How to Start a Cloud Kitchen in Trivandrum: Step-by-Step Guide for Home Cooks & Bakers

Recently, a young baker who was trained at APCA (Academy of Pastry & Culinary Arts), Bangalore, came to meet me. She was curious about the formalities involved in starting a cloud kitchen.

I walked her through a few basic yet essential steps. First, anyone planning to launch a cloud kitchen must clearly define their product niche — what exactly are they offering, and to whom? Next comes choosing a brand name, handling necessary legal requirements such as the FSSAI license, and — most importantly — assessing the business viability.

Without proper planning and a clear understanding of demand, even the best food ideas may struggle to succeed.

Also, hearing her aspiration of stating cloud kitchen in Trivandrum, I thought of writing a detailed post on how to set up a cloud kitchen and what are the pros and cons of starting one!

Starting a Cloud Kitchen 

Starting a cloud kitchen in Trivandrum can be a highly rewarding venture if done with clarity, focus, and compliance. If  you have good baking and cooking skills, you already have one of the most crucial ingredients.

Let's break down everything you need to know — from legal formalities to marketing and niche selection — into clear actionable steps.

What is a Cloud Kitchen?

A cloud kitchen (also known as a ghost kitchen or virtual kitchen) is a delivery-only food business. You prepare food in a commercial kitchen and sell via food delivery apps like Swiggy, Zomato, or your own platforms — without a dine-in facility.

📍 Step-by-Step Process to Start a Cloud Kitchen in Trivandrum

1. Business Planning

• Decide your specialty or niche (see below).
• Estimate startup costs: kitchen setup, initial raw materials, packaging, delivery logistics.
• Create a menu with high-margin and easy-to-deliver items.
• Budget for 3-6 months of operations.

2. Choose a Location

• Rent a small commercial space (doesn’t need to be prime but must be accessible to delivery partners).
• Prefer ground floor access for easier pickup/delivery.

3.  Legal & Licensing Requirements in Kerala

• FSSAI License ( Mandatory for all food businesses)  Basic license cost is ₹100/yr (turnover < ₹12L), but most cloud kitchens go for State License.
  
  
• Shops & Establishment License ( Apply through Kerala Labour Department.
  
  
• GST Registration (Needed if annual turnover exceeds ₹20 lakh.)
  
  
• Trade License  - Issued by your local Municipal Corporation (Trivandrum Corporation). Only when the turnover exceeds a certain limit
  
  
• Fire & Safety NOC ( Not required for small size kitchen size (contact fire station for clarity).
  
  
• Health/NOC from Local Authority Especially if preparing non-veg items.

🍽 Choosing Your Niche (Make It Stand Out) Very Important! 

Avoid doing everything you are good at. Choose the smallest viable market. ( To know more about it, do your homework about the expected demand, ask people about their feedback, look if this market is served and the size of the market)

Here are some profitable & in-demand niche ideas in Trivandrum:

Select a Niche ( Avoid being a Generalist) -  Why It Works!

When starting a cloud kitchen, being a specialist rather than offering a "something for everyone" menu is not just smart — it’s critical for success. Here's why selecting a niche works wonders:

 Why Choosing a Niche Works in the Food Business

Builds Strong Brand Identity

People remember one strong idea. When your brand is known for "authentic Kerala meals," "premium cakes," or "healthy tiffins," you stand out.

Customers are more likely to order from a brand they associate with a clear specialty.

• Kerala-style Meals & Curries Comfort food, high local demand
• Breakfast Tiffin Service Growing demand from working professionals
• Healthy Meals / Weight-loss Meal Prep Rising urban health awareness
• Cake & Bakes Delivery High-margin + festive / gifting use
• Premium Chaats / North Indian Snacks Less local saturation
• Momos / Quick Chinese / Indo-Asian Popular with youth
• Biriyani Specials (Mini Combos) Always in demand
• Budget Home-style Meals for Students Steady recurring orders
  
  What about these!
  
  1. Sandwiches and burgers 
  2. Momos and bao 
  3. Fresh salads or veggies 
  4. Just side dishes ( thoran, avial, rasam, etc)
  5. Andra cuisine and Donne biryani  
  6. Korean food 
  7. Idlies and Dosa ( Concept is already there, but take it to the next level)
  
  
  For example, Steampot Restaurant gained popularity in Trivandrum for making stuffed puttu ( steamed one). Another example of a niche biz is The Steamed near Koravankonam is know for oil-free food which have a good following by health-conscious people and those who prefer food made with less-oil or zero oil.
  
  

💡Tip: Start with 4–6 items with strong packaging and consistency, then expand.

🛠 Kitchen Setup & Tools

• Rent a 100–250 sq ft commercial kitchen with basic ventilation.
• Equipment: burner, tandoor (if needed), oven (for baking), freezer, fridge, steel prep tables, mixers, utensils, packaging unit.
• Food Storage: maintain dry, cold, and raw material segregation.
• Hygiene: invest in pest control, daily cleaning, and food safety standards.

 Packaging & Branding

• Get customized, leak-proof, food-safe containers.
• Label each item with brand name, FSSAI number, and food name.
• Eco-friendly packaging is appreciated.
• Branded stickers/logos give recall value.

Registering with Swiggy/Zomato

Swiggy  Apply at: https://partner.swiggy.com

Documents: FSSAI, PAN, GST (if needed), Bank account, Menu, Kitchen photos.

You’ll get a call and a visit by their team before approval.

Zomato

Apply at: https://www.zomato.com/partner-with-us

📌 Commission Charges: Usually 18–30% + taxes per order.

📌 Tips to boost visibility: Run initial promotions (10–20% discount)

Get good early reviews

Ensure timely delivery

💸 Profitability – Is It Worth It? ( Calculate 30% commission to food delivery apps over your price) 

Your costs:

• Raw materials
• Packaging
• Kitchen rent & utilities
• Swiggy commission (20–30%)
• Staff/cook helpers (if any)

To make good profit margins, focus on:

• Combos or meals with higher pricing power
• Repeat orders and loyal customers
• Own delivery (via WhatsApp or website) to save on commission ( For example, The Malt at Koravankonam delivers through their own delivery system. They deliver food in stainless steel tiffin carriers. A good concept that saves on unnecessary plastic containers. ( For their latest food posts, check out The Malt on Facebook) 

 YES, it’s a good idea, especially with minimal dine-in costs. You can start small and scale gradually.

 Success Stories & Examples

• The Bowl Company – Started as a cloud-only kitchen, now a top brand on Swiggy/Zomato.
• Hola Chef – Began from home kitchens, later acquired by FoodPanda.
• Kerala Sadhya Boxes – Some home chefs in Kerala now send out curated Onam meals via Swiggy & WhatsApp.

How to Market Your Cloud Kitchen

1. Social Media (Instagram, Facebook) or detailed post on a blog

• Post daily: food photos, BTS kitchen shots, offers.
• Use local hashtags: #TrivandrumEats #KeralaFoodDelivery
• https://mennas-cooking.blogspot.com/2025/06/the-malt-cloud-kitchen-in-trivandrum.html

Partner with food bloggers in Trivandrum.

2. WhatsApp Orders

• Share menu on family, local housing groups.
• Offer discounts for direct orders (less commission).
• Create a poster using Canva and share on Whatsapp status, Fb and Insta ( Stories)

3. Google Business Profile

• Register your kitchen.
• Ask for reviews from early customers.
• Appear in local food searches.

4. Flyers & Posters ( optional) 

• Distribute in apartments, IT parks, hostels, hospitals. ( People these days tend to ignore traditional marketing) 
• First-order discount code on flyer (e.g., “Get 20% OFF – Code: VATTAYUM20”).

5. Customer Retention

• Loyalty programs: free dessert after 5 orders
• Birthday specials
• Feedback follow-up and small thank-you notes in orders

 Your Action Plan Summary

Step Action

 1 Choose niche, create menu

 2 Set up kitchen, hire help if needed

3 Get FSSAI (mandatory) , GST, Tvm Corporation License ( Only for big volume biz)

4 Register on Swiggy/Zomato ( or recruit own delivery network as  done by The Malt in Tvm

5 Set up packaging & branding ( Stickers, logo, etc)

6 Market through WhatsApp & Instagram

7 Focus on repeat customers & consistency ( Quality is paramount, so in innovation)


Final Thoughts!

Avoid taking a plunge without doing necessary homework. Also, do a basic search online to know if anyone is offering similar products in your market. If yes, then you can find ways to make it more unique.