Starting a Drop off catering buisness - Page 2

warren.miller · 10-15-2013, 09:05 AM

What exacty is a tear down kitchen?

This commercial kitchen is obviously a big hurdle.

I Googled commercial kitchen rentals and nothing came up in Evansville Indiana??

What do you pay for a kitchen rental. It seems like a hassel to take all your stuff somewhere then cooking or preparing??

Would it be smarter to just invest in a food truck?

Warren

BigBellyBBQ · 10-16-2013, 05:26 AM

you best go talk in person to the health dept...

mikeleonard81 · 10-16-2013, 10:40 PM

Your hd will tell you if a tear down kitchen will work for you. You need a 3 bay sink and a hand wash station with hot water and refrigeration( not just coolers). It's not as complicated as it seems though. You can get by with 3 tubs for your sink but I wouldn't suggest that. I've seen people with this set up and tubs labeled "xmas Decorations" on the side and I wouldn't want to eat food that the utinsels they are using to serve you with were washed in that! Hot water can be obtained by buying an on demand water heater. (mine runs off of propane) For refrigeration I used a chest freezer and put a thermostat on it not allowing it to go to freezing. You can set it at what ever you choose. This is all for the state of Ohio so as suggested before go see the healt department. Let us know what you find out please!

warren.miller · 10-17-2013, 10:31 AM

I called the HD...

They pretty much said I would have to buy or build a brick and morter. I asked about food trucks and he said they are not making it in our area.

My only option would be to make my garage or a temperorary kitchen.

He was taling about ceiling tiles smooth wall ect.. ALL heard was cha ching cha ching...

He also stated my smoker has to be under roof.

There has to be a way to get this done.

Jacked UP BBQ · 10-17-2013, 10:42 AM

There is a way to get it done, but it costs money. Looking for shortcuts wont get you anywhere. So many people out there trying to beat the system and running illegal operations and guys like myself and others doing it right getting screwed. It's going to cost you money to do it right, but that is the only way to do it. There are too many scabs in this business, be a real success, do it right. Good Luck

warren.miller · 10-17-2013, 11:24 AM

Jacked up,

Do you cook at your restaurant or a temperary site or a something you have done at your house?

Jacked UP BBQ · 10-17-2013, 11:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warren.miller

Jacked up,

Do you cook at your restaurant or a temperary site or a something you have done at your house?

I started with a kitchen I rented, also cooked on site at a lot of festivals for vending. I now cook in my restaurant.

pwa · 10-17-2013, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warren.miller

I called the HD...

They pretty much said I would have to buy or build a brick and morter. I asked about food trucks and he said they are not making it in our area.

My only option would be to make my garage or a temperorary kitchen.

He was taling about ceiling tiles smooth wall ect.. ALL heard was cha ching cha ching...

He also stated my smoker has to be under roof.

There has to be a way to get this done.

Turning your garage or even building a small commercial kitchen isn't as bad as it sounds, Alot depends on your HD. But normally its 5 sinks ( 3 for dishes, hand wash and mop) designated prep area, hot water with a flow rate high enough to handle your sink size Refrigerator and storage area. There are a coupled of threads in Q talk of conversion/starting shacks and restaurants. Not everything will apply to you and your goals but it can give you an idea of whats involved with starting a BBQ business.

Here is mine involving a shack

Or marubozo on a restaurant

But I'm sure there is more.

Clint

landarc · 10-17-2013, 02:52 PM

That all varies. In California, and many other places...

The floor sink, and the mop sink must be a floor sink, there must be an air gap for the drain, so that water cannot backup into the sink. Same is true for the prep sinks. They cannot be hard plumbed.

All floors must be covered and single surface, all corners must be solid surfaced.

All refrigeration must be powered and have thermometers. No passive cooling, or passive hot holding for that matter.

Cold preparation, hot preparation, cold service/pantry must all be separated.

It does cost money, anyone cooking out of their kitchen is doing so illegally. Food trucks, especially NSF rated food trucks are a great way to have a mobile kitchen, and you can even park them at home, and work out of them. But, they are not cheap, a trailer or food truck will still set you back at least $20,000.

ButtBurner · 10-17-2013, 02:59 PM

how about using/renting a church or hall (like a VFW) kithcen to get started?

Diesel Dave · 10-17-2013, 04:50 PM

^^^^ good suggestion there

bizznessman · 10-17-2013, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warren.miller

I called the HD...

They pretty much said I would have to buy or build a brick and morter. I asked about food trucks and he said they are not making it in our area.

My only option would be to make my garage or a temperorary kitchen.

He was taling about ceiling tiles smooth wall ect.. ALL heard was cha ching cha ching...

He also stated my smoker has to be under roof.

There has to be a way to get this done.

There is, follow your HD's regulations. The food service industry is highly regulated and those that try to skirt these regulations almost always end up "out of business".

If they do not allow any type of mobile kitchen then you will be forced to find/build a brick & mortar. Before choosing the "home site" kitchen option be sure to research city/county zoning laws, commercial kitchen plumbing/wiring codes, insurance, etc as well as HD regs. A "temporary" kitchen in your garage probably won't fly. Due to the regs it will probably need to meet commercial codes for electrical, plumbing, etc. We considered this route at first and found that the costs of converting our garage would have been about as much as buying/building a new structure on a commercially zoned site. Hence our renting of kitchen space.

I understand the desire/dream to go into the "BBQ" business but please understand that you will be going into "business" and that means following all the laws & regulations and expenses that come with it. I am not trying to dissuade you or anyone else. I am just saying that the way to go into "business" is to do it right or you will face consequences down the road. And some of those can be severe.

landarc · 10-17-2013, 07:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ButtBurner

how about using/renting a church or hall (like a VFW) kithcen to get started?

Some places like churches and VFW halls do have commercial grade kitchens, and they often rent them out. More and more, these places realize the value of the asset and do not rent them out cheap. Also, there are usually conditions, such as time of use and food storage that can be an issue. Most churches have not kept their kitchens up to code, and that is a problem, unless you are serving on site. A commissary kitchen is a totally different standard than a church kitchen serving food on site.

Pay particular attention to food storage when renting a place. Unless you intend to be very careful with supplies and buying, you are going to want dedicated food and equipment storage at your rented kitchen site. Nothing like knowing you have a gallon of cider vinegar at the kitchen, and arriving at 10pm to prep for Saturday and finding there is no vinegar, as someone borrowed it and was going to return it Sunday.

mikeleonard81 · 10-17-2013, 11:01 PM

Miller,
Is cooking on site not going to be an option?

BigBellyBBQ · 10-18-2013, 01:37 AM

Question, what type of budget are you planning to start with?

10-16-2013, 05:26 AM	#17
BigBellyBBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-15-08 Location: Lake View, New York	you best go talk in person to the health dept... __________________ [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS]TwinTech Pro Double, Backwoods Fat Boy, TwinTech Hawg Kooker, FE 400, SP SPK 700, Empty check book and understanding wife...sometimes..[/FONT][/I]

10-17-2013, 10:42 AM	#20
Jacked UP BBQ Babbling Farker Join Date: 06-09-08 Location: Forker River, NJ	There is a way to get it done, but it costs money. Looking for shortcuts wont get you anywhere. So many people out there trying to beat the system and running illegal operations and guys like myself and others doing it right getting screwed. It's going to cost you money to do it right, but that is the only way to do it. There are too many scabs in this business, be a real success, do it right. Good Luck __________________ Jacked UP BBQ vending Ocean County Pig Assassins competition team retired and is now known as Jacked UP BBQ Fec 750 Fec 100 Large Spicewine

10-17-2013, 02:52 PM	#24
landarc somebody shut me the fark up. Join Date: 06-26-09 Location: sAn leAnDRo, CA	That all varies. In California, and many other places... The floor sink, and the mop sink must be a floor sink, there must be an air gap for the drain, so that water cannot backup into the sink. Same is true for the prep sinks. They cannot be hard plumbed. All floors must be covered and single surface, all corners must be solid surfaced. All refrigeration must be powered and have thermometers. No passive cooling, or passive hot holding for that matter. Cold preparation, hot preparation, cold service/pantry must all be separated. It does cost money, anyone cooking out of their kitchen is doing so illegally. Food trucks, especially NSF rated food trucks are a great way to have a mobile kitchen, and you can even park them at home, and work out of them. But, they are not cheap, a trailer or food truck will still set you back at least $20,000. __________________ [COLOR=DarkGreen][COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]me: I don't drink anymore Yelonutz: me either, but, then again, I don't drink any less [/SIZE][/COLOR][/COLOR][SIZE=1][COLOR=DarkRed] [COLOR=Pink]SSS[/COLOR] [/COLOR][/SIZE]

10-17-2013, 02:59 PM	#25
ButtBurner Babbling Farker Join Date: 12-18-12 Location: Dearborn Mi, Manton Mi	how about using/renting a church or hall (like a VFW) kithcen to get started? __________________ Michigan Custom 'Que "Serving Those Who Have Served US" Shirley Fabrication Custom Smoker Member Great Lakes BBQ Assn ServSafe Food Handler Certified [URL]https://www.facebook.com/pages/Michigan-Custom-Que/327994370697180?sk=timeline[/URL]

10-17-2013, 04:50 PM	#26
Diesel Dave Quintessential Chatty Farker Join Date: 08-23-13 Location: In the woods	^^^^ good suggestion there __________________ [B][COLOR=Blue]Help us raise funds to feed our Veterans and Homeless [/COLOR][/B][COLOR=Blue][COLOR=Black][URL="https://www.gofundme.com/2s8fv5qs"][B][COLOR=Red]HERE[/COLOR][/B][/URL][/COLOR][/COLOR] Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring ― Marilyn Monroe

10-15-2013, 09:05 AM	#16
warren.miller Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-17-10 Location: Evansville Indiana	What exacty is a tear down kitchen? This commercial kitchen is obviously a big hurdle. I Googled commercial kitchen rentals and nothing came up in Evansville Indiana?? What do you pay for a kitchen rental. It seems like a hassel to take all your stuff somewhere then cooking or preparing?? Would it be smarter to just invest in a food truck? Warren

10-16-2013, 10:40 PM	#18
mikeleonard81 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-11-12 Location: kettering. ohio	Your hd will tell you if a tear down kitchen will work for you. You need a 3 bay sink and a hand wash station with hot water and refrigeration( not just coolers). It's not as complicated as it seems though. You can get by with 3 tubs for your sink but I wouldn't suggest that. I've seen people with this set up and tubs labeled "xmas Decorations" on the side and I wouldn't want to eat food that the utinsels they are using to serve you with were washed in that! Hot water can be obtained by buying an on demand water heater. (mine runs off of propane) For refrigeration I used a chest freezer and put a thermostat on it not allowing it to go to freezing. You can set it at what ever you choose. This is all for the state of Ohio so as suggested before go see the healt department. Let us know what you find out please!

10-17-2013, 10:31 AM	#19
warren.miller Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-17-10 Location: Evansville Indiana	I called the HD... They pretty much said I would have to buy or build a brick and morter. I asked about food trucks and he said they are not making it in our area. My only option would be to make my garage or a temperorary kitchen. He was taling about ceiling tiles smooth wall ect.. ALL heard was cha ching cha ching... He also stated my smoker has to be under roof. There has to be a way to get this done.

10-17-2013, 11:24 AM	#21
warren.miller Knows what a fatty is. Join Date: 08-17-10 Location: Evansville Indiana	Jacked up, Do you cook at your restaurant or a temperary site or a something you have done at your house?

10-17-2013, 11:01 PM	#29
mikeleonard81 Full Fledged Farker Join Date: 12-11-12 Location: kettering. ohio	Miller, Is cooking on site not going to be an option?

10-18-2013, 01:37 AM	#30
BigBellyBBQ is One Chatty Farker Join Date: 11-15-08 Location: Lake View, New York	Question, what type of budget are you planning to start with? __________________ [I][FONT=Comic Sans MS]TwinTech Pro Double, Backwoods Fat Boy, TwinTech Hawg Kooker, FE 400, SP SPK 700, Empty check book and understanding wife...sometimes..[/FONT][/I]