Your kitchen.
Their next big thing.
Kitchen Matchmaker helps community organizations earn income from their underused building by recruiting businesses and by providing the agreements, policies and procedures to reduce risk. Host kitchens meet entrepreneurs who are vetted, licensed, and insured. Businesses sign up for specific times using the online platform that is the national standard, www.thekitchendoor.com.
How to get started:
Before we do anything, fill out our kitchen questionnaire, then email us: info@kitchenmatchmaker.org
After that, here’s what happens next:
We talk with your local health department.
Better to find out early if there are any road blocks there.
Document your Kitchen Procedures for entrepreneurs
Work through our template to create a client information sheet with your contact information and procedures.
Get sexy!
Take 5-10 photos of your kitchen that shows it in its best light. Work with us to draft a short summary of your kitchen.
Create a cleaning plan
Create a plan to deep clean your kitchen regularly, monthly or quarterly depending on usage. We’ll help you with a template and list of supplies.
Superfun legal stuff
Sign Terms and Conditions. We have an agreement between Kitchen Matchmaker and you, the host site. And we have clearly documented roles and relationships between the host kitchen, food business, and Kitchen Matchmaker.
You’ll need to send us your own kitchen license and a certificate of insurance.
Get started on the app, www.thekitchendoor.com
We use the premier app for shared kitchens nationally. We’ll give you a login. Make sure you can get in and that the hours for your site are correct. Learn how to block off time for your own use.
Matching
After you’ve completed the qualifying tasks, it’s time to connect with entrepreneurs:
A first date.
We’ll matchmake you with entrepreneurs—if the first date goes well and you both want to proceed, it’s time for orientation.
Orientation with entrepreneurs
Businesses won’t be able to sign up for hours in your kitchen until you’ve oriented them in your kitchen and we have your approval. Make sure you cover everything that you documented in your Kitchen Procedures above. They will have uploaded their ServSafe certifications and certificate of insurance, and paid their first month.
FAQs
Will they trash my kitchen?
How do I know I can trust them?
1
We meet with every business to understand their needs before we introduce them to you. Entrepreneurs have a ServSafe Manager certification, are insured with you listed as an additional insured on their certificate of insurance, and have agreed to clean the kitchen when they leave. Businesses that don’t respect your space will be fined and/or won’t remain in the program. You will also meet every business before they can book time in your space--a “first date” where you both decide if this is a good fit (we can chaperone that meeting). Then you’ll also orient the business to your space and share your site-specific procedures and expectations, which you will have documented in writing.
How do I set hours? What happens when there is a funeral?
2
You will control times that the kitchen is available on the Kitchen Door app. You can block off all Sundays from 8:00 am-2:00 pm., for example. If a sudden need comes up, you can check if the kitchen is booked and block off that time. If a food business has already booked your kitchen, you can discuss it with the business and see if they are flexible. You will have a relationship with the business.
My kitchen is old. Can I still be matched?
3
Lots of kitchens are old. It’s important that your kitchen is licensed, the equipment works and that it’s clean. We may be able to help you get it licensed again with your local health district if it has fallen out of compliance.
How much can we earn?
4
That depends on how many businesses are matched with you and how many hours they book.
Roles & Responsibilities
Provide a clean, licensed kitchen with access to a bathroom
Stock cleaning supplies and a first aid kit
Provide a contact person and a backup for all hours when the kitchen is available
Provide electricity, gas, and heating/cooling as needed for kitchen operation.
Perform general maintenance to keep kitchen equipment in good working order.
Update hours that the kitchen is not available in the app
Address problems promptly
Host Kitchens
Ensure that documentation remains current (2 certificates of insurance, ServSafe Manager certificate, method of payment)
Follow the host Kitchen Use Procedures
Leave the kitchen clean
Book hours on the app, clock in and out, and leave by the scheduled departure time
Report any facility issues or problems immediately
You may have other people with you, but you must be in the kitchen the entire time
Make some great food! Be successful!
Member Businesses
Customize and maintain the app to promote kitchens, track member active status, and kitchen availability.
Recruit entrepreneurs and understand their needs
Connect host kitchens and members
Ensure that members’ documents and form of payment are current to enable them to book time.
Bill members and pay kitchens
Draft and enforce terms and conditions
Respond to inquiries from local and state health district entities
Champion the food community