Hello - I am a long time at home baker, (Not selling) recently diving into cakes - a friend of mine gave my name to someone to bake a Hello Kitty cake for a Sweet 16 at a very nice resturant in town - I would LOVE to take the job..the problem is I do not feel I have enough experience at all to accept the job. As far as taste, I got it mastered, detail is coming along, but I'm not to perfect yet. Biggest obstacles.. I do not have anything in place as far as insurance, tax id's, etc. Will the restaurant want to see some sort of insurance from me, and on and on....
Long story short - if anyone is experienced in the Hunterdon County area, and handle this type of request, please let me know if you'd like me to refer them to you.
Also more than willing to take some advice on where in the world to start so I can legally take a smaller job when it comes my way.

I live in Somerset County - also recently getting "orders" for cakes. I checked out your pics - beautiful! I disagree with your statement about the "details coming along." I am VERY critical of myself as well, but I always get tons of compliments. I wouldn't worry too much about the restaurant questioning you. You could be a relative for all they know. I would say you will probably just deliver the cake no questions asked. It's not like you are a decorator climbing on ladders or anything so I doubt they will ask for insurance.

Whatever you decide - good luck! If you decide you do not want to do it maybe I could. Depends on what they want and when the party is!

It is illegal to bake out of your home kitchen in NJ. Some halls and restaurants will ask to see insurance and tax ids but that is not the problem. If something goes wrong and you get sued, you can lose your house. Also, you can face heavy fines if you get caught. Get legal before you go any further.

What are the proper steps to take?

I work in NYC (my kitchen is on 35th Street and Seventh Avenue - walking distance from Macy's) , but I live in Bergen County (Ft. Lee). Be brave. I can walk you through what you have to do and if you get a commercial kitchen (a restaurant, a church?), I'll help you do a great cake! Or you can come to NYC if you want to. Don't dispair. You can do it! Let me know and I'll be happy to help!

Thanks guys for the feedback - I am currently trying to find a rental kitchen, but nothing as of yet. I know I also need insurance, a tax ID and a LLC set up - unfortunately without figuring out step 1 (kitchen), no use in moving on and up to this point, I've had zero luck finding a place to bake out of, It's just so frustrating. I let it stop me from doing what I love to do for the past 10 years and I just decided last month enough, I need to figure this out and DO IT! And then I get this call today and it so ticks me off to turn it down. GRRRR

Ellie - maybe I can come bake it in NY with you I work about 1/2 hour from NYC and am always up for a trip to Macy's in the city LOL

I haven't verified the info I was given recently, but I was told that there is a new law in NJ that no restaurant, hall, etc. are permitted to allow outside food in without a license from the baker. This info came from my husband's mentor who is licensed in Pa., but right on the NJ border. She has had to produce her license on a few deliveries so far. So just for that reason alone you may want to check to see if the place will allow you to bring in a cake.

EllieA, what a kind and generous offer. Hopefully you'll be able to help come to her rescue.

sugarandstuff, I am not lecturing but you seem to want to take the job since you asked if the place will want to see insurance etc. So I was just informing you of the pitfalls. Do what you want, I am so tired on people on here lately jumping to conclusions and taking things the wrong way when people are just trying to be helpful. Get over it.

Not to mention that Hello Kitty is not able to be reproduced without copyright infringment as well, but I guess as long as you don't make the actual cat you'd be fine!

Sugarandstuff - R U selling this cake? You know I respect everyone's opinions and thoughts on this site and this is the bottom line - you have to do what you feel most comfortable. I really don't believe the restaurant is going to ask you for a license or anything like that . . .now the licensing of the Hello Kitty character - that would be an issue I would worry about more if you are selling this cake.

My offer stands and I look forward to meeting you but for future orders, start making phone calls to SCORE, the Office of Economic Development - they usually have special assistance for Women and Minorities and they can direct you to a kitchen. NYC has (that's how I started - by renting hours at a commercial kitchen) many of those in every borough - MI KITCHEN es su KITCHEN (I don't remember if that is the correct name but if not, it's very similar), and so on. Just let me know and I'll look under the zillion papers I have in my office!