Committing to a commercial kitchen rental for your food business is a big step and one that shouldn’t be taken lightly. Kitchen space is the foundation of your food production organisation and finding the perfect kitchen to rent can sky-rocket your success. The first few steps in renting your commercial space will be among the most essential to ensure your business is fruitful from the start. There are many important points to consider before signing on the dotted line. But where to start?
To give you food for thought, we’ve covered the top questions you should ask when renting a commercial kitchen…
What Type of Commercial Kitchen would I like to Rent?
The first and most important question you need to be asking yourself, is what type of kitchen will accommodate my business plan? Depending on the size of your business you might want to consider your own dedicated private kitchen instead of a shared space.
What Type of Lease is Offered?
Is the lease available flexible enough to suit the needs of your business? Commercial kitchen costs depend on your circumstances and you don’t want to be paying for space you don’t use. Leased commercial kitchens can be hired as single units or linked together to form large-scale commercial catering complexes. If you’d like more privacy in your operation and want to have more control, a longer-term lease is recommended for your foodservice business.
What are the Rental Requirements?
Before deciding on the kitchen you want to rent, make sure to ask about rental requirements – the required insurance level, the charge per hour/day/month, available appliances and storage materials, and whether space is shared or dedicated. After getting your business license, liability insurance and food handler’s certificate, head to your local health department to make sure you can apply for all the necessary items you need to rent your commercial kitchen space without any delays.
The good news is, acquiring a commercial lease is more straightforward than a residential lease. Unlike a residential lease, there is no standard practice for credit requirements to get a commercial lease. You’ll just have to provide financial and business statements to prove your financial security.
How much Space do I Need?
Before finalising your kitchen rental, always consider exactly how much space you need for your project. How many kitchen, storage and desk units will you require and how much space will you need for your supplies and staff? Designing your kitchen layout is a key ingredient to business success and growth.
What Appliances and Amenities are Available?
Rental kitchens can include certain appliances within the rental package, so it’s important to find out what equipment you need to invest in before signing the agreement. And which of your required appliances will actually fit in the space available? Never assume certain tools and amenities are included within your package and always measure up your kitchen before you go ahead with the kitchen rental.
Struggling to know where to find good-quality appliances? We can put you in touch with our reliable commercial kitchen equipment suppliers.
What is my Price Range?
Depending on the time, space and amenities, every rental service comes with a different price tag. Carefully weigh the pros and cons of every rental service and consider the cost value. Shop around and check out all of your options before committing to a rental service.
Does it meet Food Safety Standards?
Is your kitchen rental clean and sanitary? By food safety laws and in line with the Food Standards Agency (FSA) all kitchens should be SALSA & HACCP accredited. It’s worth checking whether this includes hygienic floors and waste collection and inbuilt ventilation and drainage to ensure the food you produce is safe for consumers.
What Storage is Available?
Ensure the storage resources available don’t just cover cold and frozen storage areas, but also reliable dry storage and a packing/labelling room to make your foodservice business as efficient as possible.
How Big is my Delivery Radius?
Your delivery radius determines how far a third-party delivery service will deliver an order from your commercial delivery kitchen. Your kitchen should be located in the heart of delivery demand with a high volume of customers to ensure you run your delivery business with maximum efficiency and minimal cost.
At Dephna, our London kitchen prices are flexible and tailored to the individual situation. Ranging from 400 sq ft to 4,000 sq ft, we have a catering kitchen to suit every business, big or small. Whether you’re a food truck or a large corporation, we’ve got commercial kitchen facilities to suit your needs. Find more information on our commercial kitchen and cold storage rental prices, here.
