How can I start an at home catering business?
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I’ve been baking ever since I was quite young and I’m still doing it now, I’m 21 and I love baking, many people from my partners family and friends of the family have said I should start my own catering business, I have wanted that for a long time now but I don’t know where to start. Can anyone give me some advice or guidance I would much appreciate it.
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Answer:
Lilys advice is wrong. As a retired owner of a catering business and husband in the catering trade for 50 years I will list what you have to do legally to cook and sell from home. In the UK your kitchen has to be inspected by an Environmental Health inspector from your Council before you can start trading. You need a current Food Hygiene/Safety certificate ( A legal must) and a knowledge of catering laws (and there are loads). You need public liability Insurance, you cannot just bake and sell No local shops cafes will take your goods without any of the above. They can be sued if anyone gets ill from any of your products. (It happens) Also the Environmental Heath Inspectors will want to know from where their stock came from. We were inspected twice a year in Cornwall.
Charlott... at Yahoo! Answers Visit the source
Other answers
Kernow Lady is right. Lily's advice is wrong - you don't get out of the legalities just because you only sell a few bits from home. Hygiene, health and safety and insurance all apply whether you sell 2 cakes a week or 200 cakes a week. Start by speaking to your local council - they will point you in the right direction to find out exactly what is required. Make it clear that you would be making the cakes at home but you would not be selling from home - if you are going to have customers coming to the property it can cause all sorts of issues in a residential area. The deeds to our property actually stated that we could not use the property for commercial purposes. If your property is rented then you may need the permission of your landlord. If you have a mortgage then you may need the permission of your mortgage lender. Your home insurance provider needs to be notified and you also need public liability insurance. Your car insurance policy will also need to be amended.
Cala
The first thing to establish before starting any business big or small is a Market.Does anyone want to buy the products you love to make. If you have a strong customer base and a means of distribution you can't go wrong,all you have to do then is bake the cakes . Having your own business is great I have had quite a few big and small and enjoyed them all.
IAN
Consider doing a hygiene certificate at your local college - you don't need to do this if you're only selling a bit from home, but it might be useful...the W.I. sell cakes, bread etc. at their weekly produce markets...perhaps join them to sell your stuff. Go to all the cafes in town and have a look at the cakes onsale...then go home and make something which is better...aim for 12 -20 slices, then take these around leaving a slice at each cafe with a picture of the entire cake and the cost of buying one from you...you need to be able to knock these up regularly to do this so you need to get the costings right ..make sure you can cook in a clean environment free from hairs or cigarette smoke...I know a business that did all this but failed because they refused to use free range eggs...so always do this...best sellers are chocolate cake, carrot cake, scones, fairy cakes, flapjacks and tiffin.
Lily B Talus
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