Thinking about opening a cloud kitchen? Here are some things to consider.
November 30, 2020, 08:35 PM UTC
Setting up a ghost kitchen is a little different than starting a regular restaurant, mainly because you are not looking into factors like building out a space or hiring and training a front of house staff. If you are thinking of opening a cloud kitchen, here a quick checklist on what to focus on:
Make a business plan: Like any new concept, you should always map out a business plan to nail down your mission, your goals, finances and market analysis. This will be your playbook for launching your cloud kitchen.
Acquire local business licenses: These will vary state to state but you need to be registered as a small business before moving anything forward.
Acquire local health certifications: Again, these are different in every state, but no matter where you are there is always a Department of Health restaurants answer to. Find out what your local requirements are and follow them to a T. Cloud Kitchens are subject to inspections just like restaurants. Don’t slack on health and safety standards, and partner with a kitchen that has the same high benchmarks. (Pro tip: Don’t forget to apply for a DOH inspection before your ghost kitchen launches. You’ll need this approval to officially open.)
Get liability insurance: Most commercial kitchens require general liability insurance of up to $1 million. Plans can range between $300-$500 so make sure you factor this cost into your cloud kitchen budget
Pick your partners: There are two major partners you’ll have as a cloud kitchen. One with be your physical kitchen space. The other will be your delivery partner--the way your food actually gets to customers. Make sure they both fit with your vision from your business plan.