It’s a delicious idea, to start a business where you are creating and serving food to the masses! However, while you may have all the food experience you need, make certain to read up on all the state or even city-specific rules and regulations for starting a business in the food industry. Lucrative as it may be, there are many sensitive regulations put on food service as a whole, and we have done some digging to help you get started.
Where to Cook or Bake
Home Kitchen
nnnnIn California, you are able to register your home kitchen to make certain types of food. Here is a list of the approved types of food you can create and serve as a catering business, from the comfort of your own home:
- Baked goods without custard, cream, or meat fillings (including breads, biscuits, churros, cookies, pastries, and tortillas)
- Dry baking mixes
- Candy, such as toffee or nut brittle
- Dried fruit
- Chocolate-covered nonperishable foods, such as nuts and dried fruit
- Fruit pies, fruit empanadas, and fruit tamales
- Granola, cereals, and trail mixes
- Herb blends and dried mole paste
- Honey and sweet sorghum syrup
- Jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butter that comply with the standard described in Part 150 of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations
- Nut mixes and nut butters
- Dried pasta
- Popcorn
- Vinegar and mustard
- Roasted coffee and dried tea, and
- Waffle cones and pizelles.
Keep in mind, these are the most popular types of foods requested to make from your own kitchen as a catering service. If you are curious to learn what else you could cook from your kitchen, check out the complete list of California approved foods by visiting the California Department of Public Health.
What is Your Business Structure
Many home-based food businesses are intended to be small. California restricts cottage food businesses to an individual operator with no more than one full-time employee. The state also limits the amount of money a home-based food business can earn each year.
If your business is very small, running it as a sole proprietorship may be the only economically viable option. Keep in mind, however, that as a sole proprietor, you are personally responsible for every aspect of the business – from paying taxes to absorbing the risks of a lawsuit if your food products cause illness or injury to a customer. If you operate as a sole proprietor, you should purchase liability insurance to protect your personal assets.
If you can afford it, consider choosing a business entity that protects you from personal liability, such as a limited liability company or corporation. These business structures ensure that your food business, not you personally, would be responsible for any damage if someone were sickened or otherwise harmed by your product.
Getting Licenses and Permits
You must get a permit from the county health department to operate a home-based food business in California. You can choose from two types of permits, depending on whether you want to sell products directly to customers or through other local businesses like shops or restaurants.
Class A permit.
nnnnYou can get a Class A permit if you want to sell only directly to customers within the state of California. With a Class A permit, you can sell at farmers markets, festivals, from your home, or in other ways that allow individuals to purchase products directly from you. To get a Class A permit, you must complete a self-certification checklist, but there will be no physical inspection of your kitchen.
Class B permit.
nnnnYou need a Class B permit if you want to sell indirectly to customers – for example, through stores, restaurants, or other venues that will sell your products for you. In California, you may not sell indirectly outside of your own county, unless the county where you want to sell has specifically stated that they will allow indirect sales of cottage food products. To get a Class B permit, your kitchen must pass an annual physical inspection.
Required information.
nnnnWhen you apply for a Class A or Class B permit, you will be asked to provide information such as the following:
- Ingredients or recipes for all of your products
- A list of sources for your ingredients
- Copies of labels for each product
- A description of your packaging
- A floor plan of your kitchen
- A list of your equipment, utensils, and food contact surfaces, and
- A certificate showing you have completed a food processor course approved by the California Department of Public Health.
- You must also obtain the licenses and permits required of all businesses, such as a local business license and – if your business uses a name other than your own – a fictitious business name registration.
Food Safety
nnnnTo operate a home-based food business in California, you must complete a California Department of Public Health food processor course within three months of obtaining your cottage food permit. In addition, your business must comply with extensive health and safety rules, including the following:
- You may not conduct domestic activities in your home kitchen – such as family meal preparation, dishwashing, clothes washing, or entertaining guests – while you are preparing cottage foods.
- No infants, small children, or pets may be in the kitchen while you are preparing cottage foods.
- All kitchen equipment and utensils used to prepare cottage food must be kept clean and in good repair.
- All food contact surfaces and equipment must be washed, rinsed, and sanitized before each use.
- All food preparation and storage areas must be free of rodents and insects.
- No smoking is allowed in the kitchen during the preparation or processing of cottage foods.
- No person with a contagious illness may participate in the preparation or packaging of cottage foods.
- Hands must be properly washed before food preparation or packaging.
- Water used to prepare cottage foods must be potable. This includes water used for washing hands and equipment as well as water used as an ingredient.
Insurance
There are unique risks associated with food businesses, from food-borne illnesses to foreign objects like glass or plastic in food. These are added to typical business hazards such as fire, theft, or an employee who slips and falls on the job. Don’t assume that your homeowners or renters insurance policy will cover your home business operations; it probably won’t. You must carefully evaluate your existing policies and then contact a qualified insurance agent to purchase the additional insurance you’ll need.
To find a good insurance agent, ask other food-business owners for recommendations. Look for an agent who has experience writing policies for food businesses and make sure all major risks are covered. General commercial liability insurance should cover everything from an employee who is burned by boiling water to a customer who gets sick from eating your food.
If you use a car or truck for deliveries or other business travel, be sure it is also properly insured.
Hiring Employees
In California, other members of your household or your immediate family members may help you with your cottage food business. Beyond that, the law allows you to hire only one full-time employee.
If you decide to hire an employee, you should learn about basic employment law issues such as hiring rules, how to avoid discrimination, and how to handle money matters like taxes and workers compensation.
Funding
With the opportunities for small businesses booming, why wait another moment. What is keeping you down? Financial restraints have been a complaint for many of the dreamers, limiting themselves to their immediate funds. There is an alternative. If you have the dreams and decent credit, Small Business Loans , No Doc Loans , and EIN Number Funding are available to you. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge you need and the resources available to make your dream a reality. Give us a call – we have the education and the perspective to help you obtain the loans you need for your small business. Visit our website or give us a call to find out what financial backing is available to make your business soar!
Applying for a Business Loan with an EIN Number
So what is involved when you are applying for EIN funding /a business loan with an EIN number? Using an Employer Identification Number, or EIN number, can only legally be done as a business entity. Using an EIN in place of a social security number on a personal credit application is a crime. However, legitimate businesses with an EIN number and other corporate documents, such as a license and state incorporation, can apply for loans and credit cards. In some cases, however, the owner’s social security number may still be required.
When you are applying with us for your business loan, provide your EIN number along with the company information, such as the year it started and the nature of the business.
Decide if your loan needs also include credit cards. If so, these are fairly easy to obtain using an EIN number and other business information. Start with office supply stores, such as Staples, and then move on to department stores, gas stations and major credit cards.
Unsecured Finances has over 10 years in the consulting business! We specialized in educating and assisting clients on acquiring Unsecured Business Loans and Start-Up Business Specialty Loans including; Unsecured No Documentation (No-Doc Stated Income) Loans, Unsecured Business Loans, and Unsecured Start-Up Business Loans and Lines of Credit from $10,000 to $500,000 without Assets.
nnnnApply on our website to find out if you qualify, or call today for a free consultation: 1-888-294-2584
