I know some of you have converted garages and basments for your cake business; I have decided that I am going to build a commercial kitchen on my property. I am in the preliminary planning stage and would like some feedback from those who have done the same ( that is built a building on their property for cakes, catering, etc...) I am very familiar with the code requirements of my state (GA) and county (city doesn't apply since I'm not located within the city juridiction).
I am thinking about 3 car garage (without the garage doors of course) or a 24'x40' building with an apartment (1 or 2 bedroom) above. The bottom level (commercial kitchen) will have a under sink grease trap, 3 comp sink, mop sink, hand sink, 1 or 2 floor drains and a half bathroom.
Appliances:
range: Professional style range/hood purchase from HD Expo
oven: Electric convection blogett
Refrigeration: I would love a combination walkin cooler/freezer the size still undecided that will be indoors as well as a 2 door reach-in for convenience use to store any items that doesn't need to be in the walkin.
Basically, these are the bare minimum things that I needed to know to help with planning the building (construction) part. My cousin is a home building so I'm getting a great deal on the construction cost. The backyard does need some grading done so that will have to be 1 of the first things done then the plumbing prep. The main house is on a septic tank so they'll have to run lines to it.
Another question, I would like for the electrical to be seperate from the main house I think I probably need to contact the electric co to inquire about a seperate meter. Did anyone have this done or is it still billed to your main house electric bill?
Sounds like a good plan. I have a suggestion for the fridger/freezer. A chef I know put in a unit with four side-by-side compartments. It was originally all freezer, but she had the thermostats changed so two comparments were refrigerator. She save money and space.
The electrical can be added to your house, or be a separate billing. Personally, I would think you would want a separate panel/billing. that way you can deduct the entire cost of the electrical bill each month.
I am in the process of building a commercial kitchen on our property. We bought a home with an existing 10 x 20 building. We are also on a septic system. We got a permit from the DEQ (Dept. of Environmental Quality) and they specified exactly what type of septic we have to put in. We are waiting for the weather to cooperate to have this done (Oklahoma). We have a separate electric meter for the building. The electrician got everything wired and then the electric company came and hooked it up. We did have it checked by the electric company first. We were fortunate that the pole was close to our building so we didn't have any additional cost from them.
Once the septic tank is in, we have a plumber lined up. My husband plans to do the rest of the work. The building has a covered front porch and I think it's going to be a perfect bakery.
Also, before we ever started, we had a county health inspector come and do an on-site check of the building to make sure our plans were up to code, etc. He was very nice and gave us a lot of helpful information.
I'm interested in hearing how all of this turns out as well. This is something that my DH and I are talking about doing when we buy land for our home instead of having 2 kitchens in the house. (so I don't feel like I'm always at work)
I'd love to see pictures of finished kitchens also if anyone has them.
I am in the process of building a commercial kitchen on our property. We bought a home with an existing 10 x 20 building. We are also on a septic system. We got a permit from the DEQ (Dept. of Environmental Quality) and they specified exactly what type of septic we have to put in. We are waiting for the weather to cooperate to have this done (Oklahoma). We have a separate electric meter for the building. The electrician got everything wired and then the electric company came and hooked it up. We did have it checked by the electric company first. We were fortunate that the pole was close to our building so we didn't have any additional cost from them.
Once the septic tank is in, we have a plumber lined up. My husband plans to do the rest of the work. The building has a covered front porch and I think it's going to be a perfect bakery.
Also, before we ever started, we had a county health inspector come and do an on-site check of the building to make sure our plans were up to code, etc. He was very nice and gave us a lot of helpful information.
Wow, you're so far ahead of me, keep us posted on the progress and post pictures to this thread when you can. I will do the same posting pictures as I progress.
May I ask how much the added septic tank is costing you? Also, did the electrician tie in to the electrical of your home and then have the electric co install a meter? I was told that would be the cheapest route to go that is tie in to the electrical, gas, and water of our home then have meters install to the building. I don't mind it all being connected to the house just as long as I can get seperate bills that I can write off in full when tax time comes along.
Our septic system is going to cost $2600-$3,000. It will be a separate septic tank that pumps up to the existing one. We don't have to add additional lateral lines. We thought it would be best to have two totally separate tanks, but when they did the soil test, this was the requirement they gave us (Dept of Environmental Quality) on how it had to be done.
Our electric is not tied into the house at all. The electrician wired the building and attached the connection thing to the roof on the back(do you like my technical terms? 
Anyway, the electric company then connected the thing on the roof to a power pole. Our electrician charged us $1485.00. The building is small, but we had a 200 amp breaker box installed. It takes a lot of electricity for the equipment and we wired it for everything we could think of.
I will post some pictures. The building has wood siding with a covered front porch. It's adorable. It kind of looks like something from an old west town.
Our septic system is going to cost $2600-$3,000. It will be a separate septic tank that pumps up to the existing one. We don't have to add additional lateral lines. We thought it would be best to have two totally separate tanks, but when they did the soil test, this was the requirement they gave us (Dept of Environmental Quality) on how it had to be done.
Our electric is not tied into the house at all. The electrician wired the building and attached the connection thing to the roof on the back(do you like my technical terms?
Anyway, the electric company then connected the thing on the roof to a power pole. Our electrician charged us $1485.00. The building is small, but we had a 200 amp breaker box installed. It takes a lot of electricity for the equipment and we wired it for everything we could think of.I will post some pictures. The building has wood siding with a covered front porch. It's adorable. It kind of looks like something from an old west town.
Ok, so did the electric company charge anything to connect to the pole? or was that included in the electrician's fee?
I was at home depot yesterday and was talking to this guy who own a contruction co. I was telling him about my project and wanted to get his opinion on things. I ask what would be a ball park figure for building this seperate building 24x40 and he told me I was looking at $65,000 not including the equipment in the kitchen but just the building with out the apartment. I looked at him like he was CRAZY!!! I told him I will be purchasing all of the material from HD and HD Building supply since HD provided my business with a $30,000 line of credit which I already know is more than enough for building materials; therefore, I only need to pay for the labor of the licensed contractors ( plumber and electrician). My builder cousin will do everything else for a $4,000 HD shopping spree.
It did not cost us anything with the electric company to connect us, but they said that was because the building was located close to the utility pole where it was connected. I think they measure how far the distance is to the pole and that determines the cost.
We were fortunate that the building was already on the property when we bought our home, we're just having to finish it out. The electrical, plumbing and septic are the biggest expenses for us. We live in an all electric neighborhood, so natural gas was not even an option for us.
I ask what would be a ball park figure for building this seperate building 24x40 and he told me I was looking at $65,000 not including the equipment in the kitchen but just the building with out the apartment. I looked at him like he was CRAZY!!!
That price actually doesn't sound that crazy to me. We added a bedroom to our house several years ago and got several estimates between $50,000-$60,000. That was just for a 12'x15' room, no plumbing, no septic, no special electric requirements, no health codes to meet, etc.
In the end, my huband and FIL did the work themselves, working evenings and weekends. The total materials bill came in at just over $20,000 but it took over 18 months to complete.
Melissa in N KY
We had a 20 x 30 building that we used as an outdoor kitchen. We converted it into a bakery last summer. We had to add a sewerage treatment plant, under the sink grease trap, mop sink, & 3 compartment sink. The most expensive investment was the sewerage treatment plant - $2700.
Now, i've got the problem of not enough space. I do catering, too. So, this spring, we're taking in the rest of the building that is under roof - another 15 x 20. So, my shop will be 45 x 20. We'll also add more outlets, another A/C unit, etc. Right now, electricity comes from main house, but we'll put in a separate meter for the shop. Also, we're adding storage / outdoor cooking area to the building, so that when I've got orders for grilled, BBQ, etc., we will be under cover, and attached to the shop.
Can't wait to complete it!
We had a 20 x 30 building that we used as an outdoor kitchen. We converted it into a bakery last summer. We had to add a sewerage treatment plant, under the sink grease trap, mop sink, & 3 compartment sink. The most expensive investment was the sewerage treatment plant - $2700.
Now, i've got the problem of not enough space. I do catering, too. So, this spring, we're taking in the rest of the building that is under roof - another 15 x 20. So, my shop will be 45 x 20. We'll also add more outlets, another A/C unit, etc. Right now, electricity comes from main house, but we'll put in a separate meter for the shop. Also, we're adding storage / outdoor cooking area to the building, so that when I've got orders for grilled, BBQ, etc., we will be under cover, and attached to the shop.
Can't wait to complete it!
Wow that's great! I'm still trying to finalize the size and find plans for my building project. I am looking at either 24x40 or 30x40. What was your initial investment in the first building to have it built? Is your building built on a concrete slab?
Yes, the building is on a concrete slab. Initial investment is hard to say. This concrete was poured about 15 years ago, and the original building was built then. We bought materials, and friends helped us with the labor. All we had to do to update last summer was what I mentioned previously. It had the 1/2 bathroom, plumbing, electricity, etc. So, to give a price on original building wouldn't be accurate for today's prices/labor. I was just very fortunate that I had something like this to be able to start my business. Otherwise, I don't know if I would have been brave enough to start.
Sorry I can't give more info!
Great minds think alike!!!!
I was looking into building something for a shop to be legal here also (Alabama). I have to have the separate septic tank, electricity, etc. that you all have mentioned. I have 10 acres so space isn't a problem it's just up a dirt road but at least I could advertise!!
Then I got depressed about it being too risky - how many orders a week would I need to do this?! Then driving down the road I spotted a trailer - one of those small office type ones. Too cute! Haven't called to ask price but went online and it's perfect. The kitchen is in the middle with a bedroom at one end (storage for me) and the living room at the other (showroom, displays, etc.). It has a the bathroom, etc.
Thanks for starting this post!!!!
Yes, Blodgett builds great convection and deck ovens. They are one of the most preferred brand of ovens I've seen in professional kitchens of restaurants and bakeries. I think most cake decorators are only familiar with Deluxe ovens since their ovens are advertised heavily in cake deco magazines and at convention. I rather buy something built to last than something that will break down and cause major headache later on. I bought a used 1/2 pan blodgett off of ebay a couple of years ago for around $400 that works great! These are on the pricey side brand new. I'm currently in the market for a full size oven gas or electric still trying to decide which to buy.
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