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yellobutterfly
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 18, 2005
Posts: 636
Location: the edge of reason...
Birthday: Oct 31
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Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:26 am |
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puppyloveconfections - I'm in Tx too - what is the licensing process and how expensive is it? How much do you have to pay to rent the kitchen? |
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4Gifts4Lisa
Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 11, 2006
Posts: 789
Location: CA
Birthday: May 26
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Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:32 am |
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Okay...so what constitutes it as a "business"? Since my friends have been seeing cakes I have done, they want me to do some for birthdays, baby showers, etc. I would never want to own a business in the true sense of the word. For now, I have been doing the cakes and making that my gift. If I were to get paid for the supplies, technically I am not selling a cake, correct?
I am in California, the toughest state ever, so I have no hope of getting licensed. |
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SweetThistleCakes
Forum Addict
Joined: May 13, 2006
Posts: 666
Location: in the kitchen
Birthday: Nov 15
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Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:37 am |
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| yellobutterfly wrote: | | puppyloveconfections - I'm in Tx too - what is the licensing process and how expensive is it? How much do you have to pay to rent the kitchen? |
It varies by city- you need to contact your local health dept. I'm not sure where you are but if you're by me, I can run off copies of what I have for you. |
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JoAnnB
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 09, 2005
Posts: 7426
Location: Salem, Oregon
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Thu Jul 13, 2006 9:42 am |
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In California, trading a home baked product for money is selling home baked goods. IF they catch you, or someone complains, there are consequences. One unsatisfied customer is all it would take. |
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Chef_Stef
Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 11, 2006
Posts: 1754
Location: At my desk, in the garden, or in the kitchen
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Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:03 am |
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Lots of interesting points here; I appreciate all your input.
For now I haven't had luck finding anywhere to rent. There are actually 2 incubator kitchens in my area (region?), but they are both at least 30 minutes away in opposite directions.
I am spending some time now getting building plans, and DH is going to contact a contractor friend of ours to start construction this fall, hopefully.
Until then, I have a wedding next week, and then I don't actually have any more orders anyway (except a retirement party for our friend/neighbor that I'll probably do for free or cost), so I'm just going to continue at home at present and sort of (ugh) hope I don't have any more orders from strangers until I get built.
Getting through to the proper departments to even GET the info you need can be a challenge, let me tell you. You get no help from our health dept, except to say "We don't license home kitchens" and you can not get through to planning and zoning or even get a call back from them because they are swamped with so much new growth here. 
I'm enjoying my surfing for info on commercial kitchen construction, though.  Maybe I'll start a new post about size to build and wish-list info for a kitchen, so I don't miss something. |
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4Gifts4Lisa
Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 11, 2006
Posts: 789
Location: CA
Birthday: May 26
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Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:12 am |
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| JoAnnB wrote: | | In California, trading a home baked product for money is selling home baked goods. IF they catch you, or someone complains, there are consequences. One unsatisfied customer is all it would take. |
So my friends would have to buy the product and give it to me to make? |
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RaRaRobyn
Frequent Member
Joined: Oct 25, 2005
Posts: 365
Location: Where I can see RUSSIA from my HOUSE!
Birthday: Jul 19
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Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:23 am |
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| 4Gifts4Lisa wrote: | | JoAnnB wrote: | | In California, trading a home baked product for money is selling home baked goods. IF they catch you, or someone complains, there are consequences. One unsatisfied customer is all it would take. |
So my friends would have to buy the product and give it to me to make? |
Yep. I am SO glad to be out of California. I only sold one cake when I was there, and I didn't sleep for days thinking I was going to get busted. After that, it wasn't worth it. I still have my friends purchase everything I'll need, and then keep reciepts. California is the worst about all of this! |
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4Gifts4Lisa
Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 11, 2006
Posts: 789
Location: CA
Birthday: May 26
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Thu Jul 13, 2006 10:48 am |
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RaRaRabyn...I wish I could leave. I thought I talked hubby into it two years ago, but he wouldn't just quit his job and move...something about responsibilities?!?! Then he got a promotion and I knew I was sunk.
Maybe my next husband will let me move away... |
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Tscookies
Frequent Member
Joined: Jul 10, 2006
Posts: 272
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Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:15 pm |
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I just have to comment on this thread because I have struggled with this for years myself. Only other decorators like us can understand the enduring passion we have for creating and sharing such beautiful, edible works of art. It doesn't take long before someone notices and wants to pay you to do something for them. If you are going to do this, do keep it small - I would be very selective about who you sell to and definitely avoid any corporate orders. I know one caterer who suggested gift certificates instead of an actual payment of her work. However, you are still taking a big risk! And while those people who tell you to just do it mean well, they're not going to have to pay the fines. I'm in the process of putting in a licensed kitchen (about $7,000), and one of the inspectors told me about an unlicensed woman in the area who sold a wedding cake - well, something went wrong in her process because the pastor and a few guests ended up in the hospital. He said she lost her house over the law suits and is still paying for the liability. And it's very likely eventually someone will get angry for one reason or another and turn you in. This might take a while, however (and fortunately). I just visited a woman who has a licensed kitchen for making chocolates - a competitor even tried to get her in trouble w/the inspectors even though she was licensed (the chocolate lady won).
Good luck - I totally emphathize with what you're going through! I sure wish the limits were higher ... like $2,000. They just don't understand how addicted we are and that we NEED to produce this stuff! |
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SugarFrosted
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Apr 10, 2006
Posts: 1824
Location: Little Rock, AR
Birthday: Jun 27
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Sat Jul 15, 2006 9:49 pm |
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I have baked and decorated cakes for $$$ for almost 20 years, in my own kitchen at home. This and another thread have intrigued me. I have never been licensed or gotten a permit or whatever. Nor have I ever gotten even one complaint from a client, some of which have been my clients for more than 15 years.
So, in light of the question, I have just spent the evening trying to discover whether my state(Arkansas) will license/permit home-based bakeries. And I found essentially nothing. It is all very confusing.
I know a few local people who bake cakes in their own kitchens to sell, but I am not going to rock anyone's boat by asking questions of them. One Arkansas woman is a member here. She has an elaborate website which offers both cakes and decorating supplies for sale. She even has a 1-800-phone number. And as far as I know, she still does all her baking and decorating in her own home kitchen. So I am not sure just exactly what is required here in Arkansas. |
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debsuewoo
Forum Fanatic
Joined: May 07, 2005
Posts: 1312
Location: Torrance, CA
Birthday: May 09
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Sat Jul 15, 2006 10:09 pm |
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| 4Gifts4Lisa wrote: | RaRaRabyn...I wish I could leave. I thought I talked hubby into it two years ago, but he wouldn't just quit his job and move...something about responsibilities?!?! Then he got a promotion and I knew I was sunk.
Maybe my next husband will let me move away... |
Ha! It's my husband who keeps talking about getting out of Dodge! We were both born and raised in the Los Angeles area, but as a boy he spent all of his summers in Oregon and that is where he wants to move. I keep telling him the start looking for a job up north because I ain't going unless he has a job waiting for him! |
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loriemoms
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Nov 09, 2005
Posts: 2965
Birthday: Feb 12
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Sun Jul 16, 2006 1:58 pm |
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Doug
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jun 28, 2005
Posts: 9455
Location: NC - just off I95, North of the Border
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Sun Jul 16, 2006 2:04 pm |
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::happy dance::
(oops...knocked over the lamp....am I covered?!)
glad to hear it worked out so well for you!!!! |
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sugarfreak
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 23, 2006
Posts: 55
Location: Fort Bragg, NC
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Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:28 am |
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| Doug wrote: | so true, KakesandKids.
thankfully, my state is easy to get licensed...but even so...
--must be inspected.
--need liability insurance (not a must, but stupid not to have and not all that expensive -- mine is under $50/yr)
--must have all necessary zoning permits and business licenses.
--HIGHLY recommended to also get a food handlers certification from local health dept. and for extra measure "ServSafe" certification to show you know proper sanitation and food handling regulations
it's NOT worth the risk not to do it right -- just one disgruntled customer -- or worse one angling for a quick buck (think of the case like this you've heard on the news) -- and everything could be gone. |
Doug, Thank you for all the great information.
Do you have an idea of the overall cost of the above info??
Do you bake in the same kitchen as your everyday meals?
TIA |
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goal4me
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 441
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Sun Jul 23, 2006 9:53 am |
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I live in SOuthern California and a friend of mine had a licensed wedding business catering food.
She had an oven and sink and all health dept. required items built in her garage in plaace of one of the spaces for a car. It was enclosed with plywood and had a seperate door. This was 10 years aog though.
I understand there are things you need to do even if you don't have employees like provide an employee locker etc. in addition to the general safety requirements.
Can you pay a restaurant or church to use their licensed kitchen? |
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