I'm so excited people! for years I've been baking and selling baked goods illegally (without licensing). Well no more people of PA! We home bakers can be legal and not worry about being fined or shut down!!!

I applied for a business license first through the State of PA website (after alot of searching and digging, go to PAport.com).
Second, I was told that if you sell wholesale from your home that is run by the Dept. of Agriculture, not the Dept. of Health. The difference being, with the dept. of health, which is retail, and potential hazerdous foods, does not allow you to cook in your home. Period.

However, if you bake cakes, cookies, tarts and pies, those are considered non-hazerdous, meaning they do not need to be refrigerated, and you can get inspected and licensed through the PA Dept. of Agriculture.

If you go to their website you can find the links for the rules about running a baking business from your home (make sure you set everything up before you call to schedule an appointment) an inspector comes out, sits down, asks some questions, shakes your hand, you pay $35 per year, and your done! LEGAL!!!! Now you can advertise and not be afraid!

So fellow PA bakers, get out there and bake without fear! Everyone else, check out your states rules and you too may be able to get legal!

I wanted to share, but please do not ask me for all the links required for this process. It took me quite a while to get it together and just find out the info I've already given above, and it would take me quite a while to get together all the links in a neat package to give you. Also it is a great learning experience and you find out some interesting things!

Best of luck!

I sure wish Texas was like that.
CONGRATS!!!

Works a lot like here in Quebec. Except we get a license at the Town Hall. But it's th same thing!!

Congrats to you!!!

Have fun

Question for ya...
I have read on this site that in PA you need to take the food safety course to get licensed. Is this really a necessity?? You didn't mention it. I went to the PA Ag. site and already meet their requirements: letter from town on zoning, have public water, don't need lab testing. Do I need to take the food safety course, or can I just call for my inspection now???
TIA-
meg

Just call for your inspection. You only need the food handlers license if you are selling retail, or are preparing items which require refrigeration such as cheesecakes and cream pies.

Ok, this is probably a dumb question, but what is considered retail and what is considered wholesale??
I just want to bake some cakes and sell them, not take over the world. LOL

thanks!

If you are selling out of your home by order, that is wholesale. Retail is if you had a store.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
I have not started my business for months because I was saving up the $175 I thought I needed for the food safety course I thought I had to take to get licensed.
I am going to call for my inspection in the morning.
You have just made me a very happy little baker!!!!!

Glad I could help! I felt the same way, except I waited 3 years, because I was told I could not bake out of my house...period! Then this information came to me, and now I'm advertising, and getting very busy! Best of luck!

Hi there. Do you recall seeing/reading anything about having to own your home in order to get licensed?

Does anyone know if this can be done in Louisiana?

You do need a letter from your township approving running a business, and I'm not sure you can do that with a rental. Check with your local township about their rules. you'll probably have to get approval from the landlord.

I went to bed so excited because, thanks to the great info from izzybee, I thought I was all ready to get my letter from the town and get inspected. Of course nothing is that easy. When I called the town 2 1/2 months ago to inquire about zoning, the asst. zoning person told me that my business would be non-impacting to the community, so it would cost $25 and take about 10 minutes to get. I called this morning to request the letter, and the head zoning person said that the asst. was WRONG. I have to pay $200, go to 2 zoning meetings and practically beg for my zoning ordinance. Why is nothing ever easy???
Sorry this is so long, but my emotions keep going on a roller coaster, and my husband just walked in the door and told me that he just bought himself a brand new pick up truck. I think I'm going to screammmmmmmm.

What township do you live in? I didn't have to pay anything, and if it is no impact, meaning no signage, no additional traffic, you do not have to have a zoning meeting. I would double check, ask for the form and see what is really up. I would then contact the Township Supervisor regarding this issue, because that basically makes it impossible for anyone to run a business out of their home. Don't give up! Keep digging!

What township do you live in? I didn't have to pay anything, and if it is no impact, meaning no signage, no additional traffic, you do not have to have a zoning meeting. I would double check, ask for the form and see what is really up. I would then contact the Township Supervisor regarding this issue, because that basically makes it impossible for anyone to run a business out of their home. Don't give up! Keep digging!

You don't happen to know anything about Delaware? I have tried to dig but have gotten nowhere!!

I live in Penn township. The zoning guy told me that the only way I can be considered no impact and avoid the hearings is if I don't advertise. That means no business cards, no ads in the paper, no radio/tv. I told him all my cakes will be delivered, so there would be no additonal traffic on my tiny street, and he told me that it makes no difference. I liked his assistant a lot more!! She told me that as long as I didn't put a sign in myfront yard, I could advertise all I want.
I will definately go to the zoning office tomorrow and get more info.
Thanks for the support!

I would go to your town supervisor, and forget the zoning guy for now!

For the folks who asked about other states-check out the article on "starting your own business-where to begin" in the articles section.

Izzybee, you are my new best friend!!! Please PM all the details to me when you have a chance! I live in Allentown, and would love to be able to sell basic cakes out of my home!

And by the way, if you are in Honeybrook, why don't you come join us at a PA ICES Weekend of Sharing, sometime? If you would like, I will send you a copy of the schedule for next year. I will also be posting the dates in the Events column here.

Thanks again!

Theresa

Hey meggylou! I'm in neighboring Bell Township (between Salem & Washington townships) and I didn't have to clear anything with the zoning board because we don't have a zoning board in Bell...we're so rural that zoning would be ridiculous. I DO have to have the food safety training certificate however, because I sell baked goods and free-range eggs at the Ligonier Country Market during the summer. They won't let me on the grounds without that piece of paper! The rest of the year I sell directly out of my home with no problems. Hopefully you'll be able to resolve the problem with your zoning guy. Good luck!

The above mentioned article only takes you to the place you need to get your business license.

REgarding business licenses, if you are a sole proprietor with no employees, the only thing you have to do is use your SSN for a tax ID and apply for a fictitious name certificate for your business. This costs $70.00, paid once. Other than that you don't need an actual business license.

I live in Westmoreland County and just got legal. Yeah! I had the same experience as Izzybee. If I had known I would have done it a long time ago! Hi everyone from PA! LouAnn

Congrats LouAnn!!!!! go get em!

That is great news!! I've been wondering what I'll need to start a cake decorating business and I'm from Philadelphia. Thanks so much for posting this information!

I showed up at the zoning office this morning ready to kick some serious butt! When the zoning head came out to meet me, he looked at me like I was something on the bottom of his shoe. When I asked him to explain why my business would not classify as "no impact", he slammed the zoning book on the desk, opened it up to the page that lists requirements for "no impact" and says "try to prove that's you". Then he gets up and leaves the room (to go get coffee). When he comes back, I said "that's definately me". Requirements are 1) no impact to neighborhood 2) nothing illegal 3) employ only family 4) no trucks and delivery vehicles.
He said "I thought you were going to advertise, that means your address on signs and cards, that impacts the neighborhood." I then told him for the 4th time that I'm NOT putting up a sign and am NOT putting my address on my business cards. So then he looks royally ticked off at me and says "put it in writing and I guess you're fine".
I ran home typed up a letter of intent and had it back in his office in 20 minutes.
YEAH!!!!!!
Now I have a call in to set up my inspection.
Wish me luck.

MeggyLou -

Here's a big YOU GO, GIRLFRIEND! Unfortunately, after making some telephone calls, it is not so easy to do where I live. You try to tell the DoH that state law supercedes them, but they're just not buying it.

Gotta do more research.

Theresa

MeggyLou -

Here's a big YOU GO, GIRLFRIEND! Unfortunately, after making some telephone calls, it is not so easy to do where I live. You try to tell the DoH that state law supercedes them, but they're just not buying it.

Gotta do more research.

Theresa

I just started getting info on this same thing as I didn't want to get into any trouble. This is the like you can go to and get the forms to fill out
www.agriculture.state.pa.us and select Business/Industry, then food safety and choose retail foods and restaurants you then fill out the necessary paperwork and send it to your regional office (there are 7)
I have the paperwork I can fax to anyone.

PEOPLE!!! If you are selling out of your home by order only, you are not retail, you are wholesale which falls under the dept. of agri. Please read my description again so as to save yourselves alot of running around!

Do not call the Dept. of Health unless you are selling at your store to unknowns, selling items which are to be served hot, serving items which need to be refrigerated. If you are only making cakes, cookies and pies, click on this link:
http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/agriculture/lib/agriculture/foodsafetyfiles/publications/Home_Processing_rev_11-05.doc
This is all you need to know. There is no form to fill out either. Just call the local office for your region to schedule an inspector to come to your place. It's really that easy!
Also you need to register your business name with the state.

I just did all this and passed so please try my way to save yourselves alot of aggravation and time.