First you will need to check with your local health inspector. This is often a county job so check under the "County Government" section in the phone book. Probably what you will be told is that you will need to produce your product in an inspected kitchen. 99% of all home kitchens will not meet the qualifications so you will need to look for kitchen space you can lease. You may also be required to have a sanitation certificate (food handler's license) and possibly a business license. Another word about home kitchens. There are many people out there doing "home catering" and "home baking" businesses from their home. Bad idea, if you get caught you could be in for some hefty fines. If you make someone sick you will have no insurance to cover you if you get sued, and finally most home owner's insurance policies have a clause stating that if you run a business out of your home your policy is null and void, even if a claimable event was not a direct result of the home business (ie if a fire starts in your house due to a fireplace fire, your policy still won't cover it if they discover you are running a baking business out of your house). Most of these people who run these kinds of businesses, out of their houses never get caught, but for those that do, the monetary repercussions can be devastating and lifelong. |