How to Be a Caterer and Rent a Commercial Kitchen
To legally work as a caterer, you must use a licensed commercial kitchen to prepare the food that you sell to clients. There are a range of options for commercial kitchens, including sharing a space or outfitting one for your company's exclusive use. The commercial kitchen arrangement that you choose should depend on your budget and the scope of your aspirations. Once you have access to a professional, licensed kitchen, you can build a catering business by developing a set of offerings and reaching out to potential clients.
Renting a Commercial Kitchen
It is rare to find a fully outfitted commercial kitchen for rent unless you are willing to share a space with another food business. If you will be renting and setting up your own commercial catering kitchen, look for a space that can be easily adapted for your intended use. If it has been a commercial kitchen in the past, then you probably won't have to install plumbing, electricity or ventilation, although you will have to purchase equipment such as stoves, sinks and coolers. Even if a rental has never been a commercial kitchen, you can save money by choosing a building that already has a gas line. Look for a single-story building so you can install a relatively simple ventilation system.
Licensing a Commercial Kitchen
Check with your local health department about licensing and permitting requirements if you will be outfitting your own commercial catering kitchen. You will probably have to install a three-compartment sink for dishwashing or a commercial dishwasher as well as a separate prep sink for washing produce and another hand washing sink. Your refrigeration should hold foods below 41 degrees Fahrenheit, and all of your surfaces should be easily cleanable. In addition, your shelving should keep all food and packaging products at least six inches off the ground.
Sharing a Commercial Kitchen
You might be able to find a shared commercial kitchen where you can rent space by the hour, day or month. Renting space in a shared commercial kitchen can save you money in startup costs but it could limit your potential for growth because your shared kitchen might not always be available when your clients need your services. If possible, find a commercial kitchen that you can share with food businesses other than caterers, such as wholesalers or farmers' market prepared food vendors. This will save you the stress of sharing a kitchen with other tenants who are likely to need it during the same times you do.
Multipurpose Commercial Kitchens
If you own and operate a food business such as a restaurant, then you can use the commercial kitchen that you already rent or own for your catering business as well. Such an arrangement will dramatically reduce your overhead by freeing you from the financial obligation of outfitting and renting a dedicated catering kitchen. Using an existing kitchen that your business is already using for other activities will also help you to manage costs even if your catering business is intermittent.
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