Meal Prep Service

Meal prep services cook, portion, and package healthy meals that customers pick up or receive via delivery weekly.

Target markets include fitness enthusiasts, busy professionals, families, and people with dietary restrictions.

You operate from a commercial kitchen, create weekly rotating menus, batch-cook meals, package in containers, and coordinate pickup or delivery.

Subscription models provide predictable revenue - customers commit to weekly plans (5, 10, or 14 meals).

Pricing runs $8-15 per meal depending on ingredients and market.

Success requires streamlining cooking operations for efficiency, creating meals that reheat well and taste good, and reliable logistics.

Startup costs include commercial kitchen rental, food storage, containers, and initial marketing.

Ingredient costs should stay under 30% of meal price.

The business model favors efficiency - cooking for 100 customers is only marginally more work than 50.

Marketing targets specific niches (keto meals, bodybuilding macros, family dinners, vegan) through social media, gym partnerships, and referrals.

Challenges include menu variety expectations, dietary accommodations, and coordinating delivery logistics.

Successful businesses build to 200-500 weekly customers generating $15,000-60,000 monthly revenue.