Small Professional Cooking School with a Teaching Kitchen

Career changers, young adults heading into restaurant work, and people building skills for catering or a food business. Some pay with their own savings, and others may use workforce funding if your program qualifies.

Tuition for each program, paid in full or in installments, plus extra income from evening classes and private events in the same kitchen.

• Professional kitchen experience
• Curriculum planning and teaching
• Managing students, staff and a lease

• State approval or licensing for private career schools, which differs by state and may affect how you advertise and take tuition
• Health department permit and fire code requirements for a commercial teaching kitchen, so check with your city or county before signing a lease
• General liability, property and workers' compensation insurance once you hire instructors
• Large upfront costs for equipment and rent before enrollment builds
• Refund policies and student contracts, ideally reviewed by a local lawyer
• Claims about job placement or earnings, which should be accurate and honest

Startup costs are typically around $30,000 to $120,000, depending on your lease, kitchen equipment and student stations. Large upfront costs for equipment and rent come before enrollment builds, so plan your cash carefully.

Check state approval or licensing for private career schools, which differs by state. Also check health department permit and fire code requirements for a commercial teaching kitchen before signing a lease, and review refund policies and student contracts with a local lawyer.

Monthly revenue is typically around $8,000 to $35,000, depending on enrollment, program length and tuition. This is usually a full-time business, typically around 30 hours a week or more. Any job placement or earnings claims should be accurate and honest.