Just starting to investigate the option of moving from hobby to business. stage. Okay, this is probably a sticky subject, but I have to ask. I live in Michigan - no home kitchens for caking.

?? If you rent a kitchen, do you have to do EVERYTHING there? What about making your gumpaste figures, etc.

Am I terrible for even asking?? Thanks!

I know people who do Gumpaste flowers only and don't have to be licensed.

you should check with your local health department. everyone has different rules and regulations. I have heard there are some states where you can do the baking, frosting, and then finish decorating at home. Maybe you can do your gumpaste figures at home since you could consider then not edible. but, you would have to check

well, here they consider gumpaste flowers (with wire) to be inedible therefore they are just a decoration. Not intended for consumption.

Here, they don't want anything that touches the cake to have been in a home kitchen. It's "contaminated" (not kidding). I specifically asked about gumpaste/fondant bow toppers, flowers, and figurines.

I know the law is the law and the politicians are politicians...But, when it comes down to it, is the cake topper which touches the cake and cleaner or are the fresh flowers which touch the cake any safer?

Food for thought....

Paul

I know, Kelley, exactly what you're saying. I wasn't being contradictory to you. Just the whole idea of what society gets in a tizzy over.

Paul

Their is a lady here in the U.P that sells homemade royal icing flowers online. I would definitely call and find out with your health dept.. It's always better to be safe than sorry in the long run.

Thanks everyone! I will check with the health dpt. It would be nice to work on my figures at home at least.

Check with the Dept. of Agriculture. I have a home kitchen, but your area might have different rules. If you rent a licensed space, it all has to be done there to be legal.

Jen

I think Michigan is pretty strict from what I have read here. I haven't done enough investigating yet to know the details. Because of all the stringent rules I may not be able to make this happen at all. There is no way I could rent space for enough time to make all my figures - I am still wayyyyy too slow - I would have to charge $1000 per figure. LOL

Not only is every state different so is every county *and* every investigator!
What one tells you might not be what the next one says

Once when I was dealing w/the local h.d I was told I had to have a special one day lic for a bridal show even though I was already a lic'd shop. When I called, the *one person* I had to speak with was on vacation and would not return until *after* the event. I got mad and told the people off (didn't help) but then the supervisor of the health dept called and cussed me out! I had no business talking bad mouth to his people!

You can rent dummy cakes, I don't think you need license for that.

I am also from michigan. I now have a legal business in my home, however the kitchen needed to be separate from the rest of our living quarters. They used to require a separate entrance in the past, but they have allowed me to have it in the lower level of our home, but completely separate with a door. I do also have to have all the some commercial equipment including a commercial fridge and a 3 basin sink, a separate handwashing sink, and a mop sink.

I don't know if I would go as far as saying the rules are "strict." It can be done, it just took time and money. They were really nice and worked with me. You also should first check about zoning. If your zoning laws dont allow it, you are out of luck.

I didn't think home kitchens were allowed at all in Michigan Merissa. That would help a bunch - I would rather put in the money up front than rent. Hmmmm, interesting. Thanks

It worked out perfectly for me. It will take me a long time to work off the money I spent on it, but it is all mine and paid for with our savings. It is now self sustaining at least! I have been official since March. I think if you are going to be serious about cakes, it is the way to go. It will be more difficult if you have a well/sewer rather than city water etc. I think you have to go through additional steps to have that tested etc. Otherwise it was just going step by step and checking things off the list. It was a lot of work, but worth it to me. I don't think I could have survived renting a place.