Food Business Licensing 101

Food Business Licensing 101

Free

Event times: 12:00-2:00pm

Location: Shed 5 Commons

Instructions: (please enter doors facing Russell St)

Food Business Licensing 101 is designed for aspiring and early-stage food entrepreneurs who want to understand what food license they need, who regulates what, and how to prepare a complete application. This session walks you through state and local licensing requirements, common pitfalls, and the documents you’ll need to get approved.

What You’ll Learn:

● The difference between MDARD licensing and City of Detroit / Health Department licensing

● Which licenses apply to your business type (catering, CPG, food truck, pop-ups, markets, restaurants, and more)

● Requirements you must complete before applying

● Required documents for a complete application

● The application and approval timeline

● How shared commercial kitchens factor into licensing

● Resources to support your next steps

You’ll also receive access to our Digital Guide for Starting a Food Business and time for Q&A.