become a member

Starting your own business requires a lot of planning, so we aim to make the process of becoming a Member at 1400 Food Lab as simple as possible.

1. It All Starts With A Tour

Tuesdays at 5:00 pm and Thursdays at 3:00pm we hold informational tours of the 1400 Food Lab facility. We will show you all the features and equipment available, answer any questions you may have, and outline next steps in becoming a member.

We encourage anyone who is interested to visit! The earlier you start planning, the more successful your food business will be and helping food businesses succeed is what we're all about!

Step 2: Licensing and Certification

Because we are a shared commercial kitchen space, all of our members rely on each other to keep the highest standards of cleanliness and safety. Below is a checklist of items you'll need to present before becoming a member of 1400 Food Lab:

• Registration as a business with Ohio Secretary of State
• Establishment of a Federal Employer Identification Number
• ServSafe Manager Certification for the primary chef/cook/owner who must be present during food production
  • Visit servsafe.com for more information on how to get your certification
• Business Liability Insurance: we require a minimum of $1 million annual liability coverage listing Kitchen Management Group and Connect Realty as the additionally insured. fliprogram.com is a great resource for a start-up food business.
• Licenses & Permits: Every product and business is different. Many will be able to operate entirely under the 1400 Food Lab licensing and registration. If, however, you are planning to operate a wholesale business, you may need approval from the appropriate licensing body and additional documentation, such as an approved HAACP plan, approved labels, process authority letters, and batch logs.

3. Finalizing the Contract

Once you have completed the above steps, contact us to set up an appointment to finish the membership process. Please bring all necessary documentation with you and plan to spend 30 to 45 minutes with us going over contracts, policies, and procedures.

If you have any questions, please fill out our contact form and we will get back to you shortly.