Cake Decorating Community - Cakes We Bake

A member here just informed me that the Department of Health found her here and she got in trouble for saying she sold her cakes, being that she is not licensed to do so.

If you are "flying under the radar", so to speak, you are taking the risk of getting caught. Just beware that if you tell people in an open forum like this or on Facebook that you sell cakes, you can get in trouble. What you decide is your business, but if you choose not to go legit, watch what you say. It's not worth getting fined or sued.


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I live in MO and have done bake sales.  In Mo. is goes by county and the county that I live in, all I have to do is put out a say stating that the products I am selling are not made in a kitchen that are under health department rules and regulations.



Shari said:

What about if you're baking for a bake sale? How do you get out of that one? It IS for profit, maybe not for yourself, but money is involved. :-(
The ones who simply rent a commercial kitchen rent by the hour - you can bake at 3 in the morning if that's what works for you.  I actually do NOT want a store front.  But I have use of a commercial kitchen just the same. 

Carolyn Grace Duvall Lawrence said:
I never ever wanted a storefront, but I know lots feel that is the way to go.  I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom and be able to take off when I needed to and be involved in my kids school activities and do vacations or whatever I wanted without having to close the store or having to have someone work for me.  I've had 3 or 4 gals work for me in the past 20 years and they strictly did the baking and the clean up work, but due to circumstances with the last one who still owes me $4000 that I probably will never see, I probably won't ever have anyone else work for me.  I'll do what I can do and sometimes that means spending long hours, but I wouldn't trade it for anything.  As I get older, I relish my independence even more.  I've talked with others who love their storefront business and then others that wish they'd never done it, so think long and hard before you go that route. 

I live in a very small town in southern Ohio, and we don't have a bakery here, except for Kroger and Wal-Mart.  I'd love to have my own, but renting a kitchen would do for a while.  I just don't know who to ask?!?  I work second shift from 3-11:30 Tuesday through Saturday at home doing medical transcription, so I'd have to bake late at night or in the morning.  What kind of places would you ask for use of their kitchen? 

Sometimes churches will rent out their kitchens or I just delivered a wedding cake Saturday to this restaurant where this girl was working with the wedding and she does cookies and rents this restaurant's kitchen - not sure what hours or when.  Some restaurants only serve through lunch so possibly you could find one where you could rent it in the evenings, but then your other job would interfere - probably a church would be your best bet.  Not sure what kind of hourly price we are talking.
Thanks for your suggestion!  I was also thinking of our senior citizens building here in town.  They just built it and it's really nice.  Plus, I don't think they serve past lunch.  Hmmmmmm Now, I'm getting excited!  lol  OMG!!!  My hubby belongs to a fish and game club and they have a kitchen.  Now, I won't be able to sleep.
Your biggest hindrance will be insurance.  Many places don't want to rent out because of insurance liability (and as a busines sowner, I don't blame them).  if you can offer to provide your own insurance, that can jump that hurdle right there.  Then convince them that they will earn money for their unused kitchen.  You have to sell the concept.  Then it still has to be approved by your local health dept or whoever gives you your food grade certificate.  Sounds like a pain the rear - and it can be - but once you jump those three hurdles, it's worth it.

Those are good ideas but...........many club and church kitchens do not meet HD standards.

Another hurdle I ran up against is the church board's thoughts that if they rent to you they would have to be available to rent to anyone else who might ask :(

Just something to think about and don't get totally upset if you run up against.

What kind of insurance are we talking about?  Also, in Ohio, they don't inspect unless you are making foods perishable.  The only requirements are no pets in the house and no carpet in the kitchen under the cottage food law.  I guess my cakes and goodies would have to not have cream cheese.  This is limiting, but there are also a lot of things you can make w/o it.  I dunno...still researching and thinking! lol I really appreciate all your input!
Which they can rent to others If they have proper insurance.

Lynne Salmon said:

Those are good ideas but...........many club and church kitchens do not meet HD standards.

Another hurdle I ran up against is the church board's thoughts that if they rent to you they would have to be available to rent to anyone else who might ask :(

Just something to think about and don't get totally upset if you run up against.

Liability - if you burn the place down, you are paying for it, not them... and you need liability insurance for your customers also.  If they were to get sick (happens in the best of places) you don't want to be responsible for that bill either.  You need liability insurance to cover customer's and property.

 

I have to show I have property liability insurance to rent a place, and I have to list them as an additional holder.  Then I need general liability to get certain jobs, and the better paying jobs always require proof and to be added as additional holders.

 

Jen Howard said:

What kind of insurance are we talking about?  Also, in Ohio, they don't inspect unless you are making foods perishable.  The only requirements are no pets in the house and no carpet in the kitchen under the cottage food law.  I guess my cakes and goodies would have to not have cream cheese.  This is limiting, but there are also a lot of things you can make w/o it.  I dunno...still researching and thinking! lol I really appreciate all your input!
Any word on theh Florida Cottage Bill passing?  Are we OK in Florida to sell baked goods from our home? Thanks...

If the church is up to date on the tax laws they will know that they aren't allowed to rent their facilities to a "for profit" entity.  They could have their tax-exempt status revoked. 

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