Читать книгу Start & Run a Home-Based Food Business - Mimi Shotland Fix - Страница 10

You can sometimes work out an agreement with a business owner who already operates in a licensed kitchen. There are restaurants, catering companies, delis, coffee shops, bakeries, markets, and natural foods stores that are closed during certain hours — they might welcome the extra income from renting their space to you while their business is not operating. If you are producing a small quantity of products and only need a kitchen one day a week, many food businesses may welcome you on days when they are closed.

You could also look into renting space from a small restaurant during its off hours. The clean-up crew for the restaurant might be finished before midnight and the first shift might not start lunch until ten in the morning. Perhaps there’s a small cake business in your town that only uses their kitchen three or four days a week and would love to make some extra money by renting it out to you when they’re not using it. These places might also barter space so that you can pay for the kitchen with your fresh-made items or your time.

It’s important that the commercial space is licensed and has the equipment you need to process your products. The basics should be in good working order and up to code — refrigeration, sinks, electric and plumbing, walls, and floors.

How is the kitchen equipped? Does it fit your needs? Not all commercial kitchens are alike. Perhaps you need a stovetop with two burners, but the facility only has a convection oven. Make a list of your needs, such as counter space, mixer, food processor, oven capacity, cooling rack, and baking pans. Can you supply and transport any equipment that the facility lacks? Ideally the place will have secured space where you can lock up your ingredients and small equipment. Otherwise, be prepared to haul all your materials with you.

Also consider your personal safety when choosing a place. You may be in a different, unfamiliar location. Your work hours may be during off hours when it will be dark outside. Is the surrounding neighborhood safe? These considerations should factor into your decision on whether or not to use a particular kitchen.

You should also get sign a formal written agreement, as explained in the next section.