So here is the problem: Licensing in my state is super hard. I am eager to start advertising myself and building up a reputation slowly but surely. Now, the problem I encounter is that I can't do that until I have a license but I can't get a license unless I have a commercial kitchen. It doesn't make sense to rent a CK if I do not have business yet....I can't get business without one. Catch my drift? The option for me would be bartering for a kitchen so I can get licensed but I am not sure the world if full of such great people that are willing to barter....or is it? I am stuck and don't really know what to do about it....What should I do? Suggestions? Thanks!


-Sus

are you in California ? because that's the rules here in CA., and you cannot get around it.

Usually the mom and pop shops are the ones to even remotely think about it in my book. Plus, if you throw in a sweet deal (like making desserts for them in return for letting you use their kitchen) it may make it easier for them to make a decision. Good luck.

Nope. I live in Madison, Wisconsin. I actually am very good friends with owners of a restaurant but I have been too scared to ask them. I guess I am better at doing business with strangers. I thought of going to mom and pop shops (tons of them here), churches, food shelters....and yes, when I thought of bartering, I thought I could make desserts for them in exchange of the space. I know a lot of these mom and pops might do catering and need wedding cakes so I can offer to do that...I dunno. Right now very stuck on this one. ( If I DO offer to make desserts for these places do I ask for them to pay for ingredients? I know that might be a weird question but I dunnno....worth asking...

Ok....I would ask your friends. Or you could tell the kitchen you are talking to that it wouldn't be every weekend since you are just starting up. Ask if they are willing to charge you per day or hour. That is my best advice. So sorry....I know the feeling... I am in California and it's like pulling teeth!!!!!

If you have a church that you attend, perhaps they have a kitchen you can use. Some churhes also have daycare/preschool and prepare meals for the kids.......I would think that their kitchens would be considered a CK. I am not sure.

I am have playing around with the idea of using my church's kitchen.

Some church kitchens are not licensed as commercial kitchens. They will know at the church. They are permitted to cook and serve food to their congregations, but not to the "public". If they have a license, you can get a licensed based on use of that kitchen.

Oh man it just seems as if Im stuck until I get licensed. Cannot go public until then....

I know what you mean. I have something of the same problem. I have the opportunity to make my stuff in a CK but I would have to make desserts for the guy in return. The problem is that the desserts go way too fast and I'd be there about 3 times a week for 8 hours at a time and I wouldn't have enough time to do my stuff. UUHHH!!!! When does this cycle ever end!!!!

I thought of renting my church's kitchen too. Just long enought to get the licensing I need. I can't afford to rent a CK, money is always tight anymore. I also haven't had the nerve to ask the Pastor and his wife yet. My husband says I should just wait. He wants to do donuts and they would go perfect together. Maybe I need to buy a la\\ottery ticket and pray really hard.
Tab

a step to the right option:

parochial school kitchen (most parochial schools are going to complain if they can make some extra $$)

pluses: it has to be commercial level to serve lunches and would be available late afternoons, nights, weekends.

minuses: unavailable until lunch is done, must be real careful to clean up afterwards.

If you don't want to ask your friends who own the restaurant, then ask them for ideas about where to go. This opens the door for them to offer you their kitchen, but it doesn't put them on the spot.

It would probably be foolish to rent a kitchen by the month until you know for sure what your business level is going to be. I'd be looking for someplace that would let me rent it for an evening or by the hour. As long as you have a bonafide rental agreement with them, it would seem your licensing procedures could then go forward. That way, if you only produced a few cakes a month, you wouldn't be out big bucks. Later on, if your time needs became significant, you could negotiate more time or a monthly deal.