If you raise chickens or run a poultry business and want to reach more people, selling chicken meat online could be the answer! The food market has grown a lot in the past few years, which makes online chicken sales a good business idea. This complete guide was made to help you get started quickly and easily.
Why Sell Chicken Meat Online?
Let’s talk about why it makes sense for your chicken business to go online before we get into the how-to.
- Reach more customers beyond your local area
- Operate 24/7 without physical store limitations
- Lower overhead costs compared to brick-and-mortar shops
- Build a loyal customer base through direct marketing
- Track inventory, sales, and customer preferences easily
As a chicken farmer myself, I’ve seen firsthand how online sales can transform a small operation into a thriving business. Let’s dive into the step-by-step process!
Method 1: Setting Up Your Own Online Chicken Shop with Shopify
Shopify is one of the most popular e-commerce platforms that makes selling chicken meat online straightforward
Step 1: Create Your Online Store
- Sign up for Shopify’s free trial
- Use Shopify’s business name generator if you need help naming your store
- Create a logo using their free logo maker
- Choose from 80+ professional store themes to match your brand
Step 2: Set Up Your Product Pages
Product pages are crucial for selling chicken meat online. Make sure to include:
- High-quality photos of your chicken products (both raw and cooked)
- Detailed descriptions including:
- Weight/portion size
- Type of chicken (free-range, organic, etc.)
- Processing methods
- Storage recommendations
- Cooking suggestions
Remember to take mouth-watering product photos that showcase your chicken at its best!
Step 3: Select Apps and Sales Channels
Visit the Shopify App Store to enhance your chicken meat business
- Install shipping and fulfillment apps for perishable goods
- Add marketing tools to promote your products
- Set up inventory management systems
- Enable customer review features
Step 4: Choose Payment Gateway
Shopify offers multiple secure payment options:
- Credit card processing
- PayPal integration
- Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Shop Pay for returning customers
Step 5: Market Your Chicken Store
- Use social media to showcase your chicken products
- Start email marketing campaigns
- Optimize your store for search engines
- Consider running paid advertisements
Method 2: Using Pabbly Subscription Billing (Commission-Free)
If you’re looking for a solution with no commissions on sales, Pabbly offers an excellent alternative for selling chicken online.
Step 1: Sign Up for Pabbly Subscription Billing
- Visit Pabbly Subscription Billing website
- Create a free account (manual or using Google)
- Complete the account setup with your business details
Step 2: Connect Payment Gateways
Pabbly allows you to integrate various payment methods:
- PayPal
- Stripe
- Razorpay
- Authorize.net
You can also enable test payment gateways while getting familiar with the platform.
Step 3: Add Chicken Products
- Create product categories like “Fresh Chicken,” “Roasted Chicken,” etc.
- For each category, add specific chicken items as plans
- Include detailed descriptions and high-quality images
- Set pricing, billing cycles, and other details
Step 4: Create Checkout Pages
Pabbly automatically generates checkout pages for your chicken products. You can:
- Share direct links with customers
- Embed checkout pages on your existing website
- Create multi-plan checkout pages to sell various chicken products
The advantages of this method include:
- No commission fees on sales
- Multiple payment options
- Ability to offer subscriptions (recurring orders)
- Sales tracking dashboard
- Automatic billing and invoicing
Essential Requirements for Selling Chicken Meat Online
1. Legal Compliance and Licensing
Before you start selling chicken online, make sure you have:
- Proper food handling permits
- USDA inspection certification (if required in your area)
- Business license
- Tax ID for your business
If you don’t get the right licenses, you could face big fines and have to close your business before it even starts.
2. Packaging and Shipping Solutions
Chicken is highly perishable, so proper packaging is critical:
- Insulated packaging materials
- Dry ice or gel packs to maintain temperature
- Vacuum-sealed bags for freshness
- Clear labeling with handling instructions
- Temperature monitoring during transit
Pro tip: Include dry ice when shipping frozen chicken to ensure it stays at safe temperatures throughout delivery.
3. Pricing Your Chicken Products
Setting the right price is crucial for profitability. Consider:
| Cost Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Production costs | Feed, housing, processing |
| Packaging expenses | Materials, labor |
| Shipping fees | Insulated boxes, dry ice, delivery |
| Platform fees | Website hosting, payment processing |
| Marketing costs | Ads, promotions |
As a general rule, price your chicken by weight and factor in:
- Type of meat (breast, thigh, whole chicken)
- Processing level (raw vs. prepared)
- Quality designations (organic, free-range, etc.)
Use Shopify’s profit margin calculator to help determine sustainable pricing.
Marketing Strategies for Your Online Chicken Business
1. Build a Strong Brand Identity
• Tell an interesting story about your chicken farm or business. • Talk about what makes your chicken unique, like its diet, how it was raised, etc. ) • Use the same images on all platforms • Create a logo and packaging that people will remember
2. Content Marketing
• Start a blog with chicken recipes
• Create cooking videos featuring your products
• Share customer testimonials and reviews
• Provide educational content about chicken quality and safety
3. Email Marketing
• Send regular newsletters with special offers
• Create loyalty programs for repeat customers
• Share seasonal recipes using your chicken products
• Announce new products or bundles
4. Social Media Engagement
• Post appetizing photos of dishes made with your chicken
• Run contests and giveaways
• Engage with customer questions and comments
• Partner with food influencers for wider reach
Common Challenges and Solutions
Challenge 1: Keeping Chicken Fresh During Delivery
Solution: Invest in quality insulated packaging and include sufficient dry ice. Consider limiting your delivery range initially until you perfect your shipping methods.
Challenge 2: Seasonal Demand Fluctuations
Solution: Develop specialty products for different seasons, like BBQ packs for summer and soup kits for winter. This helps maintain consistent sales year-round.
Challenge 3: Standing Out in a Competitive Market
Solution: Emphasize your unique selling proposition – whether it’s organic certification, humane raising practices, or special chicken breeds. Tell your story authentically.
Success Stories to Inspire You
Butcher Box started as a small meat subscription service and has grown into a successful online business using Shopify. They focus on quality, convenience, and ethical sourcing – principles you can apply to your chicken business too.
Final Thoughts
Starting an online chicken meat business might seem complicated, but breaking it down into manageable steps makes it achievable. Whether you choose Shopify or Pabbly, the key is to focus on quality, presentation, and customer service.
Remember, customers can’t physically see or touch your products before buying, so trust is everything in this business. Be transparent about your practices, responsive to questions, and consistent with quality.
I’d love to hear your experiences selling chicken meat online! Have you tried either of these methods? What challenges have you faced? Drop a comment below and let’s learn from each other.
Ready to get started? The online meat market is growing, and there’s plenty of room for quality chicken products. Your farm-to-table chicken business could be just a few clicks away from reaching customers nationwide!
Maintain quality and customer satisfaction
Keep it up! The best way to build an online meat business is effective word-of-mouth marketing. Selling meat comes with a huge trust factor. Consumers today want to ensure that theyâre feeding their families with the highest quality products. As you start to sell things online, make sure that product quality and customer satisfaction are at the top of your list of priorities. Â.
Set up and automate a customer feedback and review system to get any negative feedback and use it to keep improving. You can use positive reviews as marketing material on your website. Social proof is a very effective tool, so start collecting reviews sooner rather than later. You can automate this process by setting up automated email sequences for customers after they purchase your products. Â.
Collaborate with other producers and food hubs around you
Co-marketing can be a very effective tool to build your customer base, especially if you are new to selling directly to customers. Leverage other producers who are selling direct and consider collaborating with them. Â.
For example, if you have a vegetable CSA nearby, consider offering a full farm share, whether customers get both vegetables and meat throughout the season. Or see if there are any local farm co-ops or food hubs doing online sales. Â.
The Local Line platform helps people in the local food supply chain work together and share their goods by letting all users share their goods and sell goods from other producers through their storefront with Connections. Our vendor management features make it easy to co-market and aggregate local communities, giving opportunities to ranchers and farmers just starting with building a customer base. Â.
How To Sell $6/lb Chicken – AMA S4:E3
FAQ
Do you need a license to sell meat online?
So, do you need a license to sell meat? In almost every case, yes. Whether you’re running a storefront, shipping orders online, or selling at a farmers market, you need the right licenses and systems in place to stay compliant.
How to sell chicken meat?
You can sell chicken through multiple channels, including direct-to-consumer (farm pickup, home delivery), farmers’ markets, restaurants, subscription boxes, and online stores. Complying with local regulations is required to sell poultry legally.
How much to sell chicken meat for?
General 4-5$ a pound if pasture raised. To add, not all chicken keepers are the same and the quality of meat/price reflect. Look up the USDA poultry report to get an idea, but the main thing is to make sure your making money after paying for feed. Time to take care of them and butchering cost.
How to get approved to sell meat?
Approval for selling meat, poultry and egg products across state lines must come from the United States Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). Visit also our online AskFSIS or call our agency’s Policy Development Division toll-free at 800-233-3935.
How do you sell chicken meat?
Millie, a two-year-old hen with a white polish coat, needs a new home. Make certain that your asking price is clearly stated and that you include a phone number or email address to contact potential buyers. Other methods may not work, so livestock auctions will sell chickens to you if they do. Is Selling Chicken Meat Profitable?.
How do I sell chickens?
I. There are several options for selling chickens, including local farmer’s markets, online classifieds, and specialized poultry auctions. II. Farmer’s markets provide a direct avenue for selling chickens to local consumers, allowing for a personal connection and potential premium prices. III.
How do I get started selling chicken online?
Multiplan Checkout Page Visit the Pabbly Subscription Billing website first to get started with selling chicken online. Sign-up on the website either manually or using Google. Sign Up For Free!.
Is selling chicken meat a good business?
Chicken meat is one of the most popular proteins consumed around the world. It is versatile, affordable, and a healthy addition to any meal. But selling chicken meat can be a tricky business, as it requires careful handling, storage, and preparation.
Why should you sell chickens online?
There are numerous reasons for selling chickens, and these simple tips for crafting an effective online ad will help you seal the deal. Perhaps it’s because your darling little Dora distinctly made it known she was actually a Darius. Perhaps chicken math finally caught up with you and it’s time to do some subtraction.
How to sell eggs & chickens online?
You can also set up a website where you can showcase your products and sell them online. Craigslist is another great online platform that can be used to sell your eggs and chickens. You can create a free listing and state all the details of what you are selling. This is a great way to reach out to buyers all over the world.