I'm trying to think of ways that customers can come pick up their orders if they want to. For those that don't want to pay a delivery charge but since i don't have a store front and bake at home, i wont allow customers to come to my house to pick them up, nor would i want everyone knowing where i live anyway. Do any of you have places where customers can pick up their orders? do you meet them somewhere public close to where you live, do u rent a workspace? I was thinking i would just meet them somewhere around where i live but i was trying to think of better options.

A friend of mine who doesn't have a storefront meets people at a local business like a coffee shop or at the venue itself.  Once it leaves her hands, she's no longer responsible for it, and has this spelled out in her contract.,
 

I let them pick up at my house. I don't have my address published on websites and such. I email them my address after they've paid in full. But I'm primarily commenting on this thread to see how other home bakers handle pick-ups.

AMany cottage food laws require a label that includes either the baker's home address or a license number that is linked to the baker's home address.

For legal reason's i also wont allow customers to pick up their orders. If a customer comes to your house and something happens like they get injured or something you're liable. So for liability reasons as well as not wanting them all to know where i live i wont allow that. Also in my state i have to have an address posted.
 

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That's what business liability insurance is for.

Exactly. My state's food cottage laws and well as laws for licensed bakers have to have a label with an address and name of the business on their products. I have no problem getting a business address for my business different to post on websites and on labels but I've been thinking i want a consistent place that people can pick up orders.

I'm delivery only, unless it's for cupcakes, since I really only do wedding cakes and wholesale cupcakes. If you have a business license, it's easy to find your address online though, so I don't worry about being too secretive about that.

If they had to walk into my actual home, I don't think I would allow anyone to come though. That would just make me uncomfortable.

 

The only reason I don't publish it much is because I don't want people thinking they can walk in and buy pre-made cake.

I know a lot of home based bakers will choose a coffee shop nearby to do consults and pick-ups though.

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I'm not sure what you mean by this...does your label include an address that's not the address of your home bakery?

I am pretty sure the address you have to label with is where you are licensed to bake, it wouldn't make any sense otherwise.

Can you get a big "By Appointment Only, No Exceptions, Even If You Think You Are My Most Important Customer" sign made to hang over your door?!

I've heard people on here meet in coffee shops and some rent office space which they share with others. 

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That makes sense...you don't need to necessarily publish your address on your web site, but you can follow sixinarow's advice and send your home address once they've already paid.

If a customer who has ordered from you in the past saves your address and happens to drop by unannounced, you can simply answer the door and tell them your business is by appointment only. Or just ignore them.

This happened to us a few times before we changed the address listed on our Yelp listing from our home address to our commercial kitchen address.

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If you do this, you might run into trouble down the road and could potentially lose your cottage food license. Your home address must be listed on the label so if there is an issue with your food the customer can contact the health dept and provide them the label. The health dept could then go to the address listed on the label and do an inspection. If this happens (which is unlikely but still a possibility) the health dept would be less than pleased if the address is a PO Box or turns out to be a fake workspace.

In my state, you have to put the name of the business and the business address, it doesnt have to be my name or my personal address unless i didnt have a business name and was a cottage food operation since cottage food operations don't have to have a license or be a registered business. Since i'm going the route to be a registered legal business I'll use my business's name and address for all labels and public postings. Before I become official i'll ask but i've seen some people not put their home address on the labels

I have my cottage food. the lovely lady at the HD calls every other month or so to see if i have questions and asks about how my business is doing. (super sweet i know!!!!!) she told me i dont have to have my address listed on my products as long as my phone number is listed in the phonebook. for items i sell at farmers markets it does NOT list my address. For the labels I place on special orders it does. I have had no problems with pick ups last month I had almost all pick ups (about 15) this month everyone is willing to pay delivery. If they need to come during hours that i am at work or not home the pick up spot is my grandparents house a few blocks over. ive been luck not to get wackos as clients but i understand your caution. 

Thanks everyone for the input, please continue with your thoughts....

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Thanks, there are several things not addressed on my state's website. It doesn't say how often health inspections occur. With commercial places I just thought they would show up at random times with no notice of when they were coming or give little notice like a day or maybe a few hrs. With home bakers I don't know, the license is only valid through September of every yr here so I'm sure an inspection every time you want it renewed and whenever other times they'll give it. I do hope I get somebody nice though to answer all my additional questions I have now..

AWhat state do you live in Baker Bee? If you don't mind me asking.

I am a licensed homebased baker, I have a separate kitchen. I do mostly deliveries but I do have people over for consultations and allow them to see my workspace (it has my decorated cake dummies). Everything is setup as appointment only-people know I work from home so they always call. I've never had a problem with it.

Another girl with a similar setup has designated dates and times for pickups (sat-mon). This wouldn't really work for me or my customers.

AI always get a heads up for inspections, most restaraunts in my area do too (the ones I've worked at anyway).

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I live in ohio. I'm not comfortable with ppl coming to my home, another reason I wanted a separate workspace is so that I can have in person meetings with people. I have put a lot of thought into having the initial meetings at places like coffee shops and just having them pick up at the same place, but I dunno. I'm very analytical so I tend to over think things...

AI understand over thinking things :)

Your cottage law seems like one of the more flexible laws-but it does require you to label items with your product name, business name and address, ingredients, net weight, allergens, and the statement "This product was home produced".

Your best bet is to speak with your city Health department and explain your concerns.

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Yes I know, thanks. I lucked out on living in a state that isn't as strict as other states.