101 Guide to Start Your Tiffin Service Business: By Mumbai Dabbawala

We are all aware of the magnitude of the Mumbai Dabbawalas. Their business model has been a case study at the Harvard Business School, the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Ahmedabad and other esteemed universities. What if the spokesperson of this business shares insights on how to start a Dabba business or a tiffin service venture of your own? Ritesh Andre, Mumbai Dabbawala’s spokesperson, spills the tea on starting a Dabba business from scratch on Local Samosa’s 101 business guide. 

Before starting the guide, here’s a little overview of how this famous food chain business made its space in the market and why lessons from them would be helpful for new entrepreneurs and fresh founders. 

The Dabbawala business has a rich history dating back to 1890, when Mr. Mahadu Havaji Bacche began delivering home-cooked meals in Mumbai. It all started with a simple opportunity—a Parsi banker who needed fresh food at work. Fast-forward to today, and the need for fresh, home-style meals has only grown stronger.

Ritesh Andre mentions, “In 2023, we conducted research to understand changing eating habits and lifestyle patterns. What we found was striking: with both husband and wife working in most households, preparing fresh meals for lunch had become a major challenge. This, along with other factors like health consciousness and convenience needs, convinced us to launch Dabbawalas Kitchen in Mumbai—bringing freshly cooked, home-style meals straight to people's doorsteps.” 

If you're considering starting your own dabba business, here's a detailed guide based on real-world experience.

Research You Must Do Before You Start

Before anything else, study the market carefully. Look at:

• Trends in home-cooked meal consumption
• Target audience behaviour (working professionals, students, elderly people)
• Price sensitivity and food preferences
• Competition analysis

Ritesh says, “Most importantly, ask yourself—What real need am I fulfilling? Once you have a clear answer, you'll be able to design your business accordingly.”

Resources You Will Need

The resource requirements depend heavily on your business model. However, at a basic level, you’ll need:

• Cooking staff: For preparing fresh, hygienic meals
• Delivery staff: Punctuality and professionalism are key
• Transportation: Bicycles, e-bikes, or motorbikes for faster delivery
• Operations Team: To manage orders, customer communication, and logistics
• Infrastructure: A reliable kitchen setup, storage containers, and delivery bags
• Planning: Detailed operational planning to maintain quality and timing

What About Investment?

If you plan to only deliver food (without cooking), you can start small with around Rs. 10–15 lakh. But if you want to set up your own kitchen facility and deliver, you should be ready to invest approximately Rs. 60–70 lakh. 

Andre says, “We took the latter route with Dabbawalas Kitchen, ensuring complete control over food quality and preparation.”

Legal and Licensing Requirements

Starting a food delivery business means being very careful about regulations. Some essential compliances include:

• FSSAI License (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India)
• Company Registration: MSME, Private Limited Company, or LLP
• Shop Act License: From your local municipal corporation (for Mumbai, it’s the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, BMC)
• Labour Law Compliance: For hiring and managing employees properly

The spokesperson says, “Make sure all these documents are ready before you launch operations.”

How to Market Your Dabba Business

Marketing needs to be strategic. Here’s what worked for the Mumbai Dabbawala:

• Identify customer needs clearly: For example, healthy meals, specific cuisines, and timely delivery.
• Social Media Promotions: Instagram, Facebook, and WhatsApp marketing work great.
• Corporate Tie-ups: Conduct one-on-one meetings with HR teams and employees at offices.
• Event Participation: Offer free meals at marathons, exhibitions, and large gatherings to create visibility.

Ritesh asserts, "Remember, marketing is not just selling food, it's building trust."

Major Challenges You Will Face

Running a dabba business is not without challenges:

• Timely Delivery: Even a 5-minute delay can cause dissatisfaction.
• Consistent Taste and Quality: Customers expect the same taste every day.
• Transportation Issues: Weather, traffic, or vehicle breakdowns can disrupt operations.

Andre says, “The only way to deal with these challenges is to plan backups for every scenario and have a strong operational team that values execution excellence.”

The One Thing You Cannot Go Wrong With

Taste, Quality, and Timing—these three pillars will decide your success. If you mess up the food quality or delivery timing even once, it’s very hard to rebuild customer trust. Also, timely deliveries help not only your customers but your delivery staff to maintain a healthy work-life balance.

Advice for New Entrepreneurs

“Focus on performing your duties sincerely without obsessing over immediate results. Consistency, dedication, and a genuine desire to serve will automatically bring success over time. Starting a dabba business is not about just delivering food—it's about delivering trust, happiness, and a little piece of home with every meal,” says Andre.

Stay tuned for more business insights in our 101 Guide to Start Your Business from Scratch series and read other articles here.