Do you need special license to cater in New York?

[lozina]

If I wanted to do corporate catering service in New York do I need some special license or anything?

Trying to search for information on this I can find that the city (NYC) requires a permit but I don't care about the city... I also found something about a catering permit within a park... but so far no luck on finding anything general.

Anyone know for sure?

 

[OdiN]

You would need a license of some sort anywhere, AFAIK.

You would have to have your kitchen where food is prepared inspected, etc. They don't just let you open a food service business without having the proper inspections and licensing. You would also need insurance. Imagine someone suing you if they get food poisoning.

 

[Capt Caveman]

Catering license?

 

[OdiN]

Also - I would create an LLC. IANAL, but operating under an LLC limits liability to your company. That way if you are sued, they cannot go after your personal assets. I am not positive on this, so I would speak to a lawyer about it.

 

[alkemyst]

You are going to need to call. Even if someone has their own situation they may have been grandfathered in.

You will need at least a business license and tax cert. Serving food opens up a ton of other items that maybe needed and not limited too certain facilities, certain health screenings, certain licenses/permits/fees, etc.

Call your local department of revenue for an easy way to start on what you need.

 

[nanette1985]

Yes, you need several. I forget what they are, but one of my roommates tried to set up a catering biz, she was doing food for film shoots, and it turned out to be too hard for her. One thing I remember is that she needed something like three certificates for transporting food, it couldn't be a regular car - had to have a business registration, it had to be certified by the health department, and there was something about heat and refrigeration, which was yet another department.

Are you asking about NYC, or somewhere else in New York state?

Best to you.

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: lozina
Topic Title: Do you need special license to cater in New York?

You practically need a license to breathe in New York.

 

[OdiN]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: lozina
Topic Title: Do you need special license to cater in New York?

You practically need a license to breathe in New York.

Yeah....I think they also make you get a licnese for stealing smileys.

 

[Gibson486]

In MA, you need a few of them. My mom did catering for an event....

She needed a license to actually sell food, a license to sell cooked meat, license for transporting warm food, a permit to sell in a public venue....man...she barely broke even her first year, but this was only a one day event.

 

[ElFenix]

no, but you might need an indefinite article.