How Much Does It Cost To Start A Meal Prep Business? (In 2023)
Wondering how much it costs to start a meal prep business?
- The minimum startup costs for a meal prep business: $12
- The maximum startup costs for a meal prep business: $27,209
- The average startup costs for a meal prep business: $13,936
Here's a detailed list of a meal prep business startup costs:
Learn more about starting a meal prep business:
Where to start?
-> How to start a meal prep business?
-> Pros and cons of a meal prep business
Need inspiration?
-> Other meal prep business success stories
-> Examples of established meal prep business
-> Marketing ideas for a meal prep business
-> Meal prep business slogans
-> Meal prep business names
Other resources
-> Meal prep business tips
-> Meal prep business hashtags
Software Expenses
Your meal prep business needs software to run efficiently!
Why spend money on software? Because it can help you save time and automate certain parts of the business, so you can focus on the most important matters. Software and technology can help you grow your business, and save you from expensive personnel costs.
Cost | Required? | Min Cost | Max Cost |
---|---|---|---|
File Hosting Service |
Recommended |
$0 |
$299 |
Email marketing tool |
Recommended |
$0 |
$100 |
Accounting & Invoicing Software |
Recommended |
$0 |
$50 |
Project Management Software |
Recommended |
$0 |
$25 |
Internal Communication Tool |
Recommended |
$0 |
$20 |
Design Programs & Software |
Optional |
$0 |
$50 |
IT Support ➜ |
Optional |
$150 |
$2,000 |
Social Media Management Tools |
Optional |
$0 |
$50 |
Payroll Software |
Optional |
$0 |
$200 |
Office Space Expenses
It will be your call to determine if you need office space. It is not a requirement but may be necessary as your meal prep business grows.
Cost | Required? | Min Cost | Max Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Rent ➜ |
Optional |
$0 |
$5,750 |
Utility Costs For Office Space ➜ |
Optional |
$0 |
$1,150 |
WiFi & Internet ➜ |
Optional |
$0 |
$100 |
Inventory Expenses
If you sell a physical good, you'll likely have to start with some inventory.
Cost | Required? | Min Cost | Max Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Upfront Costs For Inventory |
Optional |
$300 |
$5,000 |
Inventory Storage |
Optional |
$0 |
$5,000 |
Package Design ➜ |
Optional |
$50 |
$3,000 |
Shrinkage |
Optional |
$0 |
$1,000 |
Distribution costs |
Optional |
$0 |
$750 |
Website Costs
Every business should have a website, and it's worth spending a bit of money to set it up right.
Cost | Required? | Min Cost | Max Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Domain Name ➜ |
Required |
$12 |
$200 |
Business Email Hosting Service ➜ |
Recommended |
$1 |
$15 |
Advertising & Marketing Costs
Cost | Required? | Min Cost | Max Cost |
---|---|---|---|
Customer Research & Surveys |
Optional |
$0 |
$300 |
Affiliate Marketing Commission & Fees |
Optional |
$0 |
$250 |
Influencer Marketing |
Optional |
$0 |
$750 |
Press |
Optional |
$0 |
$500 |
Google Ads |
Optional |
$0 |
$300 |
Facebook & Instagram Ads |
Optional |
$0 |
$350 |
Hey! 👋 I'm Pat Walls, the founder of Starter Story.
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