Daily Chat Thread 14th Jan

ZTD

keren29 wrote: »

I've just emailed my local council asking for advice and information as to what I need to do in order to start the business from home (if it is actually possible).
The costs involved were :eek: as it meant things like industrial microwaves, separate fridges etc and I don't have the space but I might as well find out.

Garage?

You needn't go for the industrial stuff straight off. Industrial just means it's built to last - i.e. ball race bearings instead of sleeve bearings, so a £900 microwave may last 100 times longer than a £50 microwave. You could go for the lower end stuff, then get the industrial if it works out. OK, it works out more expensive in the end, but your cash-flow would love you for it.

Look out on ebay for stuff like that, and also auctions of bankrupt stock - like that brewery you went to.

skint_spice

Sounds promising Keren, like you are actually thinking about it seriously now. I'm sure it must be easier to work at something you are so enthusiastic about and just think you'll be getting paid to buy food that doesn't have to have yellow stickers on - although obviously profit margins must be considered!

I'm happy today as I got my car insurance for even less than the best quote I had last week and also got some money back through quidco for it. added to which I can stop typing car details into computer for another year!

(Land_of)_Maz

Keren, i should imagine cooking master classes/dinner parties in peoples own homes would be less of a H&S minefield.... as long as you were certified, you could use their facilities/equipment etc and the outlay would be less....

Visit one, menu plan and any equipment needs can be established
Visit two: shopping for ingredients (and equipment as required)
Visit three (optional for dinner parties only): taster session
Visit four: Masterclass/coookery lesson or dinner party.

Someone would pay £500 for your services!

Et voila..... your own ready made business plan. All costs are borne by the WAG, i mean person, requiring your services.

Ellidee

OOh yes does anyone watch that prog called 'Come Dine with Me' or something like that. A group of 5 strangers take in turns every night for 5 days to throw a dinner party for the rest. The guests score the host at the end of every evening and at the end of the week the person with the highest score wins £1000. Anywhoo the other day one of the 'contestants' got caterers in to cook his food and he was joint winner. All the others had more or less done their own cooking so some were a bit miffed to say the least !

(Land_of)_Maz

i love that programme!

Did you see that mare who gave evryone a 1 or a 2!! She was a case! I think the producer should've out-ed her to the other guests, would've made good telly!

skint_spice

I saw that once the other week Ellidee and they were all being really rude about someone's decor so decided to give it a miss! is the point more about the dinner party than the cooking then? or was he just a cheat?

Ellidee

Well the guy said he was only doing what he normally does when he throws a dinner party for friends ! He did come clean to his guests and he had chosen the menu so felt he had some input. I suppose the guests were scoring him for his talent as a host and how much they enjoyed the evening. Some chutzpah !

skint_spice

sounds fair enough if he didn't try to pass it off as his own work. not my kind of party though - I just love cooking but would hate to be graded on it! DS says I'm the "best cooking lady ever", high praise indeed but he's easy pleased!

Burlesque_Babe

Cheers gang, you're all fab

i've started a folder in My Favourites for any useful sites I find.

Toto

Hey Keren, you know I think this is a fabby idea. Give me a yell, I have some insider knowledge on running an outside catering business. I used to run you know who's for him.