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Small food businesses are a growing trend. To accommodate these entrepreneurial start-ups, a relatively new business model is developing. Centers known by various names — small business development centers, food innovation centers, kitchen incubators, food ventures, or shared kitchens — are being created to help support new (or young and growing) food businesses. These places are licensed facilities and are equipped for commercial production. Most of these centers also offer business guidance.

Each facility is different and has its own rules and prerequisites. Some expect you to have a business certificate before signing up; some offer a complete package of business and production help; and some let users sign up for only the services they need. These facilities used to be found only in large cities or were associated with universities or nonprofit organizations. But new ones continue to open, and many are now private, for-profit businesses.

In the Resources in Appendix III you will find a list of such facilities in the US and in Canada. You can also do an Internet search for any new facilities which continue to open.

For entrepreneurs without the expertise or money to invest in a full-scale business, using an incubator kitchen is a wonderful way to start, especially since many of these centers offer basic business and production help. It can be just the support you need to be successful.

If using an incubator kitchen interests you, be aware that it will involve fees. While this is less expensive than renting a storefront, you will need some capital to go this route.

If you are kitchen savvy (perhaps you’ve already worked in commercial food service or have a culinary degree), there might be a facility near you where you can rent just the space, without paying for their other services.