The cooperative is not a rental space, it’s a non-profit member-owned space with a democratically-elected Board of Directors. All members are required to complete a certain number of hours each month as service hours. This is how the kitchen stays clean and how we get work done! We are looking for members who want to embrace the collective spirit and help make the kitchen the best place to make food in Hamilton.

We have 3 entry membership levels, and 3 membership levels that can only be applied for after you have completed the minimum commitment for a membership at an entry level in good standing. 

Novice Members pay a one-time $300 membership fee to join. Their monthly fee is $170, which includes 10 hours. They have minimal onsite storage (4 feet of dry storage, and one bus bin of fridge and freezer storage if needed). If they exceed those included hours, they are billed at the end of the month at $18.50/hour. This is a 3-month minimum commitment. This is the level I would recommend for all new members!

Entrepreneurial Members pay a one-time $750 membership fee to join. Their monthly fee is $400, which includes 30 hours. They have permanent storage onsite (fridge, freezer, dry). If they exceed those included hours in the month, they are billed at the end of the month at $12.75/hour. This is a 3-month minimum commitment.

Incubating Members pay a one-time $750 membership fee to join. Their monthly fee is $600, which includes 50 hours. They have even more permanent storage onsite (fridge, freezer, dry, floor). If they exceed those included hours in the month, they are billed at the end of the month at $11.50/hour.  This is a 6-month minimum commitment.

Core Members pay a monthly fee of $1450, which includes 160 hours. They have the largest storage allotment, and priority access to all storage onsite unless it is assigned to another member. If they exceed those hours included in the month, they are billed at the end of the month at $11.50/hour.  There are only 2 Core Members at the kitchen at any given time, and you cannot join at this level (you must apply to upgrade after completing the minimum commitment at an entry membership level in good standing). Core Members must either upgrade, downgrade, or leave the Kitchen after 2 years at this level.

Residential Members pay a monthly rate of $1450, which includes 160 hours. If they exceed those hours included in the month, they are billed at the end of the month at $11.50/hour. They have all of the same storage privileges as a Core Member, but they also become the sole operator of the front-of-house space on King Street East, and have the ability to use that space without paying any hourly rate. There is only one Residential member at any given time, and it is intended to be the final step for a growing business at The Kitchen Collective. Residential Members must either upgrade, downgrade, or leave the Kitchen after 2 years at this level.

Finally, Alumni Members pay no fees, but retain a membership, the ability to make hourly bookings if their business documents are kept up-to-date, and the ability to vote at Annual General Meetings. Any member can downgrade to this level if they have completed the minimum commitment at an entry membership level in good standing and are no longer operating a business at The Kitchen Collective, but wish to remain a part of the community in an official capacity.