Is this a good business idea?

You know how when you want delivery you mainly have two choices, pizza or chinese? I want to start a company that will deliver any food you want. Could anyone actually use this type of company? Let me know if its a bad idea or not.Is this a good business idea?
There is no "actual" bad or good idea for any business. The basic law of economics will apply, Supply %26amp; Demand.



Determine the demand for the products you plan to sell. Do your assignments, do some research... you may ask people in your community if they prefer to order for deliveries the food you have specified.



The outcome of that exercise will now dictate your succeeding move. IF the DEMAND is HIGH. go for it. IF the DEMAND is LOW. You may do the following:



1. Create a demand. Advertise what you are selling. Make them feel that they WANT your goods.



2. Have a back up product to sell. Do a parallel survery on what food do they want to purchase. Then plan your steps in achieving maximum outcome.



3. Invest on something else.
That already exists in my city and it's called "Waiters en Route". They have about 20 different restaurant menus that you can choose from and they deliver it all at once. I don't know the dynamics of how it works, but it's a great idea!Is this a good business idea?
Great idea, sounds like you are a delivery/pickup service. This is a great Idea



There are lots of people who don't have a car or have to travel by cab. Cabs are so expensive and difficult to flag down while holding a bunch of groceries. Because of this, delivery people can make good money in their own town. Basically what you need to get started is a phone and a vehicle.



Check with your local tax office to see what forms you'll need to file. Special permits may be necessary in your own community or state. File all the proper paperwork to save time and headaches later.



The vehicle you use to run a delivery service is important. It must be able to hold plenty but not eat up your profits because of poor gas mileage. It also must be able to shelter groceries and other goods from bad weather, so if you have a truck, you'll need a camper top on it. It needs to be in perfect running condition, with good tires and upgraded insurance.



You'll need a cell phone to make your job easier. If you have someone who can be at the "base" or "home" they can take new orders for you and page you on a pager but it will be a lot of extra hassle to stop at phone booths to check orders. The cell phone is a definite plus. You'll also need a detailed map of the entire community.



Have fliers printed, to advertise your business, then place them on bulletin boards at grocery stores, elderly community centers and homes, hospitals, doctors' offices, drug stores and other free bulletin boards. Place an ad in the paper that will run for some time since it will take a little while to build up a clientele base. Advertise online at community bulletin boards, too. Consider having magnetic door signs, for your car, to advertise your business as you're out delivering. Make sure the signs are readable from a distance.



Make sure you have enough cash to cover basically any set of orders. You won't find customers who will give you the money in advance, so you'll have to trust them to pay you when you arrive with their orders. Make sure you state your terms, on the phone, the first time they call you. If you won't take checks state that in advance to prevent a misunderstanding later.



In a small community you won't need as much gas as in a large town. Find out approximately how many miles per gallon you get from your vehicle before deciding on final pricing. The best way is to charge a minimum fee for the service, which should at least cover your gas cost, then figure a percentage of the amount of the order the customer places. For example, you may charge $5 just to go to the store and bring the order to the customer, plus an additional 5% of their total order. One idea is to call a cab stand and ask how much the fare is from a particular address to the store and back. This will give you an idea of what customers are already paying. Charge a little less than that and you're on your way!

Try to schedule as many errands together as possible. If you know three different customers who want groceries each week try to organize them into one trip. The gas cost will be nearly the same for one customer as for three, so you'll make more profit. As you get to know your clients ask for phone numbers. That way, when you see you'll be making a trip to a particular store, you can call and ask if they need anything. If you have several people, who each want only a couple of things, you can really make a lot of extra profit.



Do small favors for repeat customers. If you call a frequent customer to see if he or she needs something from a store you're going to anyway, perhaps you can offer them a discount on the percentage charge. Or, clip coupons and point out to the customer that you used a coupon to help save them money. Customers remember you when you treat them well.



Set yourself a limitation for how far out of town you're willing to drive. Instead of turning down orders from a customer that lives too far away, explain to them that you're willing to do it but must charge more. Figure the amount you'll need to cover your expenses and make a few bucks for yourself. If the amount seems too high for the customer they don't have to use your services.



You don't necessarily have to provide only grocery deliveries. You can offer to pick up and drop off laundry, prescriptions, mail and packages, take-out orders, pets to the groomer, automobiles to repairmen, or any number of services. Combined, these can provide you a nice income.
Its a good idea for working families who don't have time to pick up their food and want a quick meal. It can also be helpful when its cold and rainy out and people don't feel like going out to pick up take-out. The delivery fee would have to be reasonable though.Is this a good business idea?
It sounds good in theory, but working a defined niche market is the way to go..Focus and filling a need...So instead of pizza or chinese, What food would you like to see? Than ask 500 people if they would like it too? if they say yes, thats a good start.



I just cant imagine trying to be everything to everyone, too many people to please :)



Sam
I think it's a good idea/
Already done..... Sorry. Lot's of small deliveries of different restaurants actually offer normal menu pricing but get the food at a discount from the restaurant (which is thier profit) Late in the game hun.
I think it is a great idea. Approach the businesses with the outline of the idea. That way you will be able to get a better idea if they would be willing to call your business for the delivery service to their customers. Offer the service to all the different eating places.
I'm in L.A. - I can already get just about anything I want delivered. Even the Alberson's grocery store delivers groceries to my door for a fee of $9! Your idea is good, but it would have to be implemented in smaller places I think.
oh my gosh i would love a food company like that. you dont know how many times me and my bf were layin in bed all lazy saying "man i wish we could order something OTHER that pizza or chinese!" go for it!
Some on line super markets have tried to deliver anything that you want from the supermarket. Break even was impossible goal for them and they gave up. It is calculated that they need at least 130$ purchase per customer just to break even. Chinese and pizza work with 75% gross profit margin. Can you beat it?



Also, there are some existing kitchen-on-wheels. They cook tasty fresh food. It is family business and you need a truck redesigned as a kitchen. It is profitable enough to make living of it but not profitable enough to get rich.



I have few guys in Stuttgart,Germany that were running profitable niche business: in-campus hot-dog delivery from 11pm to 3am. 4Eur per piece. Not bad.
well, there is a place around me, that does deliver evreything they have, and they have EVERY food you can think of. Yeah, thats a good idea.
Hey Binky, The best part of the idea is that you want to work for yourself! You may be talented and all will go well the first time out. If not, never quit trying. NEVER! A dollar you earned is always better than one handed to you! By the way...if you work for someone you have one boss...if you work for yourself...everyone is your boss. Think about it.



best of luck!!
It is a great idea and works well in California (see Waiters-on-wheel).
I think it's a great idea!
I think that its a wonderful idea.
it sounds like a good idea to me. i'm sure a lot of people would use that type of service.
yes there are many of these around. try doing a search for restaurant delivery service and you will see many of these companies up and running.
i think its a great idea...since poeple dont stop eating...but do you have enough money to start that business and enough workers??
good idea but 30minute mall is kinda like that all ready you can find them on the web
About 10 years ago someone in my town (Louisville, KY) started a business just like that. He would pick the money up from the person first and get their order and depending on how far he was going he charged a fee for the service. It started at $5 and went up depending on how far he was going. His business was only open for 3 months. With gas the prices the way they are today it may cost customers more than they are willing to pay. My mother used the service then and I have to admit, I am a busy person and I have 4 children and I probably would use the service every now and then.



Good Luck!
great idea...but it's been done.
PIZZA!