So, if I wanted to look at renting out kitchen space do i just call local bakeries and catering businesses and plainly ask them if they want to rent out a portion of their kitchen??? I don't really know how to go about it. Thanks!

Not sure if this will be helpful or not but I'm going to do some research on kitchen rentals come February. I saw that my local community center rents out their kitchen and I thought about looking into the local church kitchens, or even my son's preschool. Just some ideas. Not sure if bakeries or catering companies would go for renting space to someone or not but it's a good idea and it certainly wouldn't hurt to ask! I never thought of it. My local grocery store is very small and friendly and have a very nice bakery, maybe that's an idea too if you have a local grocer nearby.

Hmmm? That is a good question. It might depend on the state you live in but my assumption was that if the kitchen is deemed "commercial" than it is already up to code to whatever state or city standards that are required and we (the cake decorator) wouldn't have to worry about licensing (other than maybe a food handlers license - I live in MN where that is required) but that is really something to research. Maybe you could go back to those posts you saw and do a PM (private message) to a few of them and see if they have any insight into that. HOpe that helps! ( :
Also as far as the space. I have seen one woman here on CC who does it from her church. Other than that I'm not sure. I think any commercial kitchen in your area could be a potential space. One person suggested a banquet hall. Like I said in my last post my son's preschool has a kitchen (it is also a church) but they clean thier paints in the sink so not sure that one would work out. I wonder if the thing to do is just go thru your phone book and think creatively about who might have a space and swallow hard and call them up and ask. I think that's what I'm going to try, even though I hate that sort of thing. ( : Let me know how things turn out for you!

It's all well and good to look into lic. places to bake from...but it takes more than a legal kitchen to be a "legal" baker.

You also need to register with your state, they need to come out and "approve" and you also need to get your tax certificate of resale so you can sell your products.

Good luck!

Good point RisqueBusiness. Thanks for the experienced insight. Wouldn't do much good to have a legal kitchen and than end up in trouble cause you didn't follow the rest of the rules.

Actually, it depends on where you live. In Texas, bakery items aren't taxed so you don't need a tax license to sell them. You just have to worry about making them in a kitchen licensed by the health dept. But, as long as you choose a licensed facility (I used to make my products out of a church), then you're legal in my state. Where are you located katy625?

you still need a resale certificate to purchase supplies wholesale.

Most major food distributors will not even call on you if you dont have one