LLC or Sole Proprietor
- LLC or Sole Proprietor -
You need to determine your Retail Food Business name, if you haven't gotten one already. Then, you will need to determine if you want to stay Sole Proprietor or Limited Liability Corporation (LLC). Ether is fine, for this is needed in all areas of your new business. You will then need to register with the Louisiana Secretary of State to open in our Commissary.
*Skip this if you have already registered and have your EIN.
- Must be current and in good standing with Louisiana Secretary of State
Registering your new business in Louisiana:
- Reserve your business name @ Geauxbiz.sos.la.gov ($25)
- Get your FEIN for taxes @ IRS.gov
- Finish your Geauxbiz.sos.la.gov ($0-$100 depending on filing as)
You will receive your business articles and your FEIN paper work, save these!
The links will take you to Secretary of State (Geauxbiz) and IRS for your FEIN
Louisiana Department of Health Permit
- Louisiana Department of Health Permit -
First you have to get a Permit for your New Retail Food Business from the Louisiana Department of Health. This may be intimidating, but we are here to help you. You will need to complete some forms from the Louisiana Department of Health and our Commissary.
Forms:
- Retail Food Plan Review Questionnaire Form completed from the Louisiana Department of Health
- Commissary agreement signed by a Ghost Chicken Commissary Rep
- Schedule of expected rental time in the Kitchens
- The Floor Plan of Ghost Chicken Commissary with Storage location clarified
*As of July 1st, 2025 LDH requires $100 per application
This is the link to all forms needed for the Louisiana Department of Health. Applicant must fill in everything, not supplied by Ghost Chicken Commissary
- City of Lake Charles, CBO app -
The following link is for City of Lake Charles. This must be filled out and turned in to receive approval from the CBO, the LDH requires.
- Commissary (Tenant) Food Service Questionnaire from the City of Lake Charles Department of Public Works completed
Applicant must fill in everything, not supplied by Ghost Chicken Commissary.
Food Manager Safety Certification
- Food Manager Safety Certification -
Every person/organization using the Commissary must have a Food Manager Safety Certificate that is certified by LDH or acquire one 60 days following permitting.
Below is a list given by the Louisiana Department of Health of approved Certification programs, along with locations to take the courses.
- We recommend ServSafe through Sowela Technical Community College Work Force Solutions: (337) 421-6560
- They have a class once a month for $179 after taxes.
Once you have completed the course, you must then certify it with the Louisiana Department of Health. This is required by LDH and must be completed by the 60 day mark. They certify your certificate for $25, online. *See link below
The Food Corridor
- The Food Corridor -
Lastly, Sign up for Food Corridor. Here at Ghost Chicken Commissary, we use The Food Corridor for our booking, document management, invoicing, and payment system. This platform has 3 big benefits for you:
- Easy kitchen scheduling and a one-stop-shop account monitoring from your phone, tablet, or computer
- Easy payments, tracking, and reporting of all your kitchen-related expenses
- Expiration date tracking for your business license, food manager cert, and insurance
You will need to:
- Create an account here
- Set up your payment method and upload the necessary documents
- Request your first booking on the calendar once your kitchen approves you.
Here is a tutorial to help you get started, and a quick video on how to book time.
Insurance
- Insurance -
Anyone using the kitchen for catering, exclusive kitchen rentals, or preparing food inside the Commissary MUST have a liability insurance policy. Ghost Chicken LLC must be added as an additional insured . A Copy of general liability/product liability insurance with Ghost Chicken LLC named as additional insured must be delivered before rental time starts.
Information for your liability insurance policy:
Ghost Chicken LLC
4260 Louisiana Ave.
Lake Charles, LA, 70607
Liability insurance policies should have coverage in the amount of $1,000,000.
If you need Culinary Insurance:
We have partnered with Flip Insurance.
https://app.fliprogram.com/events/5284
They offer Liability Insurance for $299 a year or $25.92 a month. They also auto-make us as an additional insured
Occupational License
- Occupational License -
An Occupational License is required for you to sale anything. All the steps above was to get you to this point. The license to sale the food you are most passionate about.
This is a list of the paperwork you will need to apply for the license.
- LDH Permit
- Commissary Agreement
- The Articles for your business
- You EIN, or FEIN number
- Calcasieu Parish Sales and Use Tax Registration Certificate
- Copy of your Driver's License
*Depending on time of year, they will require $25-$100.
The below link is for packet for City of Lake Charles Occupational License