Shared Kitchen vs. Private Kitchen: Which Is Right for Your Food Business?
If you’re a food entrepreneur ready to expand, choosing the right commercial kitchen setup is one of the most important decisions you’ll make. Whether you’re running a meal prep company, launching a ghost kitchen, or scaling a successful food truck, the right space can make or break your growth.
At PREP® Commercial Kitchens, we offer both shared kitchen rentals and private kitchen spaces across multiple locations—including Atlanta, Austin,Dallas-Fort Worth and Scottsdale. But how do you know which is the best fit for your business?
Let’s break it down.
What Is a Shared Kitchen?
A shared kitchen—sometimes called a commissary kitchen—is a licensed, fully equipped commercial kitchen space that multiple businesses use on a scheduled basis.
Benefits of Shared Kitchen Rentals:
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Lower upfront costs: Pay only for the time or shifts you use.
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Health department-approved facilities: Easily meet local and state requirements.
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Ideal for new or mobile food businesses: Perfect for food trucks, pop-ups, and catering.
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Access to kitchen equipment: Use commercial-grade appliances without the investment.
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Networking opportunities: Be part of a collaborative culinary community.
PREP®’s shared kitchen memberships include 24/7 access, professional-grade prep stations, cold/dry storage, and support services like waste management and online scheduling—so you can focus on growing your food business.
What Is a Private Kitchen?
A private kitchen is a dedicated, enclosed kitchen space available for rent. Unlike shared kitchens, you don’t share the space or schedule with anyone else—it’s 100% yours.
Benefits of Private Kitchen Space for Rent:
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Consistent production capacity: Perfect for growing food businesses with wholesale, e-commerce, or multi-location distribution.
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Custom layout options: Build the kitchen to meet your exact operational needs.
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More privacy and control: Great for companies with proprietary recipes or branding.
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Ideal for ghost kitchens: Serve delivery-only customers efficiently from a secure, dedicated facility.
At PREP®, we offer private commercial kitchens ranging from 400 to 2,000+ sq ft. These kitchens are ideal for food brands preparing for expansion or transitioning from a home kitchen to a scalable commercial operation.
Which Kitchen Is Right for Your Business?
Ask yourself the following:
| Question | Best Fit |
|---|---|
| Are you just starting out? | Shared Kitchen |
| Do you need production flexibility? | Shared Kitchen |
| Are you fulfilling wholesale or catering contracts? | Private Kitchen |
| Do you need consistent access and higher output? | Private Kitchen |
| Are you looking for low overhead costs? | Shared Kitchen |
| Do you want full control of your kitchen layout and workflow? | Private Kitchen |
Why Choose PREP® Commercial Kitchens?
PREP® is more than just a space—we’re a growth platform for food entrepreneurs. With locations in major markets, expert onboarding, and flexible rental terms, we support you whether you’re testing a new recipe or fulfilling thousands of orders.
We provide:
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Licensing & health department support
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Online kitchen scheduling
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Community of like-minded food professionals
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Access to shared resources like loading docks, storage, and waste management
From shared-use kitchens to fully private kitchen suites, we help you find the best setup to grow your food business without the expense and complexity of building your own facility.
Ready to Scale Your Food Business?
Discover how PREP® can help you grow with flexible, fully licensed shared and private kitchen rentals.