If you’ve seen people selling food online and are tempted to do the same, you may have some questions. You may wonder – Do I need any license to sell homemade food? How much does a food license cost?

Read on as we answer these questions about selling homemade food.

Which license do I need to sell homemade food?

Though homemade food businesses encounter fewer compliance issues than a full-fledged setup, an FSSAI food license is essential to run any food business in India. Obtaining this license is critical to an F&B operation making less than Rs 12 Lakh annual turnover.

What other licenses do I need to run a homemade food business?

Other than the FSSAI license, if you are planning to do homemade food business in a bigger scale, then you may also need these licenses –

Shops and Establishment license

If you employ more than ten people for your business, you are required to register under the Shops and Establishment Act of the state where you are running the business.

Health trade license

Since the food you make at home directly impacts the consumers’ health, your homemade food business requires a health trade license. This health license is given by the Municipal Corporation or the state’s health department.

Environmental clearance

Homemade food cooking may lead to smoke emissions, and how you dispose of the food waste can also have an environmental impact. So you need an environmental clearance license from the Pollution Board of your state.

Signage license

You need a signage license from your local Municipal body before you put any board or banner to promote your business. If you are thinking of starting a Dabba business, you will need this license before you put any sticker or label of your business on your dabbas.

NOC from your society

Before you start any business from your home, you need a no-objection certificate from your resident’s welfare society. The nearby residents may raise objections if you do not take this NOC.

Note – You only require FSSAI license if your turnover is less than Rs. 12 Lakhs

How can I register for an FSSAI license for a homemade food business?

Open FSSAI’s online portal, FosCos, and create an account with them. Once you have created the account, navigate to the left section of the home page and select ‘New application’ from the drop-down menu.

You need to fill out application form A or form B, depending on the turnover of your business. Form A is for businesses with a turnover of less than 12 Lakhs, and form B is for those food businesses with a turnover of more than 12 Lakhs.

After you have filled up the FSSAI form with the necessary personal and business details, you will have to submit the following documents –

• 2 Passport Size Photograph
• PAN Card of the Food Business Operator
• Proof of ownership of the Premises
• Partnership Deed
• Certificate of Incorporation
• List of food items the unit will process
• Declaration Form
• Authority letter
• Form IX

Once you have completed the filing procedure, the FSSAI officials will proceed with the verification process. An officer may also visit your place of business and verify before you are issued the license.

What is the validity of the FSSAI license?

The FSSAI license is valid for one to five years. As a homemade food seller, you need to apply for the renewal of your license 30 days before the date of expiry of your license. You have to pay a penalty of Rs. 100 per day if you apply after your license has expired.

What happens if I sell homemade food without a license?

According to the State Food Safety Department, any unregistered domestic food-selling business may pay a fine of up to Rs 5 lakh and be imprisoned for up to 6 months.

Some other penalties include –

• Any food business selling bad quality items can be fined up to Rs. 5 lakhs.
• Any food business selling misbranded products will be fined up to Rs. 3 lakhs.
• Any food business selling items containing any exotic substance will be fined Rs. 1 lakh.
• If there is a death due to the consumption of a food item, then the food business operator is held responsible. Depending on the severity, the business owner can be fined up to Rs. 5 lakh or even imprisonment.

Final thoughts

While selling homemade food is a lucrative business, you do need to follow specific regulations and obtain the required licenses. Once these procedures are over and you comply with all the regulations, the sky is the limit for your business.

The post Do I Need a License to Sell Homemade Food? appeared first on mealawe.

Why is it essential for your employees to eat healthily?

1.     Less absenteeism

Healthy food equals healthy employees, which means fewer people miss the office. Frequent absences from work reduce productivity and also increases the cost of healthcare.

2.     Better concentration

Nutritious food can improve your brain power and make you more alert. When you are healthy and energetic, your ability to concentrate improves.

3.     Happiness

Healthy homemade food at the office will be seen as an office perk. Healthier options like thalis, dosas, palak paneer, etc., are excellent low-cost options that can make your employees happy.

4.     Fewer health issues

A healthy diet that includes fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of stroke, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

5.     Fitter workforce

Unhealthy eating can lead to obesity. Obesity is linked to severe medical conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, back pain, and impaired sleep.

6.     More energy

Eating healthy makes your employees feel better. It gives them the fuel to perform their daily office work and still have the energy to enjoy their personal time.

How can you get your staff to eat healthier food?

While you can’t force your employees to follow a specific diet, you can undoubtedly make eating healthier easier with the following steps –

1.     Improve knowledge

Many of your employees may not know that they are ruining their health with their food choices. Invite a nutritionist to your office and organize a talk on healthy eating. Organizing such talks costs very little but can make a huge difference. You can also add some articles about health and nutrition to your company newsletter.

2.     Make it easy

Many people prefer to eat cafeteria lunches as they find getting homemade food to the office cumbersome. Make it easy for people to bring food from home by providing microwaves and refrigerators. They can store their food in the fridge and reheat it whenever possible.

When employees get food from home, they make healthier choices.

3.     Team up with homemade food services

Homemade food delivery services like Mealawe provide healthy food to your homes and offices. They have a team of talented neighborhood chefs who provide you the same food they serve their families. This ensures that your food comes with an added dose of nutrition and taste.

4.     Encourage potlucks

Assign one day a week for healthy potlucks. Encourage the people at your office to bring a dish they love to cook at home. Encourage them to think traditional and wholesome. Not only will this improve camaraderie in the office, but it will also push the employees toward eating healthy food.

5.     Get office parties and events catered by home chefs

Stay away from the regular pizza, burgers, and nachos for your company events. Instead, get the food catered by home chefs from your neighborhood. You can also order the food from Mealawe and get it delivered to your office without putting in any extra effort. Here you can look for your choice of authentic regional home kitchen and place your order. All the home kitchens at Mealawe are 100% FSSAI certified.

6.     Start a healthy food program

You may find a few of your employees who are keener to eat healthy, while the others want to stick to their pizza diet. Don’t be disheartened. Let this voluntary group organize healthy menus and plan more nutritious food for meetings and catered events at your workplace.

Final thoughts

Not all food that we put in our bodies is good for us. Food like bread, pasta, and sodas lead to a burst of energy, followed by a slump. It is not what you want for your office lunch. Burgers and pizzas are high in fat, providing sustained energy, but they can make you groggy post lunch when you have an important meeting. The best option for your employees is a healthy homemade lunch from homemade food delivery services like Mealawe. Several companies are reaping the benefits by emphasizing healthy eating. As more and more employees turn to healthy eating, they will improve their mental and physical health. A happier and healthier workspace is a more productive workspace.

The post You are What Your Employees Eat appeared first on mealawe.

When you are away from your hometown or from your parent’s house, travelling from one city to another in search of better education or job opportunities, whether you are a student or a working professional, you probably do not get enough time to cook your own meals.

After a hectic workday, it is almost impossible to cook a meal for ourselves. So either you end up ordering food or find it easier to skip the meal itself. Well, fast food or packed food may fill your stomach, but your heart feels happy only when you get ‘Maa Ke Haath Ka Khaana’ or homemade food from your mother’s kitchen. This is where Mealawe comes to your rescue!

With its name itself, you might have guessed that this is a venture which brings to you the joy of home-cooked food that is tasty and healthy and delivered to your doorstep. So order now using Mealawe user app. Mealawe provides fresh and tasty home-cooked food delivery in Pune and contains the essence of a meal cooked by a mother in her kitchen in sync with the best health standards for you.

Mealawe empowers all their best home chefs and home bakers near you based on your location to deliver the best meals to you from their kitchen. If you are a Home Chef or you know any homemaker who is looking to earn money without any investment through their regular passion or work like cooking, check out Mealawe Chef App now and join us on this incredible journey.

Our home chefs make sure that their ingredients are fresh and authentic as well as healthy while preparing the food. We deliver these delicious home-cooked dishes in an eco-friendly package which are safe for you as well as eco-friendly. Our home chefs prepare each meal only after a customer places the order and make sure that the food is fresh and as per your requirements. You can also track your order from our mobile app.

Our home chefs can also take party orders so that you can plan a wonderful home-cooked meal for your family, friends, and colleagues for any occasion. You can order a variety of authentic regional cuisine from Mealawe because experiencing any cuisine is very personal when it comes to homemade food. So you can now enjoy your order as you are at home.

Like, what are you waiting for? Head over to Mealawe and order your favourite food now and get it delivered hot and fresh at your doorstep.

Contact Mealawe now by downloading our mobile app or visit Mealawe website to order the best home-cooked meals from our talented home master chefs near you. You can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin, and Pinterest for better insights. You can also call us at +91-7820893389 for any enquiries.

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