Akira is a legal intern at Lawpath working in the content team. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws at Macquarie University.
Frozen Yoghurt has become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s an industry that is not yet intensely competitive, and businesses can easily be run independently. If you’re considering expanding into this industry, read on.
If you’re also wondering what other types of businesses you could start, you can check out our comprehensive list of business ideas.
Registering Your Business
Before starting any business, you need to register it. You should also consider tax implications, ABNs and insurance. You will be provided with an ABN upon registration.
There are several insurance options to consider when starting a food-related business. These include public liability, products liability, business and general property, business equipment, fire and perils, crime, and workers compensation. There are usually policies available which cover a combination of those.
Notification and Licensing
Retail food outlets require you to notify your local council that you are starting up a new business. You can find and contact your local council by visiting the Office of Local Government website. In addition to notifying your Local Council, you will also be required to obtain a business licence from them.
Requirements
After notifying your local council and registering your business, there are multiple guidelines you will need to follow to stay in business, particularly in businesses that are in the food services industry.
Requirements regarding the skills and training of employees and employers in food business are outlined in the Food Safety Practices and General Requirements standard code. Be sure to read this code and if anything is unclear, run any questions by a business lawyer.
Another important thing you will have to do is appoint a food safety supervisor. You will need to appoint one if running a frozen yogurt business as the food you will be serving is ready-to-eat. This supervisor can be you or one of your employee, and specialised training for this role may be done with a Registered Training Organisation.
Your premises also need to comply with certain standards under the Food Standards Code, the Australian Standards AS and the State Environmental Planning Policy. Your local council can also provide details of requirements and local planning policies.
You will also need to comply with food safety controls. This involves health and hygiene (Food Standards Code, Chapter 3), cleaning and sanitising (Food Standards Code, Standard 3.2.2, Clause 19), food handling controls (Food Standards Code, Standard 3.2.2, Clause 7(3)), and reusable containers.
Once your business is up and running you need to have it inspected by a local council officer to ensure you are keeping up with the above requirements. To prepare, you can do the inspection yourself using the checklist report.
Conclusion
You are now equipped with the basic knowledge needed to start your own frozen yogurt business. By following the steps set out in this guide, your business will not only be serving delicious treats to people in no time, but also ensuring that your business is complying with all the relevant legal guidelines.
Have more questions? Contact a LawPath consultant on 1800 529 728 to learn more about customising legal documents and obtaining a fixed-fee quote from Australia’s largest legal marketplace.