How to Start a Pizza Delivery Service

The first decision that needs to be made when looking to start up a Pizza Delivery business is whether;

· You are going to start completely from scratch, with a new premises and original brand identity · You are going to take over an existing business, with its existing client base and try to improve its service · Or whether you are going to operate as a franchise of an existing brand (e.g. Domino’s Pizza)

Once this has been decided, you need to look at the type of business/service you want to run. Your target market needs careful planning, to determine who exactly you customers will be. This will have large effect on where your premises is located - if you are planning on relying heavily on telephone orders then your location is not so important, but if you are hoping to attract passing trade then your location suddenly becomes essential. Will you offer seating in your store or will it simply be using a take-away only basis? Another key feature will be your opening hours - which meal time will you be targeting? Lunch trade or evenings only? You could even open late on the weekend when you might attract people who are leaving nightclubs, but again this may depend on your location.

Obviously your products are going to have a huge impact on the sales levels - you need to try and differentiate your service form your competitors’. This could come down to the type of bases you use for your pizza - whether they are brought in frozen or made freshly on site, the sizes you will sell, and of course the toppings you make. Will customer be able to choose their own toppings? Will you have a unique to your business topping, or a weekly ‘special’ that changes regularly? Customers ordering pizzas often like to make up a meal, so you need to decide what other items you will sell, such as drinks, side orders (coleslaw, beans, garlic bread) and perhaps desserts (ice cream, etc). You could offer special discounts and distribute vouchers to encourage people to order large quantities, and family deals are worth including.

Pizza Delivery companies rely heavily on their service, both in terms of retaining customers and attracting new ones through word of mouth advertising. Therefore you must try and pride yourself on small details, such as on time deliveries, hot pizzas guaranteed, etc. One bad experience can put a customer off, and if your customers aren’t making recommendations to their friends/families it could be hard to drum up a significant client base of repeat business.

How will customers actually place their orders? Would it be worthwhile investigating an internet ordering system? This could form one of your unique selling points which would encourage customers to use your service rather than your rivals’.

Business Angels offer a different form of lending to the normal channels such as banks or venture capitalists. In return for their injection of capital, they demand a percentage share in the company, or equity stake. On top of their money, they also provide often expert advice and use their experience of the market to help you with your day to day running and long term goal setting for the company.