I am hoping to start a small cupcake business soon, but will need to rent kitchen space until I can save enough money to build out my basement for a commercial kitchen. I contacted the Dept. of Agriculture today to ask what types of places were NOT allowed for me to rent from and was told that almost everything was NOT allowed, including restaurant kitchens! No church kitchens, no firehouse kitchens, no restaurants...what else is there??? I wrote back and asked that question, but have yet to receive a response. Is there anyone out there in the Atlanta area that has run up against this? And what did you do?

Gah! He just wrote me back and said that I'd need to find a shared kitchen to rent, but the only ones he knew of were in other counties, nowhere near me!

What is a shared kitchen?

A friend of my mothers was in your same situation. She made a deal with a recreation center for the elderly to use their kitchen. Since she was not allowed by law to periodically rent the space, she agreed to do the deserts for the special functions for compensation. I don't know what a shared kitchen is, but maybe this might qualify? Good luck!

I've never heard of a shared kitchen either. What exactly is it?

Just guessing .... but is it one of those places set up like a home ec room, with 5-10 little kitchens and you rent your own "kitchen" ... much like hair stylists rent a booth space in a salon?

I've no idea ... just taking a wild guess.

Debi, I think you are right - I just googled "shared kitchen" and this is what I found. its not in Georgia, but I think this is the idea....

http://www.chefssharedkitchen.com/index.asp

Due to recent changes in the law Georgia no two food related businesses can get a license for the same address (same kitchen). Only 1 license allow for each kitchen. The only way it is allowed there has to be separate kitchens with separate entrances etc...


Also, Every food business is required to have either a 100lb grease trap indoors or 3200lb grease trap outdoors.

Looks like my only option now is winning the lottery.

That just really sux!!! I'm so sorry that they changed this law.

I know how you feel though - I keep thinking if I just had a lottery ticket.........

Sorry to hear that for you! Keep your eyes open for sales and ebay is your friend on restaurant equipment. That way you can slowly purchase your equipment then when you are ready to renovate your basement, you are a few steps ahead of the game.


I just thought of what would make a shared kitchen even cooler! Have a few small consultation areas available so they would also have a location other than their home to do consultations/tastings. Have different packages of either paying by the hour, buying blocks of time, walk-in rates higher per hour than a purchased appointment block, weekly rates, monthly rates...Okay I am putting a biz plan together and gonna bite the bullet one more time and approach that rich uncle of mine (yes I really do have one of those, he owns all the Houston Garden Centers). I'll probably get the same answer I have always received from him - no response at all...LOL!

I have wanted to put together something like this in Florida b/c we have the same strick no baking at home laws - however, we can rent space and share space (unlike GA). I wanted to put in storage closet areas to rent as well so that the bakers/caterers could keep their tools and supplies in the space without having to worry about it - etc, possibly even put fridge/freezers in the closets too..... pay extra rent for the closet etc.

I think this is a gold mine!!! where did I leave that lotto ticket??!?!?!

Be careful what people tell you, that wasI though in the beginning, that GA do not allow any kind of home base kitchen...but each county have their own interpretation and also the zoning areas is an issue. I will go ahead, a check twice, because I know there are lots of cake decorator with home base kitchen, completely legal. I know there is a veryyyyyy well known cake decorator that makes beautifull cakes, and she have excellents reviews and she runs a totally License Commercial Kitchen from her home and she is located in Cobb Co.
http://www.sweetcarolinescakes.com/contact.html
Go ahead, I think you can, anyways I strongly believe that is plenty of space for each of us.