Here in Vegas, there are a lot of "personal chefs". They make a weeks worth of meals, that go into the freezer. Then the customer puts it in the oven for dinner. Some of them go to their customer's home and cook there. They are given a list of choices, based on their likes and dislikes. We have one customer, (we are in the party rental business) that is now a very sought after caterer. He is known to leave their kitchen cleaner than when he got there. There may be legalities of cooking in her own home and selling the items. She may have to have her home inspected.

To do some meals for family and friends is one thing, to prepare foods for catered events is another. There is liability insurance to consider. Without it, one is really risking everything. Most businesses that might be interested in having someone make foods also will want to make sure it's being done in an approved kitchen.

Like any other type of business, you really have to take a hard look at the start up costs and realize it can take several years before being profitable.

Another thought....realize that both the Health Dept and the Dept of Agriculture watch for caterers, farm markets, craft fairs and all foods sold anywhere for things being made in someones home. I had quite the discussion about this one day with the Dept of Ag inspector when we had our deli. Even the banana bread we made right on the premise had to have the proper labeling, when packaged for sale. They come down pretty tough these days.

I think there are several people here on the forum that have been doing some personal chef type businesses where all the food is prepared in the clients home, that's one way to get started. But that's going to take your daughter away from being a stay at home mom....

Nancy

But I'm sure some areas are much stricter...Some friends of ours do only spring and summer catering..they also last year did a booth at our town farmers market.. all food is prepared in their home in their kitchen. (Okay not the pulled pork..it's often a whole pig smoked and grilled in the back yard.) LOL
I know the Food Health Inspector..she's a by the book woman..so it must be okay what they are doing...

The easiest way for her to do this is to be a personal chef--going to customers' homes, cooking and serving the food there. BUT that would probably mean working at dinnertime, which doesn't sound as if it's what she wants.

There are however, other ways to make $$$ from a love of creative cooking. Have her check out the www.recipecontests.com site. Great resource for cooking contesting. I know a lot of women who actually make a living by entering (and winning) cooking contests. I'm only a 'dabbler' at it myself, but even so, I've made close to $75,000 at it over the years.

I also know a woman who has a very interesting side job. She knows a professional woman who likes to cook dinner for her family, but doesn't have time to plan and shop. My friend makes up menues for her, does the shopping, and then the woman does her own cooking when she gets home from work.

If your dd likes to shop--there are lots of people who are making a business of shopping for senior citizens who can't get out.

If she can't legally cook from home--it might be, by being a little creative, she can come up something else, food-related, to make a few extra $$$.

It is always possible to make a few $$$ at home. I've been a SAHM/W for over 25 years and have ALWAYS added significantly to the family budget--sub teaching, teaching summer school (my dd could go with me), crafting, cooking contests, a number of other cottage industries. Any creative person can easily make money.

The other thing your daughter needs to do before she gets started, is to sit down with her accountant so that she knows what records she needs to keep and how they need to be organized, so that tax season will be as easy as possible.

Good luck--it's really rewarding to build your own business from scratch. She'll have a great time, and should make some good money, if she does her research first.

In a small town in Northern California, a number of people got together that make food products to sell commercially and they co-oped in a rented commercial kitchen and shared the kitchen and the costs of the same. For them it made it feasible to make their delicacies in smaller batches for sale in limited markets. You might be able to do some prep in an environment like that, if food laws permit.

We live just few feet from Long Islnd Sound with 3 marinas very close. I know most everybody around here. Folks know I love to cook. The fishermen wanted me to make "brown bag" lunches for them that could be picked-up 4-6:00 a.m. I called our borough & they wouldn't allow me to do it...period.

Tricia

So, if your daughter has a specialty, like handmade candies or homecanned spaghetti sauce, etc., they'd help with a place to make and package it and then help her sell it.

Annie

Wish her good luck on her venture, and I wish both of you the best!