Starting A New Food Business  

When starting a new food business it is very important to get things right at the start.  Mistakes early on can turn out to be costly.  Good food hygiene helps prevent food poisoning and protects your reputation with customers.

What Do I Need to Do to Start My Food Business?

• Register your premises. Register for free at least 28 days before opening.
  Go to the Registration Page.
• The design and construction of your premises must meet legal requirement.  Contact us for further information or to arrange for an officer to make an advisory visit.
• Waste and recycling collections need to be arranged. Waste oil must not be put with your other waste.  It must be removed by an approved contractor - removal is usually free of charge.
• Food safety management procedures must be set up - decide which food safety records you will need to keep. Go to our Safer Food Better Business page for a free food safety management system which you could use. 
• Staff training must be adequate for business – make sure you and your staff understand the principles of good food hygiene. Go to our Food Safety Training page for more information.
• Health and safety and fire safety arrangements must be adequate.  Go to our Health and Safety page for more information.
• A licence may be needed if you intend:
  - selling alcohol
  - putting on public entertainment
  - selling hot food and drink late at night
  - selling food on the street
  Go to our Licensing page for further information.
• Food and drink labelling and information must be accurate. Go to our Trading Standards page for further information. 
• Planning permission may be needed if you:
  - want to change the way a premises is used
  - make major changes to the structure of a premises
  - install a ventilation stack to the building.
  Go to our Planning page for further information.
• Business Rates – ensure you are registered with Cheshire East Council for Business Rates.  Go to our Business Rates page.
  

Want to Know More?

For further advice, contact us using the contact details at the bottom of the page.  

Also the Food Standards Agency has produced a booklet for new food businesses.  The booklet, Starting Up – Your first step to running a catering business, is available in English and other languages from the Food Standards Agency website.

• Go to the Starting Up website.