Cookery school with its own teaching kitchen

Home cooks of all levels, people considering a career in food, groups celebrating birthdays or hen events, and businesses booking team days.

Course and class fees per student, private group hire, and gift vouchers. Some schools also add ingredient or equipment sales on the side.

• Strong cooking skills and teaching ability
• Managing a timetable, bookings and suppliers
• Budgeting for rent, equipment and ingredients
• Hiring and managing guest tutors or staff

• Register the premises as a food business with your local council, and expect an inspection and a food hygiene rating
• Check planning and change of use, the lease terms, and building regulations for kitchen extraction and fire safety
• Public liability insurance, plus employer's liability insurance once you take on staff
• Fit-out and rent are big fixed costs, so make sure bookings can cover them before signing
• If you serve alcohol with classes, check whether you need a premises licence

Estimated startup costs are typically around £20,000 to £80,000, depending on the premises, kitchen fit-out and number of cooking stations. Fit-out and rent are big fixed costs, so check bookings can cover them before signing.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £4,000 to £16,000, depending on your timetable, class prices and private bookings. The estimate assumes at least about 30 hours a week of work.

Check whether you need to register the premises as a food business with your local council, and expect an inspection and food hygiene rating. Also check planning and change of use, lease terms, building regulations, insurance, and any premises licence if you serve alcohol.