When starting up a new catering business it is very important to get things right at the start because it will make it much easier for you to run your business well in the future.
Food poisoning can be disastrous for a new business – word gets around.
Register Your Food Business Online
To open a food business in Eastbourne you must register your business with the council's Environmental Health service, at least 28 days before opening. Registration is free.
You can download the Food Premises Registration Form in PDF format below, or apply online in Eastbourne through Business Link. If you are outside Eastbourne, contact Environmental Health at your local district or city council.
Who Needs to Register?
Registration applies to most types of food business, including catering businesses run from home and mobile or temporary premises, such as stalls and vans. If you use two or more premises, you will need to register all of them.
If food premises are used by several catering businesses, such as a community hall or conference centre, the person who allows the premises to be used for this purpose is responsible for registering them.
Childminders who prepare food may need to register as a food business:
Certain types of food premises - businesses that make, prepare or handle food of animal origin for supply to other businesses must be approved by the council, rather than registered:
What Else Do You Need to Do?
-
Before opening, you need to organise waste and recycling collections with a commercial waste company.
-
If you want to make changes to your premises, remember that you might need planning permission or apply for change of use,
-
You will need to pay business rates on most premises and get licences for certain activities, such as selling or supplying alcohol or selling hot food between 11pm and 5am (late night refreshment).
-
You might need to register with HM Revenue and Customs as self-employed or register for Valued Added Tax (VAT). These registration processes are completely separate from registering your food premises.
Checklist for Starting Up Your Business
-
Do you need help and advice? Download the booklet Starting Up - Your First Steps to Running a Catering Business, in English or other languages, using the link from this page
-
Have you registered your premises as a food business with the council? Why not save yourself time and apply online?
-
Do the design and construction of your premises meet legal requirements? find out more...
-
Have you put food safety management procedures in place and are you keeping up-to-date records of these? find out more...
-
Do you and all your staff understand the principles of good food hygiene? find out more...
-
Have you considered health and safety at work and fire safety arrangements? find out more...
-
Do you need to apply for a licence to sell alcohol, provide music or entertainment, sell hot food and drink late at night, or sell food on the street? find out more...
-
Have you registered as self-employed?
-
Do you need to register for VAT?
-
Are you keeping records of all your business income and expenses?
-
Are you keeping records of your employees’ pay and do you know how to pay their tax and National Insurance contributions?
-
Do you describe food and drink accurately?
Download Food Premises Registration Form
