Charleston Business Daily

How does one go about starting a catering business in Michigan?

I want to start my own catering business but unsure of where to start. Are there any special licenses required and where do I begin?

Public Comments

1. Turn Your Hobby Into A Worldwide Success With The Internet By: Lori Osterberg this article may help you a little... Good luck
2. To start a catering business inf business in Wayne county. First get your DBA papers (doing Business As) at the City County Building. You will need sales tax certificate from the State of Michigan Treasury Department. And last and most important to note you can't sell any food produced from an unlicensed kitchen. No home kitchen will pass inspection from the Detroit Health Department. Best of Luck.
3. Below is the requirement for catering businesses in Michigan http://www.michigan.org/medc/services/license/index/combo.asp?ContentId=480D2AF7-BDD0-4934-8D20-EBAD3A25A19F&QueueId=1&ContentName=catering_license&chr=C Required State License(s): "The facility (kitchen) where food is prepared should be licensed with the Department of Agriculture at (517) 373-1060. A person's home kitchen where food is prepared for family members will not meet the regulations to be licensed. When starting a catering business consider renting space in a kitchen that is already licensed (i.e. church halls, rental halls) until the cash flow warrants the expenditure for a more permanent facility. If the facility is licensed but the licensee does not wish to accept the liability a separate fixed or temporary license application should be submitted for the same facility by listing the caterer or catering cook as the responsible party." Other resources for starting a business in Michigan How to Start a Business Starting a Business http://www.michigan.gov/businessstartup Starting a Business in Michigan http://www.michigan.org/medc/services/startups/?m=12;7 Business Registration, Permits and Licenses http://www.michigan.org/medc/common/book/main.asp?BookId=5&BookName=Starting+a+Business&ChapName=Licenses+Permits+And+Other+Regulations&ChapId=108&m=12;7 Michigan's Online Business Startup Wizard http://www.michigan.gov/businessstartup/0,1607,7-152-9736---,00.html License Search http://www.michigan.org/medc/services/license/ Taxes e-Registration for Michigan Taxes http://www.michigan.gov/uia/0,1607,7-118--89978--,00.html I suggest you read the free article "How to Start Your Own Highly Profitable Home Based Catering Business" http://www.powerhomebiz.com/vol25/catering.htm The article can give you an introduction on how to start your own catering business. It covers information on the demand for catering, startup costs, income potential, and marketing your catering business. For detailed information, I suggest you check out the following books: - How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business - How to Run a Catering Business from Home - The Complete Caterer: A Practical Guide to the Craft and Business of Catering - How to Manage a Successful Catering Business - Catering Management - Successful Catering - Start Your Own Catering Business You can also learn a lot from the following associations of the catering industry: National Association of Catering Executives http://www.nace.net/ National Restaurant Association http://www.restaurant.org