How to Start a Cookie and Sweets Business
- 1). Decide whether your business will prepare cookies and other sweets such as candies, cakes or drinks on site or if ALL of your products will be pre-made. This will determine how you must proceed in opening and licensing your business.
- 2). Create a business plan that includes a full list of the cookies and sweets you will offer to customers, how they will be made or obtained, your accounting system and projected costs, the chosen name of your business and advertising strategies. Use this business plan to help you obtain funding if necessary, or to outline your budget of existing funds.
If you will be preparing foods on site, you will also need to write a food handling manual for employees and make complete lists of the recipes and ingredients you plan to use. - 3). Select a location for your business. Contact your local county and/or city government to ensure your chosen location is zoned for a food business, and evaluate the need for a commercial kitchen. If you will be preparing cookies and sweets on site, you may need to remodel a part of your location to meet the requirements for a commercial kitchen. Hire an architect or contractor to draw detailed sketches of the remodeling or building specifications for submission to the local department of public health before proceeding.
- 4). Register your business name with the appropriate state agency. Apply for a fictitious name or DBA (doing business as) certificate with your county government.
- 5). Apply for a business license with the city and/or county where your business will be located. You may also need special permits to sell food items, although these permits may be called by different names depending upon whether you are selling pre-made items or making cookies and sweets on site.
- 6). Register your business with your state's department of revenue or taxation, and obtain a sales tax license. If you will have employees, you will also need an Employer ID Number from your state and a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) from the IRS.
- 7). Prepare for an inspection by the local department of public health. While the rules will be more stringent if you are preparing your cookies and sweets at your business, anyone selling food items may also need to pass a general inspection for cleanliness and to ensure proper storage and handling of pre-made perishable items.
Once your business has passed the inspection, you will receive a license and permit and may begin doing business.
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