Talk about posts passing in the ether...

CTMike said:

I run a BBQ catering company as a side gig. First and foremost, you need to talk to your local health department and get the proper licenses for slinging food to the public. Second, setup a LLC to protect your personal assets. Third, get liability insurance.

All of these things are meant to insulate your personal assets in the event that someone gets food poisoning and decides they want to sue you.

Also, never accept raw meat to cook from someone else. You don't know for certain that it was held at the proper temperature to prevent bug growth.

Good luck.

Concise and thorough - Good info right here. 

Like many here, I'm happiest when some protein is getting some smoke on.  Often I cook something just to have something smoking while I work in the shop.

That said, I'm not sure I want to turn it into a job.  I give it away, and I don't have any headaches or complaints.  Beggars can't be choosers, right?

Good luck to you with whatever you do, keep us posted.

I‘d say step 1 is to buy a smoker at least as large as ‘Ol Mortimer.  @CTMike

I tried to do this, and it is not worth the headache. 

In Henry county Georgia, a commissary was/is required (not leased or rented)
The cook trailer requirements were very strict and costly.
SaveServ certifications
The laws about prepared food vs non prepared food crossing thresholds.
Not to mention "greasing" the health department folks to get what you need.

IMO, if this is really something you want to do. Get everything @CTMike suggested and work by word of mouth. "Catering" is a much easier path than being "official".

billt01 said:

I tried to do this, and it is not worth the headache. 

In Henry county Georgia, a commissary was/is required (not leased or rented)
The cook trailer requirements were very strict and costly.
SaveServ certifications
The laws about prepared food vs non prepared food crossing thresholds.
Not to mention "greasing" the health department folks to get what you need.

IMO, if this is really something you want to do. Get everything @CTMike suggested and work by word of mouth. "Catering" is a much easier path than being "official".

I forgot to mention the Servsafe training. You also need training records for everyone that helps you with food prep/cook/service.

I have a written agreement with the local VFW to use their kitchen for prep and storage (commissary).

I am doing private catering (private parties, weddings, graduations, etc) and public vending (local breweries, fairs, etc). I notify the applicable health department for every event to give them a chance to come out and inspect if they feel like it. I have never gotten a score less than 96 because I take food safety very seriously. I don't feel like losing my shirt because I got lazy and someone got sick.

My health department(s) require warm water for hand washing. I am using a propane burner to heat water from the VFW (well water requires periodic lab analyses) and I put it in a Cambro coffee dispenser, stays warm for hours. The dirty water is collected in a Home Depot Homer bucket, and dumped at the VFW after the event.

Being legal can be done, and isn't that hard, you just have to have a good relationship with your health department/inspectors. Talk to them upfront about what's required before you spend any money. As an example, my Shirley Fab trailer isn't NSF rated, like an Ole Hickory or Southern Pride is. In many health districts that's an automatic no-go. For me, once I showed the inspector that the interior of those smokers are made of mild steel (as my SF is), there were ok about it.

I've never had to "grease" an inspector, guess that must be more of a Southern thing.

Doing "unofficial catering" as mentioned above can be done, but the potential liability just isn't worth it in my opinion. YMMV.

billt01 said:

"Being legal can be done, and isn't that hard, you just have to have a good relationship with your health department/inspectors."

Unless one plans on only vending in your county every time, this is a bit moot.

I spent several thousand dollars trying to make this happen and trust me, everyone has their hand out.

YMMV

I feel your pain. I am currently licensed in two health districts so my point really isn't moot. Sadly there are quite a number of health districts for such a small state (CT), each one covering a handful of towns. Each license costs me about $250/year, and I plan on adding a couple more this year, as well as RI. At least Rhode Island has one license for the entire state.

billt01 said:

"Being legal can be done, and isn't that hard, you just have to have a good relationship with your health department/inspectors."

Unless one plans on only vending in your county every time, this is a bit moot.

I spent several thousand dollars trying to make this happen and trust me, everyone has their hand out.

YMMV

Just curious - when you say "everyone has their hand out" do you mean officials are asking/expecting illegal bribes or are you just saying that various localities/jurisdictions have statutory fees for permits/inspections/licenses/etc?

HeavyG said:

billt01 said:

"Being legal can be done, and isn't that hard, you just have to have a good relationship with your health department/inspectors."

Unless one plans on only vending in your county every time, this is a bit moot.

I spent several thousand dollars trying to make this happen and trust me, everyone has their hand out.

YMMV

Just curious - when you say "everyone has their hand out" do you mean officials are asking/expecting illegal bribes or are you just saying that various localities/jurisdictions have statutory fees for permits/inspections/licenses/etc?

Everything you mentioned...

CTMike said:

billt01 said:

HeavyG said:

billt01 said:

"Being legal can be done, and isn't that hard, you just have to have a good relationship with your health department/inspectors."

Unless one plans on only vending in your county every time, this is a bit moot.

I spent several thousand dollars trying to make this happen and trust me, everyone has their hand out.

YMMV

Just curious - when you say "everyone has their hand out" do you mean officials are asking/expecting illegal bribes or are you just saying that various localities/jurisdictions have statutory fees for permits/inspections/licenses/etc?

Everything you mentioned...

That sucks. License fees I can live with, the rest - not so much.

Could of sold you a very nice slightly used NSF Cookshack SM150 ~4 years ago.

1. Sell Lang under direction of "authorities" and purchase a NSF cooker.
2. Find local BBQ business to purchase for my commissary to dispose of my grey and black water due to the fact as mentioned above, the commissary must be registered in the name applying for the vending license.
3. Purchase vending trailer with all necessary equipment twin 3 compartment stainless sinks with non absorbent floor and necessary fire suppression and vent hoods.
4. Deal with local "authorities" about fire suppression and ventilation of said commissary.
5. Sell all of this $#!+ and just do it as a "catering" gig.

The above is the Cliff notes version of my ordeal. It about cost me my marriage and my sanity.

If someone expect bribes, report them.  This isn't a third world country, yet.

STOP STOP

Ya'll are taking the fun out of it!

billt01 said:

HeavyG said:

billt01 said:

"Being legal can be done, and isn't that hard, you just have to have a good relationship with your health department/inspectors."

Unless one plans on only vending in your county every time, this is a bit moot.

I spent several thousand dollars trying to make this happen and trust me, everyone has their hand out.

YMMV

Just curious - when you say "everyone has their hand out" do you mean officials are asking/expecting illegal bribes or are you just saying that various localities/jurisdictions have statutory fees for permits/inspections/licenses/etc?

Everything you mentioned...

takes time, but getting even helps