I guess I might feel differently if I invested so much money, I'm just saying you could give them a warning first if it bothers you. I know, when my mother in law and I started making cakes in the 70"s, we didn't know it was illegal. We mostly made for family, but sometimes we were paid. Had no idea it was illegal, or if it was, it wasn't high up on the list to prosecute. Not until I came on cc, did I really know what could happen. I was pretty naive, and people in my community don't understand the problem either, when you tell them that you aren't legal. They think its silly. They know I have a clean house, and think its just cake, so what could go wrong. This has been discussed to death, and with all the people on here with legal business, there are strong opinions, so I was just bringing the other side.

Turn them in, hands down.

Way to go Jason. There is no excuse for committing a crime. I can't stand it when people say "but you don't know what their circumstances are" We don't get to choose what laws we want to obey and which ones we want to ignore, that is not how our society works.

Nope. You are not wrong at all to be resentful. The law is the law. I am a hobby baker and only make cakes for friends and family as gifts, not that some of my friends don't give me money as a donation for the costs. I have had people ask me to sell them a cake and I have refused stating that "I am not a legal baker, when that changes I will let them know." I just don't want to risk it by baking illegally. My karma, historically, always leads to the rediculous. So I know I would be fined right off the bat. And right now I am just not in a place to invest the kind of money to be legal. So untill I am I will hone my skills and experiment on friends and family.

So, in a nut shell. Turn them in! You worked hard to be liscensed and deserve the benefits of operating legally. IE-having paying customer.

What gets me is how many CC'ers post pictures of cakes they've sold that are illegal to do so with the copyright restrictions, and how many of those cakes get rave reviews from other CC'ers with little or no mention of the law.

It's not my business how many illegal cakes people make and sell...just stop flaunting it on the forums, and the rest of us stop complimenting and oohing and ahhhing.

Having great talent doesn't make anyone of us above the law.

How about in your advertisements start by saying something like, "The average bride/person doesn't know that it is ILLEGAL to operate a baking business out of one's private residence. It is for this reason that I rent space from a Health Dept certified commercial kitchen to do all of my cakes", etc. etc... That way it gets the message out to the public in your area AND it gets the message out to the other bakers that aren't following the rules that someone IS educating the public!! Then I would get a friend to start turning these bakers in to the Health department. Not only that, but ANY venue that allows one of the non-licensed bakers to bring one of their cakes onto the premises.

I am not going to support either side right now, but I have to say that it is frustrating to want to start a cake business and hear of so many of the current "big names" in cakes talk about how they started illegally and did not become legal until it started being a problem for them... and there is no way they would be the name they are now if they did not start out illegally. I have chosen not to sell my cakes illegally, and thus the frustration.... but how many of those illegal turned legal stories have we heard lately? In the last month or so I have heard at least 5-6 on tv (most notably Duff, but there are others). Not one of them mentioned being sorry that they started illegally and not one of the interviewers asked or seemed to care either.

Funny how I started out venting and it became a poll on whether I should turn them in or not. I've considered it but this thread is making me think about it more carefully.

To reply to your vent, no, I do not blame you for being resentful.

For the past year, I have been looking for commercial space to open a small kitchen - can't do it out of the home in MN, no rentable kitchens to be found. I'm looking at a minimum of $300,000 for a building that needs major renovations, not to mention all the commercial equipment necessary.

For years, I have been asked to make (sell) cakes and have turned down every request. BECAUSE IT'S NOT LEGAL for me to do so - and I explain that to them. BECAUSE IT'S NOT FAIR to those who have spent all the money they've spent, to establish and operate a legal business.

My "circumstances" are that I don't have $300,000+ to do what I love to do, even though I could really use that income . . . but my ethics are stronger than the easy way out.

I resent illegal kitchens very much.

If a baker was stealing from WalMart and grabbed "free" flour, butter, sugar and eggs... I certainly would "turn them in". I would not "live and let live" or "look the other way". Or worry about their life circumstances that lead them there...And certainly, that baker, would have an unfair competitive "edge" over me, not for skill or talent, but because he/ she violated the LAWS I comply with.

Why is this ever a discussion? The LAW is the LAW and in a civilized society, we all comply with the LAW or petition to change the LAW for everyone.

People who "look the other way", or "don't want to get involved" are the same poor citizens who refuse to step up a testify when they witness a crime. Or "don't want to get involved".

Come on... right is right, and wrong is wrong- regardless of who "gets caught". We (hopefully) all teach our children to "do the right thing". No?

Would I feel bad if the WalMart thief baker got caught and paid the penalty? No. Would I feel bad if the illegal kitchen/ tax evader/ inspection evader baker got caught and paid a penalty. no..... sorry.

Today, I looked up "cake" in my city. I was amazed at how many illegal web sites I found. My husband and I went out to dinner this evening and I told him about this discussion and the illegal sites I found. He was FURIOUS! It was his $$$ that built my kitchen. He told me that if the local health department didn't shut them down, he would go to the state HD. I asked him if he thought the pharmacy forums had to put up with drug dealers telling them to be nice and leave those poor illegals alone. Just because they didn't finish high school or go to college shouldn't stop them of living their dream of selling drugs. Hey, they have bills too. We own four businesses. My husband is a physician and a land developer. We have rental properties and the bakery. He has NEVER over-billed an insurance company, we hire only licensed contractors, we report every cash rent payment, and I have never sold an illegal cake. Our taxes are enormous, but we would not ever consider any action that was even questionable. I'm glad we raised our children to be respectful of the law and to have an honest work ethic. Well, I don't have to make a decision about illegals. My husband, the businessman and bakery financer, will not rest until they are stopped.

Go get 'em, Javert!

Oh come on, SunshineSally, nothing justifies illegal activity. Everyone has the opportunity to start a business that does not require a license SOLELY FOR THE BENEFIT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. I suppose you feel tax evasion is justifiable too. Clean houses, rake leaves, go door to door and ask to wash cars, mow lawns, clean pools. NO... it is CONVENIENCE that makes one choose to be unlicensed. Just like babysitters. What is the justification for not being licensed? Too many kids and tax evasion. There is another industry which requires a license for public safety. We have all chosen our paths which lead to our current place in life. Some choose college, a good job, maybe two jobs, and saving money. Others take the easier path and find themselves in a position that does not allow them to do what they want. Does that justify illegal activity? And don't use the economy as an excuse. I hope posts like yours infuriate the thousands of readers who just read these threads, including many legal bakers, to take action and stop tolerating illegal activity.

I read your previous post and I must say it must be nice to live your cushy life. Not all of us are married to rich doctors that can pave our way.
For the record, I am licensed and I have access to a licensed kitchen. Didn't start that way. I started in my own kitchen in my own home.
I have a college education and a professional license and so does my husband. We worked very hard and we saved and we scrimped and we put money away just like everyone says you are supposed to do. Then, almost 3 years ago, at 3 months old, our daughter got sick and was diagnosed with a rare liver disease. At 4 months old, she was listed for transplant. I sat by her bedside in the PICU for an additional 2 months while we waited for the call that there was a liver available. She did get a transplant at 6 months old. My husband was 3 hours away, working and taking care of our 2 sons. My daughter and I had to live 3 hours away from home for 1 year. That drained any savings we had. Not to mention, we lost my income. Do you think we asked for that path or that we chose that path? Ummm....NO. Can anyone prepare for something like that? Speaking from experience, NO. When she was finally allowed to leave the area near the transplant center and we were able to return home, I couldn't go back to work. Why? Because she is immunosuppressed, she can't take all of her immunizations and she can't go to daycare. Did I choose that path for her? Did she choose that path? I think not. These are the kind of circumstances that I speak about that other people seem to think cannot ever happen to them. I have been fortunate enough to find access to a licensed kitchen. Not everyone is that fortunate. If I lost access to that kitchen and I had to sell cakes out of my home to pay for her anti-rejection meds, would I do it? Damn right I would. And I would do it until a judge told me not to. Why? Because her meds are a life and death circumstance. That's what I mean when I say that You do not know what goes on in other peoples lives. In the end, it's not YOUR job or anyone else's job on this forum to judge the actions of another. I believe that job belongs to God.