How to Open Your Own Restaurant or Get a Job at One
I originally posted this on Steemit in the SteemFoods Community
https://steemit.com/hive-148497/@punicwax/how-to-open-your-own-restaurant-or-get-a-job-at-one
(https://www.eater.com/21262619/is-it-safe-to-eat-out-coronavirus-restaurant-safety-risks-covid-19)
I have worked as a Waiter, Prep-Chef, Cashier, Grill Cook, etc. with Centerplate (Sedexo), Aramark, Legends, Cinepolis, etc. At the Dallas Convention Center, Colorado Rockies Stadium, Denver Nuggets Stadium and Cinepolis which is in Dallas and is basically the Studio Movie Grill from Mexico (I might have forgotten a few jobs).
But I am from Texas, so as you can see I have gone to Colorado and worked. Each State is different, and you may be wondering "How do I get started doing a job like that?" and there are a few ways. The best way is to start here and get a certification like I have. Most States do not require it, but Texas does. This website has Training and Certification for several States. In Texas we needed the TABC training, in Colorado the Stadiums use their own chosen Certification and Aramark gave us TEAMS Certification on-site, we did the TABC ourselves.
https://www.360training.com/learn2serve
If you do not get your Certification the best way to get started is by going to a Temp Agency. There are Temp Agencies with contracts with Aramark, Centerplate, Legends, etc. You go to them, and they will pay you from $9-$15 per hr depending on the State, your position at the company, and other stipulations, for example at Snelling in Denver we got $15 an hour when we did 5/6 of the days at the Rockies Home games. Cashiers usually get paid the most as Temps, and they will just take your ID, give you like a $300 bank, and tell you what concession stand to go to. There is also People Ready which is an agency all over America, and Arch Staffing in Texas.
You can also choose to go to a Cooking School, but that is generally unnecessary. If you want to not just work in a Concession stand, or just Run a stand, or work in a Kitchen. There is the option of Alcohol certification and working at a Bar, or moving Alcohol around buildings at events. The people who move Beer and Food around the building are called Runners, in Dallas you can get $16 per hr, $24 over time being a Beer Runner.
But to take it another step up you have to take the HACCP training and test, which Certifies you as a Food Manager. With that you can be Head Chef, Kitchen Manager, etc.
HACCP Food Manager Certification is also what you need to open a Restaurant. HACCP is recommended Federal Guidance, enforced by the States Voluntarily. So it differs everywhere, but a good rule of thumb is to have 1 HACCP Certification in your Kitchen, unless you are a Cottage Industry Food Manufacturer, other Manufacturers may be exempt also and not a Restaurant.
Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points
The basic concept behind HACCP is to do what we all know, and Corona Virus has amplified. First, identify places issues may arise, or "Hazard Points", such as Cooking temperature, Employee gloves and handwashing, Pest control, Rotting food, etc. So you first identify all the points, then create standards and procedures to be followed. Ex: All employees will cook burgers for X minutes at X temperature, and chicken will be fried at X temperature for X minutes, and salmon will be sealed when received put in the freezer within 10 minutes of arrival and be kept at X temperature only to be opened when it is cooked. These are all examples, and now there are new ones like: Ensure customers wear masks until they are at the table, etc. HACCP can also be considered during construction, renovation or interior design, with thought put into Architecture against pests or sitting water, and garbage placement and access, etc.
To Register a Food Facility with the FDA you can use this.
https://www.fda.gov/food/guidance-regulation-food-and-dietary-supplements/registration-food-facilities-and-other-submissions
To Register a Cosmetic facility with the FDA you can use this.
https://www.fda.gov/cosmetics/voluntary-cosmetic-registration-program
For things like Melatonin, or Herbal supplements, these are the guidelines for labeling.
https://www.fda.gov/food/dietary-supplements-guidance-documents-regulatory-information/dietary-supplement-labeling-guide
There are also several other things you can get certification for, like becoming a Distillery to make Liquor, or Importers License for Wine and Beer, etc.
You can use Etsy to start your business, they have good Traffic and lots of Facebook groups. We should really be working to get people from Etsy to come to Steemit, and maybe if more of us join Etsy and use their forums we can do that.
https://www.etsy.com
To fully launch your company, you first go to your Secretary of State and can usually be done for $10 to $50, then go to this IRS page and file your SS4.
https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-ss-4
If any problems arise with your business and a Federal Agency there is the SBA Ombudsman who will have the Agency respond in 30 business days. If there is corruption Local, State or Federal, you can contact FraudNet.
With this Guide you should be able to get the Technical aspects of starting a Restaurant or other Food business started, or work in the Industry, or help someone else work in the Industry.