-in or subscriber form, you can also encourage your customers to interact with you.

Flyers

Whether printed or digital, Flyers are a fantastic way to inform people about sales and discounts. Additionally, you can add QR codes that direct users to your website.

Surveys

To improve your service, collect positive customer feedback and ask customers about their experiences regularly.

Networking Events

Go to the events where your target audience will be, whether they are food festivals or conferences on agriculture. To leave a good impression, try giving out flyers and food samples.

Why Choose Hyperlocal Cloud For Your Food Delivery App Development?

The best mobile app development company, Hyperlocal Cloud, offers world-class solutions for various business needs. We have a sizable team of qualified developers, tech specialists, and seasoned business analysts with experience creating results-driven business solutions. Our talented team can assist you to start online food delivery business by creating a first-rate mobile application.