Making Some Side Cash

The church I attend has done a fall festival for three years now, we don't charge any money, just for that reason, plus it helps the ones who don't quite have enough.

We use moneys out of our general fund for those types of things.
 
cseymour45 said:
From what I have researched the only way to become 'legit' is to open an actual trailer. Which really wouldn't be that hard, but you would need probably a solid 4 - 6 grand, maybe more.
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That would be a good thing, you never know. What if that investment turned 30 times that much each year. If it is your passion, go for it.
If you don't make any profit, "meaning more write off than income"
after a certain amount of time you will be considered a hobby business
and hopefully left alone by our buddy's "irs" Do it right though, talk to a
GOOD tax accountant

Best to ya in your endeavors, I was told I couldn't do it also, I bought em out in 5 years, ran theirs as mine for 7 more years. Joke was on them.
 
Ron_L said:
Mod note:

Before this gets out of control, let's all take a step back and relax. Folks are free to ask whatever question they like, but folks are also free to express their opinion when answering that question. That means that you won't always like the answer that you get :-D
Click to expand...

Before...:laugh: since when is Ron the comedian around here?
 
cseymour45 said:
No, I really haven't been mad at all. When was it so obvious, if I may ask? Did I throw up some mad icons?
Anyway, I really don't care about the IRS involvement in any of this, I am not opening a 'business', period.
If you think every individual in this country goes around reporting every extra couple of hundred dollars they get you are sadly mistaken. The IRS wouldn't even waste a single second stressing over me and my measly few ribs I cook for my buddy down the street.
I understand all of your concerns over food safety, that is probably the most important consideration in all of this. Not the glamorous extra beer drinking money.
I can't help it if my Q is better than anything in my neighborhood, we don't have a Franklins on every street, people want quality stuff without having to drive long distances and not everyone has a smoker. So, i'm sorry I don't work for wooden nickels, but I will help a brother out from time to time and a nice discounted rate. I was just curious how many of you have had bad experiences, and from the replies not many.
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Worked well for Al Capone and Wesley Snipes��.

Can't speak for unlicensed operation but my short stint with the health department observed many legitiment licensed facilities get fined for the whole spectrum of food code violations. Not to stereotype but the majority are Asian fair establishments with a language and cultural barrier. Cross contamination is a big one and even seen some BBQ vids posted that make me cringe.

That said a pasta barn continuously got slammed for dumping acres of leftover steaming pasta in a bin into the fridge. Still 50 degrees 12 hours later in the fridge. List goes on. Baked potatoes improperly cooled at room temp then chilled..outbreak. The best one was a catered wedding by a licenced facility. 80+ people sick out of 125. Investigation revealed those 80 had wedding cake. Result was the real cake got dropped the day before and the well intended MIL made a new cake on a fresh cross cut log platter.

Don't even get me started on the meat slicers at the local deli not getting cleaned and sanitized.

It happens regardless of how well intended the gesture. I have a very very hard time eating out.

Cheers I wish you well on your venture. A visit to the local health dept. will give you all the information you want on fines levied and violations as its free public information.

Edit:
Forgot to mention the food borne illness symptoms can take up to 72 hours to present. As such, even if your food is not the cause anything eaten in that time frame will be questioned and investigated for everyone that is sick.
 
cseymour45 said:
From what I have researched the only way to become 'legit' is to open an actual trailer.
Click to expand...

Call the Health Dept alot of states allow 1 -3 day vending on a temp permit, they usually require 3 tub for wash, one for hand, Hot water with a on/off pour spout, thermometer and keeping food in the safe range. all easy enough to do for under $100. permits are cheap 2. At least that way your legit.

I owned and ran a BBQ shack, I still do catering but I do it all legit I learned my lesson..... you wanted a story here you go I started selling things as you described made a few bucks, so one Thanksgiving I decide while I was cooking for the rescue mission(which I do every thanksgiving with my kids) I pre sell a few birds and donate the money to the rescue mission. Well 1 customer started calling and complaining about a raw turkey cause it was to juicy to be cooked. I tried explaining brining, proper cooking and not over cooking to no avail. I gave her double her money back out of my pocket and went legit the next day. And for the record I got a call the next day telling me it took her 9 hr to get the bird cooked properly. It can and does happen the few buck it takes to do it legit is alot better then worrying for weeks you'd get a call saying hello my name is XYXZ attorney at law.

Do what you want. I'll still be doing it legit I came close enough to learn.

Clint
 
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cseymour45 said:
From what I have researched the only way to become 'legit' is to open an actual trailer. Which really wouldn't be that hard, but you would need probably a solid 4 - 6 grand, maybe more. Because all of us Q guys don't fall into the Cottage Food laws, we have items that are potentially hazardous. Even though I trust my Q over some of the restaurants I've entered.
I just haven't gotten any stories like I thought I might about the average Joe that's only doing a few racks of ribs and a couple butts. Which makes me feel good. I didn't think about pissing of restaurant owners because there aren't really any around me that do what i'm talking about.
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Hey i started a thread in which I looked at the rules and see what I need to do. End off story obey the rules.
 
Oh for fark's sake.

For the millionth time,.. he is talking about small batch, low numbers, bbq. Patio cooking and letting a neighbor take home a rack for a couple of bucks. Not a catering service.

Should demand grow, or he decide to take a swing at scratching a living with it, then yes,.. you fellas are right. Taxes, health codes, and the methods of doing a venture professionally are the only way. But we aren't talking about that.

So before casting your snobby nose upward and passing your judgment, maybe you should make sure your having the same conversation.

For farks sake, what is with you guys?

Regards,
Kevin
 
AlwaysSmokey said:
Oh for fark's sake.

For the millionth time,.. he is talking about small batch, low numbers, bbq. Patio cooking and letting a neighbor take home a rack for a couple of bucks. Not a catering service.

Should demand grow, or he decide to take a swing at scratching a living with it, then yes,.. you fellas are right. Taxes, health codes, and the methods of doing a venture professionally are the only way. But we aren't talking about that.

So before casting your snobby nose upward and passing your judgment, maybe you should make sure your having the same conversation.

For farks sake, what is with you guys?

Regards,
Kevin
Click to expand...

Let it go
 
AlwaysSmokey said:
Oh for fark's sake.

For the millionth time,.. he is talking about small batch, low numbers, bbq. Patio cooking and letting a neighbor take home a rack for a couple of bucks. Not a catering service.

Should demand grow, or he decide to take a swing at scratching a living with it, then yes,.. you fellas are right. Taxes, health codes, and the methods of doing a venture professionally are the only way. But we aren't talking about that.

So before casting your snobby nose upward and passing your judgment, maybe you should make sure your having the same conversation.

For farks sake, what is with you guys?

Regards,
Kevin
Click to expand...

Re read what I posted I started like hes talking... I learn my lesson. There is a reason the majority say do it right..... Like my Granddad always told me do it right or don't to it at all.... I wish I listen more saved me a lot of stress and worry.

Clint
 
I hear what your saying about this being just a small time guy but I am siding with the don't do it people here.

Odds are you won't have any trouble.

If you do get sued it will be ugly trust me. I have had to fight off a law suit.
Cost $75,000+ in legal fees. We won by the way if you can call that winning. It wasn't food related but it was hell. Pure hell.

Look I am not trying to make you mad or hurt you feelings. I am concerned that it may bite you right in your arse. I want to do the same thing myself and I have been offered good money and yeah it has crossed my mind about making a quick buck or two because we need it. There is to much risk for me personally to do it. I would check into a temporary food permit as was suggested. Probably not to expensive and you know to cover your arse it's worth a little bit of extra money.

Check into a temporary food permit it won't hurt to check.

Your getting some really good advice about this stuff. Sure some people got their undies in a bunch but they mean well.

I plan to sell down the road but I am getting the permits when we do and passing all the health inspections and whatever else is involved. It just isn't worth the head ache in my opinion.

Good luck to you and I hope you can make it work and be legit. If not don't do it as the possibility of something going wrong and you getting fined is pretty real. Not likely but you know if you do get hit you will regret it.
 
Just feeling froggy and wanted to share my opinion on this matter. I think if a friend/family member came to you wanting you to spend day smoking them food I would ask for a "donation" for my time. As a beginner to smoking and using smokers it is a time consuming process.

But I don't think trying to make an extra buck doing "charity" cooks, or for groups of people would be a smart idea. that could cause the unwanted attention that everyone else is bringing up about health regulations and what not.

Friends can easily turn into an enemy if something crazy would happen. keep that in mind! There is a reason why people that cooks for $$$ is required to have special permits, insurance, etc. So I understand 100% where everyone else coming from that disagree's with the idea of this topic!

But if you don't get caught, then who cares right? :D
 
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Note to self....Don't ever...I mean ever...ask the brethren for opinions on selling Q' on the sly...Only questions on how to smoke, cook, what type of briquettes, rubs, sauces, etc. Unless, of course, I'm feeling mischievous and want to watch the s**t storm that develops.
:twisted:
 
What would be the minimums for satisfactorily going legit ...in most states. 3 wash bins, a thermometer, ...and what else (besides the license/permit).

I've considered doing something similar last football season, ...and got some interest from folks, but couldn't nail down what I needed to legitimize things so I just cooked for myself.
 
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