I approached my township about Mail Order BBQ Business.

It would be far simpler to open a small bbq joint than to do mail order.

Mail order of any food product will require much more than a typical kitchen/commissary. You will need a kitchen production facility that can obtain both a USDA permit and your own state's dept. of agriculture permit. It is a complex and costly process that is subject to a level of scrutiny and compliance that makes the normal health department commercial-kitchen permit process seem like a walk in the park by comparison. Most commercial kitchens (commissaries) DO NOT have USD certification, nor would they meet the standard if they were to apply for one.

The inspection process will require, among other things, a complete HACCP. In case you are unfamiliar with HACCP here are just two resources to help you become familiar:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HACCP
http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~lrd/haccp.html

What I have described is just one part of the overall process. One of my kitchens has the required certifications, and it took me a bit longer than a year to get it accomplished even AFTER I already had my kitchen constructed.

Your best bet is to find a local university-connected ag. extension commercial kitchen or 'incubator' kitchen, as they usually have the USDA inspections. Before they allow you to become a client, you will still have to go through an HACCP course and learn how they want you to keep logs of your production process.

Mail order seems like a good concept, but be sure to do the research to determine the online marketability of your product.

papa deuce

as you say "I don't want to spend more than I need"!

The cost of boxes ?

The cost of Priority shipping?

The cost of commercial vacumne machine?

The cost of croyo [ vacumne bags ]?

The cost of dry ice storage ?

The cost of dry ice ?

To the average consumer they are going to
the most food for the least amount of
money. good luck

earl

None of it matters.... they shot me down 100%.... seems like they don't want ANY small businesses anymore. I keep hearing this from other folks who want to open businesses.

welcome back! great to hear you are better.
sorry about the township turning you down. perhaps you will have to rethink, and reapproach them with different ideas. like the restaurant first. or, if you can get in with an existing rest, you may not need a township permit. just partner up with someone elses.
i haven't been here in a while myself. we sold our bbq restaurant in savannah, and moved to pa. now, we are in the begin stages of opening a place here. just landed the lease and the township permit...and tons more hoops to hop. if anyone interested, we would love to have cookshack visitors: our target opening is april 7th although its looking more like april 14th as too many things are not going as planned.
we will be called 'crystal cafe'
located at 264 w main street
leola, pa 17540
we are working on our menu, and it will go something like this...
subs, gyros, paninis, burgers, SOUTHERN STYLE BBQ, ice cream, shakes, desserts, and a few sides. breakfast and lunch only.

mike

Mike, good to see you finally sold your place.... Hope the new venture is going well for you!