How do you start a meal prep service business in 2027?

Honest 5/10 baseline.

Startup costs: $5K-$30K from a commissary kitchen. Commissary rental ($300-$1,500/mo), bulk containers, labels, refrigerated transport or insulated bags, scale, vacuum sealer, ordering site, basic branding. Scaling to a dedicated kitchen pushes costs to $75K+.

Permits/licenses: Business license, food handler/manager cert, health dept permit, commercial kitchen certification (no home kitchens for prepared meals in most states), nutrition labeling compliance if making claims, sales tax permit, commercial auto if delivering.

Customer acquisition: Local Instagram and TikTok (prep videos, before/after meals), gym partnerships, CrossFit boxes, corporate wellness, Google local, subscription landing page. Referral discounts work well.

Revenue model: Weekly subscription ($90-$200/wk for 10-15 meals), a la carte add-ons, corporate accounts. Pause/skip flexibility increases retention.

Realistic year-1: $40K-$150K revenue. Margins 25-40% if disciplined on food cost. Labor and packaging eat profit fast.