If you're thinking about turning your culinary creativity into cash by selling homemade food, you'll need a head for business as well as a few basics in place. Create a business plan to define your product, find your market and customers, and develop prices and marketing strategies. Before you go full speed on baking and cooking, determine what government requirements there are.
Kitchen Inspection
Check with your county and state health department to see if your kitchen must pass a health and safety inspection. For example, the refrigerator must keep food at a specified temperature. The dishwasher must reach high enough temperatures to kill bacteria. Nonperishable and perishable food must be stored correctly. If you don't want to have your kitchen inspected or don't think your kitchen will pass, line up a kitchen that has passed.
Licenses
A business license will be required. Call your state business development office to inquire exactly what licenses are needed. The city where you live may require an additional license. Some cities require a license if you sell food there, such as a farmer's market, even if your business isn't located within the city. A sales privilege license is required if you sell to the end user but not if you sell to a third party, such as a gourmet grocery store, which then sells to the end user. Some cities have their own sales tax licensing in addition to the state's.
Packaging
Safe food packaging is required. The cellophane bags used for crafts are not necessarily food-quality. Consider how you'll be selling your food. If it's at an arts and craft show, you'll want to show off the food in attractive packaging. If it's sandwiches at lunch time in an office building you'll need to package it with a bit of flourish and garnishes. However, if the food is meant to be stored in the freezer, or refrigerator, until consumed, you'll need airtight packaging.
Storage Facilities
Once your homemade food business gets going, you'll need storage facilities for ingredients and the finished product. Ten orders for a dozen tamales take up quite a bit of refrigerator space. An extra refrigerator and freezer may be necessary. You may want to buy in bulk, but remember that while 50 pounds of flour is less expensive that the smaller bags, 50 pounds has to be kept in an airtight container and takes up space.
Tags: your kitchen, Some cities