Rise to culinary fame in a Columbus commercial kitchen

 Definitely. Virtual kitchens have exploded in popularity everywhere, and Columbus is no exception. In fact, many of the top-rated restaurants on your favorite food delivery app aren’t restaurants at all—they’re ghost kitchens.

A ghost kitchen is a professional kitchen that’s built to serve a delivery-only customer base. Ghost kitchens do not have attached dining rooms for in-person dining, public-facing signage, or storefront space. In fact, you’ve probably walked by some before without even realizing it. For this reason, they’re sometimes also referred to as “dark kitchens.”

CloudKitchens ghost kitchens take the pain out of opening a delivery-only business, with dedicated facilities, onsite staff to help with fulfillment and maintenance, and proprietary technology that streamlines the whole process.

Investment-wise, you can get started with CloudKitchens for around 30k. You and your staff (usually 4-6 people) will be able to keep costs low as you focus on creating your menu and brand identity. 

Thanks to their comparatively low overhead, commercial kitchens have the potential to turn an incredible profit. A commercial kitchen’s profitability depends on several factors, like the location, branding, and operating systems at play.

Operating a commercial kitchen concept and business model allows restaurant owners to serve a wider clientele while minimizing overhead. Commercial kitchens also give you the flexibility to try out new menus or even new restaurants, all within one commercial kitchen space.

Opening a commercial kitchen in Columbus can range anywhere from $15,000 to $100,000, depending on the size of the kitchen space and the neighborhood it is located in. The cost can also vary depending on whether you plan to lease a commercial kitchen in Columbus. Here are a few items to keep in mind when allocating budget for a Columbus commercial kitchen:

• The square footage of your kitchen space will determine the overall cost. For instance, a 1,000 sq ft commercial kitchen space can range anywhere from $250,000 or higher depending on the equipment needed to fill the space. 
• The neighborhood you select will also affect the overall cost, depending on whether you’re launching a commercial kitchen in the heart of downtown Columbus or in a suburb.
• The commercial kitchen equipment you select will determine the overall cost of your kitchen space in Columbus. A commercial range can start at $5,000 and plumbing as well as electrical can drive the cost up further.

Getting started in a Columbus commercial kitchen and setting your food brand up for success begins with meeting local regulations and requirements, securing the commercial kitchen equipment you need, and the marketing materials needed to set your restaurant apart. Here are a few focus areas for your food business in Columbus, before you start firing up those grills: 

• First you’ll want to start with the local food handlers licenses and permits that your staff will need to prepare and store your food properly. You will want to submit your plans to Columbus Public Health (CPH) as well to get started. 
• Depending on your specific cuisine type, you will need different licenses, depending on whether you plan to use meat products, dairy, etc. 
• Next, securing the equipment you need such as sinks, commercial equipment and dry storage space for your restaurant. This will ensure you have set your food operations up for success before you officially open your commercial kitchen for business. 
• Once your operations are up to snuff, your marketing strategy is what will set your restaurant apart from the rest. With a commercial kitchen space in Columbus, your online presence will be vital across Grubhub, Doordash and Uber Eats to reach new customers.

Getting started with a commercial kitchen in Columbus requires far less staff than a traditional brick and mortar. In fact, getting started with as few as 3 to 5 back of house staff members is all your restaurant will need. 

• A Columbus commercial kitchen space is typically built for online orders, where you’re able to eliminate the need for any front of house staff members. This will help save on labor and overhead for your food business. 
• Given that more budget will be available, you can drive more online visibility for your Columbus restaurant with food delivery app promotions, strengthening the digital marketing strategy for your restaurant.