Some of the most popular ideas for starting a small business involve food items. Everyone has a favorite recipe in the family. Perhaps it was your grandmother’s secret pound cake or a barbecue sauce that everyone brags about. But when you start selling your food items, there are more requirements for your operation.
It Starts With the Kitchen
The Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA), along with your state government, has several requirements for enterprises that make food items. Upgrading your kitchen for commercial use will be one of your largest expenses.
Appliances Must Be Commercial Grade
There’s more than one reason you’ll need commercial grade appliances. Household appliances aren’t designed to be used for hours on end. They’re not capable of creating large batches and being broken down for cleaning to the same extent. For example, an industrial mixer will have adequate power to blend ingredients thoroughly, will have safety features to minimize the chance of injury, and can be cleaned and sanitized in a way that will pass inspection.
Flooring and Cabinetry Must Withstand Wash Down
There’s a reason you see tile or epoxy coated floors in commercial kitchens. There’s also a reason that most surfaces in food preparation areas are stainless steel. Commercial standards of cleanliness require frequent wash down. You may not want this for your personal kitchen, so you may find that you have to build a new structure on your property that is designed around these requirements.
There are Many Other Requirements
A commercial kitchen must be built or remodeled according to several requirements from floor to ceiling. Check with the FDA or a food manufacturer’s association to make sure you have the full picture.
With a correctly set up a commercial kitchen, you’ll be able to comply with all regulations. More importantly, you’ll make your grandmother’s pound cake at a scale she could never have imagined!
