How to Get Your Catering Business License & Catering Permits

Getting your catering business license might sound like another checkbox in the business launch process, but it’s the very foundation of your venture. Without it, those culinary dreams won’t be able to legally take flight.  

Licenses and necessary permits ensure that your venture isn't just whipping up mouthwatering menus but also operating with full legitimacy and trustworthiness. In this article, you’ll find a step-by-step overview on how to get a catering license so you can start serving up delicious food with peace of mind. 

Understanding Different Types of Catering Licenses and Permits 

Before your knives hit the chopping board, securing a catering business license is step one. ​It gives you legal clearance to accept customers while ensuring you stay compliant with local and state laws.  

Consider it as critical as launch day, because without it, you can’t officially provide catering services. 

Then there's the catering permit, which regulates the  food and drink you plan to offer. ​​Whether serving eye-catching ​wedding ​cakes ​or ​​power lunches at corporate retreats, your permit confirms you​​ ​follow ​​​current​ health and safety standards​.​​

Another key ingredient in this mix is the food handling permit. This one's for safeguarding your diners' health and safety. It might call for some training and certificates but think about how reassuring it will be when guests know their gourmet bites aren't just delicious but prepared with utmost care. 

Sometimes, though not always, an alcohol license or event-specific permissions are required depending on local laws. Conduct your own research and double check details with a lawyer to make sure you fulfill all needs.

Step-by-Step Guide to Obtaining a Catering License 

As is often the case when interacting with bureaucratic systems, getting a catering business license might sound overwhelming. With the right steps and preparation, it’s straightforward.  

Each state or locality has its own set of rules, so doing your homework upfront can save some serious frustration later. Regardless of whether you’re running operations out of a commercial kitchen, from home, or an online ordering business model, the law applies equally across the board. 

Research Local Requirements 

Not sure how to get started? Head over to your local government website and look up specific regulations for catering businesses in your area. 

These are usually found through health departments or business licensing offices. Most provide handy checklists that outline the necessary forms, permits, and fees based on where you're setting up shop. 

Preparing Necessary Documentation 

Before applying for your catering business license, you’ll need to gather a few documents. These requirements differ from state to state but essentially boil down to: 

• Business Formation Documents: Think of this as the birth certificate for your company. It outlines how your enterprise is structured and will typically include Articles of Incorporation or an LLC agreement. 
• Employer ID Number (EIN): This is key for filing federal business taxes and is non-negotiable when securing a catering permit. 
• Food Safety Certification: You wouldn’t want just anyone handling your food, right? This certification shows that both you and your team know what they’re doing when prepping meals. 
• Commercial Kitchen Inspection Report: Imagine this as a stamp of approval from the health department ensuring everything in your kitchen and live event setups passes muster with local health codes. 
• Liability Insurance Certificate: Should any mishaps or food-related issues occur on-site during an event, ​this type of coverage protects your business regarding general liability insurance. 
• ​​Certificate of Occupancy: ​This certificate confirms that your kitchen space complies with local zoning regulations and is approved for commercial food preparation. Again, this applies even if you're operating an ​online-only business like a virtual kitchen. 
• Alcohol Beverage and Responsible Service of Alcohol License: Serving drinks comes with its own set of rules and permits. Double check that your business is compliant with everything here, too, as you don’t want to lose opportunities based on a few papers to sign and fees to pay. 

Application Process 

Every US state has its own set of rules, procedures, and timeframes for submitting a catering business application. Depending on which state you work out of, you can start by searching online for “Catering License 'state name'" and read up on your state's particular requirements.  

Generally, the process will involve either applying through a completely digital form or printing, filling, and submitting your application form(s) and accompanying documents at a local government office. Timeframes for application completion may be anywhere from a few business days to several weeks.  

3 Recommendations for Navigating Catering Permits 

Kicking off requires more than just great recipes and a passion for food. You’ll also need to understand what permits are needed for getting your catering business up and running.  

​​A word of ​caution: there are quite a few of them.  

Depending on where you set up shop and what services you offer, permit requirements will vary, but they all serve one purpose: keeping your operation legal and your patrons safe.

1. Identifying Required Permits

Before firing up your burners, determine all of the specific permits your business needs. No matter where you dish out deliciousness or what form it takes, expect that you’ll need the following: 

• General Business License: Non-negotiable for legally running any kind of enterprise. 
• Doing Business As (DBA): If you’re running your catering business under a name that differs from your legal business name. 
• Home Occupation Permit: This is valid when crafting meals from home or if you run an online ordering business under your residential roof. 
• Restaurant Food Service License: It’s not just restaurant owners who need this; the license applies whenever serving edibles publicly. 
• Food Handler Permit: Necessary training so your entire staff roster and any temporary workers handle food safely. 
• Temporary Food Establishment Permit: For setting up eateries at events from marriage celebrations to community fests. 
• Mobile Food Permit: If you serve street eats, you'll need permission to do so whether wheels or temporary stands are involved. 
• Fire Safety Permit: Especially vital if commercial cooking gear will be in use at your catering site. 
• Waste Disposal Permit: For managing leftovers such as cooking oil, grease, and perishable food. 

Getting started with all of this government paperwork means reaching out to both local health departments and business licensing providers. You’ll need to get clarity on what suits you best based on how and where you operate.

2. Application Tips for Catering Permits

Accuracy is important. There’s nothing worse than spending hours gathering and/or completing documents only to have to scrap the application and start over. Ensure your complete application includes every necessary document, such as your Food Safety Certification and Commercial Kitchen Approval from the local health department.  

Confirm that your catering business license hasn't expired before you submit it. And if drinks are part of your gig, remember to include a ​catering liquor license with your paperwork so everything moves smoothly. 

To be absolutely sure, get a business law firm involved to go over everything before you submit. A modest, short-term investment can save you thousands of dollars later on, not to mention protection from business loss as well.

3. Managing Renewals and Updates

Permits have their own shelf life, and they need to be refreshed regularly. Typically, food handling or catering permits require updating every year.  

So, mark those calendars and renew both your catering permit and Food Handling Permit promptly. All cooking and serving infrastructure should ideally be clean before inspections. As your service line expands or expands into new geographic areas, update those permits like occupancy and food handling certification for all new employees.

Food Handling Permits and Health Regulations 

The cornerstone of a booming catering enterprise lies in food safety, with the right permits proving to your employees, customers, and partners that your catering business is legitimate. 

Significance of Food Safety 

Securing a food handling permit is far more than ticking off a box for legal reasons. It's essential for customer well-being and safeguarding your business’s good name. Handled correctly, food safety reduces health risks considerably, keeping your high-quality services untainted by contamination scares or lawsuits. 

Securing a Food Handler’s Permit 

Wondering how to get a food handling permit? It involves completing a food safety course, passing an exam, and then formally requesting the permit from your local health department.  

This informative journey teaches you everything from keeping leftovers safe in the fridge to making sure every surface shines spotlessly clean. 

Adhering to Regular Health Inspections 

Staying aligned with health regulations means rolling up your sleeves for routine self-checks because surprise visits from health inspectors can happen at any time.  

While it’s likely that as a restaurant and catering business owner, you already understand these requirements, remember that these rules exist to let customers know their meals are in responsible hands. It also greatly reduces the likelihood of accidents, because even under ideal circumstances, human error happens. Such protection also lowers the likelihood of being sued or having to close your business. 

3 More Legal Considerations and Compliance 

Running a catering business isn't all cakes and platters. There are several legal requirements you’ll need to be familiar with.  

1. Understanding Local Health Codes 

Compliance with local health codes is mandatory. While each state sets its own rules, they generally always boil down to these: 

• Keeping food at safe temperatures 
• Cleanliness of prep spaces and tools 
• Separation of meat and vegetables when preparing 
• Team cleanliness protocols 
• Managing unwelcome critters 
• Ensuring meals arrive safely 
• Allergen declaration 

Double-check your area's regulations. The best way to understand your state's requirements is to search online for "<your state> health codes.” You can also look into the FDA food code and local ordinances, such as the California Retail Food Code and the New York City Doh Health Code, for a more general overview of health codes. 

2. Insurance Requirements 

A solid general liability insurance policy for those slip-ups or mishaps can save a lot of time and money. It’s also mandatory for all restaurants and catering businesses to stay licensed.  

In addition to general liability, caterers should also have the following: 

• General Auto Insurance (if operating from a vehicle) 
• Food Contamination and Liability 
• Employment Practices Liability Insurance (EPLI) 
• Cyber Liability 

If you're serving drinks, look into extra safety nets like Product Liability Insurance or Liquor Liability Insurance. 

​​3. Navigating Zoning Laws 

​​Zoning laws are all about location, location, location (which is also the biggest rule in real estate)​, and they don’t stop being important once you have secured approval. These laws dictate what types of equipment you can use, how much space is required for certain operations, and noise level compliance.​​

​​Depending on where your catering business sets up, you’ll need to follow zoning codes like Los Angeles’ Title 19 or New York City’s Zoning Resolution​.

Every state has different zoning laws, and some are stricter than others, so get familiar with your local laws. Ignoring these could mean large fines or having to permanently shut down your operations. 

Leveraging Technology and Resources 

Navigating the bureaucratic maze of permits and licenses just got a bit more bearable, thanks to today’s technology. Many states have embraced digital document management, making administrative tasks simpler for business owners who’d rather focus on their passion than paperwork. 

To keep everything in order, consider using these digital solutions to make life easier: 

• Use license and permit management software like iWorQ, Qualityze, and Cloudpermit that tracks  renewals and ensures you stay compliant. 
• Take advantage of cloud storage solutions like Backblaze, Google Drive, and Egnyte to safeguard digital copies of critical documents. 
• Set up automated alerts for filing deadlines and health inspections so they don’t sneak up on you. 
• Embrace electronic document signing—your pen (and wrist) will thank you. 

​​A modern hospitality payments tech solution, such as Paytronix, also helps manage transactions and create loyalty programs with customers, ensuring accurate reporting, repeat business, and keeping your business in line with legal requirements. Point-of-Sale (POS) systems should be able to accept multiple types of payments, especially if you’re planning on catering public events. 

For more tips on streamlining operations, check out our eBook on maximizing digital ordering and our 2024 Loyalty Guide.  

​​The Bottom Line 

Navigating the maze of licensing and permitting can be a challenge, but ultimately it comes down to securing proper training, acquiring necessary permits, and accurately filing your application with government entities. 

State-specific rules for compliance are as varied as they come. The best move is to hop online or pick up the phone to touch base with local officials for clarity on essential steps and permits tailored to your business.  

For even more insights, our webinars and eBooks are packed with great advice—from nurturing customer relationships to taking your business online. Once your catering paperwork is approved, book a demo for a firsthand walkthrough of our catering features that can bring you to the next level.