Download Plates by Plates on the Apple or Android App Stores, or from our website.
Start exploring the app. Complete your profile with a short bio, photos, and a video.

Read and confirm that you understand the terms and conditions, rules, and regulations.

From there, you can begin posting your creations on Plates.

As a Creator using Plates, your level of participation is entirely up to you. You can offer postings as often or as rarely as you want. We consider making food art. One needs to be in the right state of mind to get engaged in this creative form of expression. Some providers will bake croissants every morning, and others will offer a gourmet dinner each month. There’s no mandate or minimum to get involved. It’s all in your control.  You can also cook extra portions when inviting friends or family and sell them on Plates.

There are two ways to post your creations: Public or Private.

Private posting will be only available to those of your contacts that you chose to send this listing for review and hopefully a purchase. No one outside of that list will be able to see that unless someone in that original list decides to send it to yet another friend or family member.

Private posting is a great way to start testing your offering with a group of friends and family and a trusted circle.

Once you have built your confidence you may decide to open your market to a larger audience and go public. At that stage anyone who is in your local area or searches that specific area will be able to see your posting and conduct business with you.

Along with our mission to build healthier, more connected communities, Plates strives to reduce waste at all costs. With this in mind, we encourage all Creators to at least use biodegradable, eco-friendly packaging whenever possible.

If you’re cooking regularly for a family down the street, try sharing food in reusable packagings, like a pyrex container or Tupperware. ​

Consumers can also come with their own containers and fill them up.
 

When you create an account as a Creator on Plates, the platform will perform a background check. 
 

You can download the app, and start getting a feel for it.  You must however become qualified by the Plates Team before you can post your first food item. You’ll be prompted to acknowledge all terms and conditions, complete forms (if needed for your country/region), and may conduct a video call with a Plates Team member. Upon acceptance, we’ll help you get set up and running so that you can concentrate on the fun stuff!
 

Plates is an inclusive and diverse ecosystem, where everyone feels welcome and respected. We take this mission seriously, and acting outside of our ethos and Terms of Use will result in your immediate removal from the platform.

• Classic Order: As a Creator, the default posting is instant booking for users. Your new orders will be accepted instantaneously and no intervention is required by you. 
   

• A Reserve Order: When choosing the Reserve option, you will be able to review the Consumer's request and accept or pass before the order is processed. For example, if you’re offering a dining experience in your home and you want to know exactly who’s attending.

At the moment, each Creator will need to deliver their food themselves or have an appropriate arrangement with a delivery organization. Please note that at this time you need to add the cost of delivery to your total pricing.

Currently, there is no provision to add a delivery cost at the checkout time. Plates is in discussion with environmentally-friendly food delivery services. We will inform you upon a successful engagement with one for your given area.

Under the current version of the Plates by Plates app, you may have multiple addresses which can be used to operate your business. It is your responsibility (not Plates) to obtain and maintain license(s) and/or permit(s) from the Local Authorities to operate a home kitchen from your chosen address. This is specifically outlined in the Terms & Conditions every Creator agrees to during the Onboarding process.

Absolutely! What you charge should take into account your food cost, your time, your material cost (i.e packaging), labor if you are getting help, and Plates’ 10% fee and applicable taxes for our service if you are using Credit Card.

There's currently no fee if you offer a Cash transaction or donate food. It is up to you to decide on the percentage of profit you strive for and the price the market demands for your service.

You should also comply with your State Tax regulations and add Sales Tax to the price when this is required.

In the future, Plates will provide pricing recommendations based on the types of food in a given region. While we are building our pricing database it is solely up to you to decide.

Start with a small number of servings and scale up. And remember, you can always choose to give your food away for free.

Yes, you can! As a Creator, when you go to set the price for your offering, you can choose to make it free and donate. It’s a great way to help out your community and reduce food waste at the same time. This feature is fundamental at a time of environmental and national disaster. Help your neighbor if you can.

Short answer: Anything, as long as it’s made from scratch.

We trust that Creators using Plates are upholding our mission to cook wholesome, nourishing food whether that’s four servings of ratatouille or 30 jars of homemade apricot preserves.

You should know and have a firm understanding of all ingredients in your food, and where they came from, paying close attention to potential allergens and possibly hazardous food items.

If you're uncertain about preparing any food safely, it's your responsibility to learn best practices.

If you require guidance, we're happy to lead you in the right direction. Please get engaged with the online Creator forum or contact the Plates Team.
 

Plates provide functionality for the Creator to flag any of the possible 14 allergens recognized in the US and EU.

As a food Creator, you can opt out of any of the allergens on the list if you believe that your food is not containing that specific allergen.

To avoid any risk due to inadvertent cross-contamination, Creators may choose to opt for the full list of allergens, in which case you are effectively not guaranteeing to Users the complete absence of allergens.

Short answer: It depends on where you live.

Plates is currently available in the US and the UK and will be progressively rolled-out worldwide, but the food laws and regulations are different for each country, state, city/town, and locality.

Before you begin offering food on Plates, you’re responsible for learning about the laws and regulations in your area and obtaining the right licenses, certifications, or documents as needed.

In certain countries, inspection and permitting processes are conducted by local town or city boards of health. While the processes can vary, they’re usually inexpensive and require little effort on your part.

You can contact your local board of health to get all the details for your area.
 

By using the Plates by Plates app as a Creator, you are agreeing to comply with the local laws and regulations within your country/area/municipality.

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We know that researching food laws can be time-consuming, so we’ve gathered some resources to help you get started to access the proper authorizations from your Local Town or City Board:
 

In the US
 

• U.S. Cottage Food Laws

• Home Cooks Can Now Sell Their Food in California – New York Times

• Cottage Food Laws in the United States Whitepaper- Food Law and Policy Clinic of Harvard Law School

​

In the UK
 

• FOOD.GOV.UK https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/starting-a-food-business-from-your-home 

Plates is created to empower those creative artisans that are passionate about food and want to work from the comfort of their kitchen. If you feel that you are doing that, then you are welcome to  join Plates as a Creator.

This fee covers the use of the Plates marketplace, collection, and transfer of fees, credit card commission, distribution of invoices to clients, marketing, Creator events, and IT support.

No. As a Creator on Plates, you’re entirely independent and self-employed, meaning you are legally and financially responsible for your business and tax filing.

You are responsible for following laws and regulations and dealing with any legal issues that may arise. You work on your own time and make your own decisions.
 

Is there any cost for selling my food items through the Plates app?

No, if you are selling it for cash or donating. 

Yes, there is a fee of 10% for each credit card, Apple, and Google pay transaction on the platform.

Plates will automatically send payments to the bank account that you connected to your profile within 7 days after payment is processed. This is only for transactions that are done via Credit Card, Apple, or Google pay. This total payment will include the transactions minus the Plates’ fee of 10%. This 10% fee,  includes the financial credit card transaction fee.
 

No. At the moment, we don’t provide any insurance for Creators on the Plates platform. You will be responsible for obtaining insurance to protect you in the event of a claim or action by a third party.