Would love advice on starting cooking business

[Trebuchet]

Hi All
I have always loved cooking and bake lots of wedding/birthday/christmas cakesfor friends and family, only ever take for the cost of the ingredients as I'm not a pro. But recently more and more folk have been asking me to cook for them and I'd like to get started properly.

How do I do it?

Do I get the council out to look at my kitchen?

I'm already self employed so I am guessing that bits covered. Would really appreciate advice. Thanks xxxx

you will need health and hygiene certificate.

You will need to be inspected by invironmental health to ensure that your premises conform to the correct standards - iirc the correct standards being that your kitchen needs to have certain types of worktops etc (to cause minimum bacteria).

There are lots of strict rule ie if you have animals in the house your kitchen will not be deamed suitable for catering...

You will need public liability insurance in case you poison your customers

hi Trebuchet, I am working in the catering business and I will advise you:

1. to sit down and put a plan on what items you want to do/cook; get the right recepies and calculate your expenses for each item and on how much you want to sell it. with another words - have a detailed business plan (homemade)
2. go to a health and safety and food and hygiene course, as you need the certificates in order to be able to sell your product
3. need a public liability insurance and also some kind of terms and conditions for your business, so that you can be covered

That is the start, but let me know if you need more info. good luck and have fun

Thanks so much Wannabe and Bobolana, I really appreciate the advice! I'm quite excited to get started on this its something I've thought about for ages!