for sellersIs selling food from home a good side hustle in the UK?
Yes: for people who already cook or bake well, selling food from home is one of the lowest-cost side hustles in the UK: start-up costs are typically under £300, council registration is free, and a part-time home baker or cook commonly makes £200–£800 a month after costs, with the best-run businesses doing far more. The catch is that it is a real food business from day one, with registration, hygiene and allergen rules to follow. UK side hustlers overall average about £470 a month (Monzo, 2026 survey).
What people actually earn
Home food income is driven by three things: price per item, items per week, and whether orders are repeat or one-off. A home baker selling four celebration cakes a weekend at £80–£120 makes £1,300–£1,900 a month in sales, roughly £800–£1,200 after ingredients and costs. A home cook doing 20 meal boxes a week at £8–£12 is £650–£1,000 in sales. Occasional sellers (a few orders a month) land at £100–£300. Monzo's 2026 survey of 2,000 UK side hustlers put the average at £470 a month across all types.
Why it suits a side hustle
- Low start-up cost. Registration is free; a hygiene course and insurance are under £200 together.
- You set the hours. Take orders for the days you can cook; set a minimum notice.
- Demand is local and constant. Birthdays, Eid, Christmas, Diwali, office treats, Friday night dinner.
- No stock risk if you cook to order.
Why it is harder than it looks
- It is a regulated business. Council registration, hygiene inspection, allergen information: none of it is optional, even for a few orders a month. See how to sell food from home legally.
- Admin eats evenings. Sellers who take orders by DM spend as long messaging as cooking.
- Underpricing. Most new sellers charge for ingredients and forget their hours. Price per serving from your costs.
- Delivery. Until you can afford a courier, it is collection or you driving. Set a tight radius.
Which foods sell best from home
| Type | Typical price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Celebration cakes | £70–£140+ | Highest value per order; needs 48–72h notice |
| Cupcakes, brownies, cookies | £12–£30 per box | Repeatable; PPDS labelling if pre-boxed |
| Meal boxes and home-cooked dinners | £8–£15 per portion | Weekly regulars; hot-holding and chilling rules matter |
| Cultural and festival food | Varies | Huge seasonal peaks; order books fill weeks ahead |
| Jams, chutneys, granola | £4–£9 | Shelf-stable; full labelling required |
How to start without it taking over your life
- Register with the council now: the 28-day clock is the slowest part.
- Do the Level 2 course and buy insurance while you wait.
- Pick a short menu: three to six things you make brilliantly.
- Open a shop on Cravers Eats so orders arrive paid and allergens are shown automatically. It is free; you keep 95% of each sale.
- Take orders for two fixed days a week. Expand only when those days are full.
Sell on Cravers Eats
A new local marketplace for anyone who makes and sells from home: bakers, cooks, florists, crafters and makers, opening across the UK in early 2027. Founding sellers join free now and set up before launch day. Customers order and pay by card, you keep 95%, and there are no monthly fees.
Join as a founding sellerQuestions people ask
How much can you make selling food from home in the UK?
Part-time home bakers and cooks commonly make £200–£800 a month after costs; a busy home baker doing several cakes a weekend can clear £800–£1,200. Occasional sellers make £100–£300.
Is selling food from home legal in the UK?
Yes, provided you register with your local council at least 28 days before trading, follow food hygiene rules and provide allergen information. No commercial kitchen is needed.
What is the cheapest food side hustle to start?
Baking from a kitchen you already have. Registration is free, a hygiene course is around £20 and insurance around £5–£15 a month, so total start-up cost is usually under £300.
Do I pay tax on a food side hustle?
The first £1,000 a year of sales (before costs) is covered by the trading allowance. Above that you register with HMRC for Self Assessment and pay tax on your profit, or on your sales minus £1,000.
Where can I sell homemade food online in the UK?
Cravers Eats is a UK marketplace for independent home sellers, including home bakers and cooks. It is free to join, customers pay by card in the app, and sellers keep 95% of each sale.
Sources: Food Standards Agency and local council guidance on registering a food business and allergen information (PPDS); HMRC trading allowance guidance; Cravers Eats seller terms. Last reviewed 2026-11-05.