Apply to Join our Kitchen!

We’re excited to get to know you and your business! 

We review applications for new food businesses on April 1st and October 1st and on a rolling basis for existing food businesses that are permitted at another facility.

Before you apply

Applications are reviewed on April 1 and October 1.

Before you start the application, we strongly recommend: 

  1. Attending one of our virtual monthly tours and information sessions. 
  2. Reading our Frequently Asked Questions.
  3. Developing your business plan. If you have not yet developed a business plan, you can download our template here. If you want help with development, here are some resources that are helpful.
  4. Compiling all of your answers and when you are ready, fill out the entire application at once. Applications can not be saved.
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Photo: Michelle Schapiro

What we look for in an applicant

There’s no magical formula for what businesses we accept, but we have found that entrepreneurs that closely match these criteria are a good fit for CommonWealth Kitchen.

  • You have a strong entrepreneurial spirit.
  • You have an interest and willingness to learn.
  • You have a clear vision for your business.
  • You produce a product that is currently popular/has a market and you are ready to scale.
  • You produce a product or service that fits within our facility.
    • Generally, products that require specific machinery that we do not already have in-house or processes that take a long time to complete-like dehydrated products are not usually a good fit for our kitchen.
    • We are not able to incubate companies that  produce:
      • Food not intended for human consumption, such as makeup, soaps, and pet food
      • Nutritional supplements
      • Food for Highly Susceptible Populations such as babies (with exceptions based on process)
      • Cannabis products
      • Wholesale meat processing 
  • You have an existing customer base or a clear target market.
  • You have a strong personal support network (friends, family, business mentors).
  • You understand business financials and the very real risks of starting a food business.
  • You have start-up funding and working capital to cover 3-months of business operations (typically between $10,000-$20,000).
  • We prioritize businesses owned by Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and strive to maintain our overall kitchen community at 75% of businesses owned by BIPOC entrepreneurs.

Timeline

Step 1

Within 3 weeks after the application deadline

You will hear back from us if your business was chosen for an interview.

Step 2

1 month after application deadline

If your business is selected to join the kitchen, the next step is a group orientation for all new companies.

Step 3

2-6 months after you apply

Businesses receive their permits. (2 months for simple permits, longer for more complicated permitting.)

Member Application