For those of you who have become legal, how long did the process take? and why?
I think answers will vary wildly depending on if people were getting licensed from their home, renting a licensed kitchen, or building their own shop.
The hard part for me was finding a licensed kitchen. Once I did that, it was a simple matter of sending in my check for my food purveyor's permit. I got it in a week or so.
Ah, the ever popular answer of "depends"
First you spend weeks/months getting a kitchen design, getting a list of needed equipment, getting equipment quotes, construction quotes, requoting the construction because the first guy was totally unreasonable in his price, months working on a business plan once you get these numbers (mine took 9 months), talking to a bank, who tells you that you can't get an SBA loan to start a food industry business until you've been in business 3 years, talking to other banks, ..... (deep breath!)
THEN ......
The HD needs to see the construction plans / floorplan before the build out or construction starts.... the ones signed off by the architech that you had to find to sign off and approve your blueprinted/spec'd out floor plans (we're not talking a pencil drawing you sketched out). You don't get licensed until a final inspection is done after all the construction is done. So a lot of it depends on how fast you can get the build out done; if you pass all of the building inspections, fire inspections, electrical inspections; if you have any do-overs; if your contractor works fast, if he squeezes you in or dedicates time just for you .... all of which has to be done before the HD can give you that coveted seal of approval.
So...... "depends".
Anyone out there legal in VA who cares to explain the process to me? I am in the middle of trying to become legal and I am very confused. I am trying to find a kitchen to rent and don't know where to start, also, I can't understand the requirements for getting a business license or food license here - someone in VA HELP!!!!!!! 
What if you what to rent the kitchen first? how does that work? I'm not asking about getting the license for the kitchen, but to get licensed to sell cakes, rent a kitchen etc.
Kelleym what did you got any special requests, to take classes etc?
Indydebi, thanks! how did you go about starting to write a business plan?
Quite by accident, to be honest. There was one of those seminars coming to town to teach you how to get grant money to start a business, buy a house, whatever. I went. One of the services they sell is helping you put together a business plan. Their accountants and lawyers look everything over and guide you thru the process. I didn't have the money to pay for it the day of the seminar, but my son said to me, "Mom, with you as the brains behind this, it can't fail. I'll loan you the money."
I cried. My Marine son earned that money as combat pay in Iraq. My son earned that money getting blown up in his vehicle when he ran over a land mine and was awarded the purple heart. My son risked his life for that money.
And he was fronting me "seed" money. It is the driving factor that makes my business work .... my son had faith in me that I could do it. I can't/couldn't let him down.
WIth the materials they sent me and the info available on the internet, I got started. BTW, you can get a LOT of good 'how to write a biz plan' from the internet ... you dont' have to buy a service like I did. But i'm glad I did.
And I was able to pay my son back the money almost immediately. I'll never be able to pay him back for the vote of confidence he gave that keeps me going to pursue this project .... this dream.
Oh indydebi.. my brother just came back from Iraq and your post made me get teary. What a wonderful man you have raised.
Oh indydebi.. YOU JUST MADE ME CRY. This is why you have raised such a wonderful man you love him you confort him as a child and know in the time you needed someone and you least expect him there he was mommy I can help. OMG i am here typing with tears down my face. I pray to god that he is ok and God bless you with your business. I am in CT and I am trying to get this business started talking about crossing ALOT OF RED TAPE. GOD HELP ME. But all my best wishes to you and you Son.
Michelle
Deb,
What a touching story. I got to see my DH off to Desert Storm( he's Infantry in the Marine Corps) back in 1990. It was Valentines Day and our first baby was a whopping 6 weeks old. Such a hard time in my life. I felt all alone!!
Please, thank you son for her courage and his service. Thanks him from all of my family please 
You know Debbie, each time I see soldiers on TV My first though go to their moms, I have a 14 year old and I think I would do anything for him never to be in a battlefield. The soldiers are very brave, but so are their moms...
What is a business plan for? is it for getting money from the bank? do you need it to get you license?
You said you got the money from your son, And that you was able to return it really fast.
About how much do you feel is need it to start a cake business?
You know Debbie, each time I see soldiers on TV My first though go to their moms, I have a 14 year old and I think I would do anything for him never to be in a battlefield. The soldiers are very brave, but so are their moms...
What is a business plan for? is it for getting money from the bank? do you need it to get you license?
You said you got the money from your son, And that you was able to return it really fast.
About how much do you feel is need it to start a cake business?
A business plan is pretty much a statement of how you plan to run your business. What is your target market? the demographics? who is your competition and how do you plan to deal with them? It must have a pro-forma income statement, sales projections, and a break-even point. It shows the bank the probability of success. You don't need a biz plan to get a license. My son gave me $1500 to pay for the services of an orgz that helps people put together biz plans.
My equipment costs were just under $60K, but bear in mind that I'm a caterer also so that includes a 6-burner stove, food warmer cabinet, an overhead vent (over the stove - $8000 just for that), commercial dishwasher. Contractors costs were about $12,000 and the landlord paid for flooring and upgrade to 500 amp service ... value of about $7500. (These are a couple of good examples why you're better off to find a space that already had a kitchen in it.)
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