Small cooking school with its own teaching kitchen

Home cooks, families, couples, companies booking team events and people who want a serious skills course.

Per-seat class fees, course or term fees, and higher-priced private events and corporate bookings. Some schools add guest instructors or ingredient sales.

• Strong cooking and teaching experience
• Scheduling and marketing classes
• Managing costs, stock and part-time instructors

• Check with your county health department whether you need a food service permit, and what inspections apply
• Zoning, fire code and ventilation or hood requirements for a commercial kitchen
• General liability, property and workers' compensation insurance once you hire instructors or staff
• Lease commitments and slow months, so keep cash in reserve
• Sales tax registration with your state if you sell food or products, so check what applies to class fees

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $150,000, depending on the lease, kitchen fit-out and equipment. These are estimates, and lease commitments and slow months mean you should keep cash in reserve.

Monthly revenue is typically around $6,000 to $30,000, depending on your class schedule, courses and private events. That is revenue before rent, staff and stock, so plan for slow months.

Check with your county health department about a food service permit and inspections. Also check zoning, fire code and ventilation or hood requirements, insurance including workers' compensation once you hire staff, and state sales tax registration for class fees.