Selling homemade food in NYC...?!
Selling homemade food in NYC...?
I would like to try to sell homemade food to high-end supermarkets, deli's, etc... in NYC. What permits or licenses would I need to do this? Do I need to put the nutritional value on the product too?
Answers:
Before starting a home business selling food products it's a good idea to investigate regulations on the local level, as well as state and federal mandates.
The Food and Drug Administration is the federal regulatory body. More information can be found at: http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~comm/foodbiz.h...
You'll need to make some phone calls to research your requirements on the state and local level, as regulations vary with location.
State governments vary as to what products may or may not be prepared and sold from home. For instance, canned goods are often prohibited. Many states require a food permit, and inspections from your local health department are to be expected. You may find that a commercial kitchen, or at the very least, a separate kitchen is required for home prepared foods.
Call your state and local health agencies for information on permits and regulations that apply to your business.
You'll also want to make sure you are in compliance with local zoning and licensing laws. Your county and city clerks are a good place to start. And of course, normal tasks such as registering your business name, registering a trademark, obtaining a sales tax certificate, getting adequate insurance coverage... should all be attended to before opening for business.
You have to have an approved kitchen that is completely separate from your home....you also have to have a separate entrance. If you can't do that, maybe a restaurant would be willing to rent their space during off hours.