Baker Looking for Kitchen

May 26, 2009 9:21 AM

I bake breads at home using an artisanal style (sourdough, handcrafting, small batches) and would like to eventually start a business. How can I get access to a decent space to bake these breads so I can sell them?

I am thinking of turning my artisan breads hobby into a money maker. However, I am poor and living with room mates who have multiple pets. Although I've had no problems with the breads I've baked and given away so far, I wouldn't want to buy food from a restaurant that had pets in the kitchen, so I don't feel comfortable selling foods when I'm baking in the a similar situation.

What can an aspiring bread baker do to get access to a kitchen that is of the quality that would allow me to sell my breads? I don't have friends who are in a position to lend me their kitchens, nor do I have much money. I need creative -but practical, plausible ideas. Thanks!

posted by Piscean to work & money (9 comments total)

At least where I live, you must use a professional kitchen to sell baked goods to the public. To that end, there are several rental kitchens where you can pay by the hour to use their facilities. What might be better for you is to make friends with someone with a restaurant or bakery that is not in use 24/7, and then rent that space from them in their off-hours. I worked with someone once who rented from a dog bakery.
posted by fiercecupcake at 9:33 AM on May 26

Look around your city for a small business incubator that has a kitchen -- it is not uncommon for communities to build these as a way to encourage entrepreneurial activity. My city has at least 2 industrial kitchens designed for use by small business food producers. Many will also have a business assistance component, such as seminars and workshops on marketing, financing, etc.

Besides the pets, it is also probably illegal for you to produce food for sale in your home, unless you have met the city's permitting requirements -- which probably include things like wipe-down walls and dish sanitizers.

Good luck -- this sounds like a great idea!
posted by M.C. Lo-Carb! at 9:34 AM on May 26 [1 favorite]

Churches often have licensed kitchens that you can rent, although they may not have a commercial grade oven.
posted by Chrishartley at 10:05 AM on May 26

When I worked in a pizzeria, a woman rented the shop afterhours. She'd show up at closing, and was gone by 7am. I don't know what the money deal was, buy she made some fine cookies. She moved into her own place about 9 months later.
posted by Marky at 10:10 AM on May 26

I know of at least one church that allows local caterers to rent the kitchen to prepare food for events not occurring at the church itself. I don't know if the requirements for caterers vs sold food differ, but it might be worth checking a few of the larger churches around you that would have professional-class kitchens.
posted by skynxnex at 10:20 AM on May 26

Nth the check your local laws. I knew a guy who made a decent living selling fresh pastas to a number of local high-end resturants. He made the noodles in a garage he rented from our apartment complex.

Depending on your product, you could see about selling dough at first - take and bake breads, that kinda thing. No worries about oven access then.
posted by anti social order at 11:43 AM on May 26

I don't have an answer for you regarding kitchens, but I was just at a farmer's market last week up in Sonoma County in northern California. A guy was selling bread there; it looked fantastic, and I asked what they had left. "Oh, we only have quarters loaves left." "OK, I'll have one of those." "That'll be five dollars." !!!

One loaf? 20$. They sell out every week according to my mother. Your profile says Vegas -- I don't know if there are any super-ritzy farmer's markets around where you are, but there might be. All I'm saying is that if your bread is good enough and you find the right place to sell it, you can charge A LOT.
posted by incessant at 1:11 PM on May 26

Contact your Small Business Development Center. They are clearing houses for information on how to do this in your specific community. They may even have a class on starting a food related business. There was a class on this in the this past Sunday's issue of our local paper. SBDC's are all over the country and are associated with the SBA - Small Business Administration. Set up an appointment or shoot the nearest one an email; many of the ideas here are common vectors for your type of start-up, notably renting space from a restaurant from 11:00pm to dawn or longer if it is a dinner house only (when bakeries normally operate and restaurants are closed). A restaurant owner would be open to additional income generated in this way. The church kitchen idea is viable and pretty common one with this sort of start-up as well. Church hall kitchens often remain unused for the greater part of the week and are licenced with commercial equipment to feed large groups of people. You would probably be required by the church to get your own insurance and include them as an additional insured on the policy. About 2 million dollars in liability insurance should cost you about $500-$800 per year. Church folk tend to be reasonable and compassionate toward those starting a food business and bread is a very pleasant aroma as opposed to say a garlicky pasta sauce or something. If it's a Catholic church you would have them covered at communion. You might be able to negotiate donating a quantity of bread in lieu of the rent that the church could sell as a fundraiser on Sundays etc. at a profit.
posted by Muirwylde at 1:15 PM on May 26

Although others have said it several times already, I have a friend who started a bakery via the rental of a church kitchen. Its worked well for her.
posted by buttercup at 6:20 PM on May 26