Licensed tamale kitchen for catering and wholesale

Farmers market shoppers, restaurants, coffee shops, caterers, offices, schools and event hosts, plus families ordering for the holidays.

Retail price per tamale or dozen at markets and online orders, plus wholesale prices for regular business customers and catering trays for events.

• Making tamales in larger batches
• Costing recipes and pricing for wholesale
• Selling to local businesses and running market stalls

• Health department permit and kitchen inspections. Requirements vary by county, so check before you buy equipment
• Food manager certification or food handler cards may be required locally
• General liability and product liability insurance, which markets and wholesale buyers often ask for
• Check labeling rules, and whether meat fillings bring in extra inspection requirements for wholesale
• Kitchen rental hours add up, so track your cost per batch
• Workers' compensation insurance once you hire helpers

Estimated startup costs are typically around $5,000 to $20,000, depending on kitchen rental or build-out, equipment, packaging, permits and insurance. Check county requirements before you buy equipment.

Estimated monthly revenue is typically around $2,000 to $9,000, depending on your mix of markets, wholesale accounts and holiday orders. Kitchen rental hours add up, so track your cost per batch.

Check health department permits and kitchen inspections, which vary by county. Also check food manager or handler cards, labeling rules, whether meat fillings add wholesale inspection requirements, liability insurance and workers' compensation once you hire.