Kentucky Cottage Food Laws "help"

Business By connie9003 Updated 21 Jul 2018 , 1:35pm by connie9003

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connie9003 Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 4:05pm
post #1 of 46

Are there any other bakers out there "Home based or Commercial" who would like to see Kentucky change their cottage food law. I live in a rural community and we only have 1 Bakery. They are so busy they have to turn people away. Also there are several things they "don't do" that a home based bakery could.

 

I could go on and on about the advantages of getting this law changed. Seniors wanting to supplement there social security is one, stay at home moms who might could use a few extra dollars, hobbiest who just want to support their habbit. Revenue it would bring to small towns. The list can go on.

 

thoughts ?

45 replies
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jason_kraft Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 4:29pm
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AThe best thing you can do to get a CFL passed in your area is to meet with your state representatives, in person preferably, with a clear cost/benefit analysis.

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connie9003 Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 4:34pm
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I plan on doing that armed with all the data I can find from other states as well as a proposed plan for Kentucky. I guess I just need to find more Kentucky bakers to help me get this done. I cant be everywhere. So if we are going to get this done we need bakers from all over the state helping the cause. I am more than willing to meet with them and share my research. I would like at least 500 signatures on a petition to go along with all the data so the reps will see that there is a want/need for this law to change.

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connie9003 Posted 16 Apr 2013 , 3:27am
post #4 of 46

Am I the only one in Kentucky who wants to see this changed ???

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Annabakescakes Posted 16 Apr 2013 , 3:38am
post #5 of 46

AWhere are you located in Ky?

I did all the work, and spent $17,000 to have my kitchen, but I could've done it for less. The worst was the plumbing, for $4,000. It took 7 years of saving up, restoring a credit rating to buy a house, and then doing the work. It is very rewarding. Before I had my kitchen, I did do cakes in my home kitchen, and can't imagine doing that again! I love having the 2 separate kitchens!

I was a divorced mother of 3 when I started saving, and only made $18,000 a year, and little to no child support.

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jason_kraft Posted 16 Apr 2013 , 5:36am
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AIt only takes one person to make a difference. If your state rep agrees to take up the bill and the numbers make sense it may not need a grassroots lobbying effort to pass, especially considering how many other states are pushing through new CFLs.

Even just getting local support by canvassing within your district will help make the case to your rep. Common sense is on your side here, once people find out about health dept restrictions for small businesses they usually think they are too restrictive.

Do you have a centralized group for evangelizing, e.g. a web site or FB group?

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connie9003 Posted 16 Apr 2013 , 5:55am
post #7 of 46

not yet, I have to make a change in my personal life real quick before I go full throttle publicly with my case/cause. :)

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JLynne93 Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 5:39pm
post #8 of 46

I would love for the law to be changed there are no bakeries in my area at all and I can't afford to purchase a business space and the law is to restrictive for me to sell from my home.

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Annabakescakes Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 5:53pm
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AThe law in Kentucky is that you have to grow the product to process it in your home. Such as growing strawberries to make strawberry jam in your home. I suppose you would have to grow wheat and sugar cane to make cakes out if your home in Kentucky!

It is free to ask around to see if you are able to use someone kitchen, for a fee. It is only cost prohibitive to pay overhead if you aren't charging a decent amount for your cakes. The going rate in northern Kentucky is $3-5 a serving.

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jason_kraft Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 6:02pm
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A

Original message sent by JLynne93

I would love for the law to be changed there are no bakeries in my area at all and I can't afford to purchase a business space and the law is to restrictive for me to sell from my home.

Since you're not too far away from Cincinnati you may want to look for commercial kitchen rentals or incubators closer to the OH border, this would also give you easier access to a much larger market.

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JLynne93 Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 6:09pm
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I'm not that far from Cincinnati but driving to and from Ohio every day is not cost effective at all any more I would have to triple the cost of my cakes to pay for the kitchen and gas.

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Annabakescakes Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 6:11pm
post #12 of 46

AWhat

Original message sent by JLynne93

I'm not that far from Cincinnati but driving to and from Ohio every day is not cost effective at all any more I would have to triple the cost of my cakes to pay for the kitchen and gas.

what is the cost of your cakes? And where are you located?i

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Annabakescakes Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 6:12pm
post #13 of 46

A

Original message sent by jason_kraft

[quote name="JLynne93" url="/t/756396/kentucky-cottage-food-laws-help#post_7405172"]I would love for the law to be changed there are no bakeries in my area at all and I can't afford to purchase a business space and the law is to restrictive for me to sell from my home.

Since you're not too far away from Cincinnati you may want to look for commercial kitchen rentals or incubators closer to the OH border, this would also give you easier access to a much larger market.[/quote] Where does it actually say that she is not far from Cincinnati? I see she confirms it, but I don't see the original quote.

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jason_kraft Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 6:16pm
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A

Original message sent by Annabakescakes

Where does it actually say that she is not far from Cincinnati? I see she confirms it, but I don't see the original quote.

Location: Fiskburg, KY

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Annabakescakes Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 6:18pm
post #15 of 46

A

Original message sent by jason_kraft

[quote name="Annabakescakes" url="/t/756396/kentucky-cottage-food-laws-help#post_7405189"] Where does it actually say that she is not far from Cincinnati? I see she confirms it, but I don't see the original quote.

Location: Fiskburg, KY[/quote]Ah, I am on my mobile. It doesn't show up on here. Thank you.

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jason_kraft Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 6:20pm
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A

Original message sent by JLynne93

I'm not that far from Cincinnati but driving to and from Ohio every day is not cost effective at all any more I would have to triple the cost of my cakes to pay for the kitchen and gas.

Then you might need to triple the cost of your cakes.

The cost of gas shouldn't be too much more if you have a decent sales volume...if you drive 30 miles each way 4 days a week, gas is $5/gal and your vehicle gets 20 mpg, you are talking about an extra $60/week.

The cost of the rental itself also needs to be factored into the price, but any other legal food business will have to pay a similar cost.

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Annabakescakes Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 6:23pm
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AWhere in the heck is Fiskburg? I mapped it on my iphone, but it shows Crittenden? Is that correct?

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sistercarey Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 7:47pm
post #18 of 46

APut me on your team I'm in Louisville.I can get signture,at least 20 or more.

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LKing12 Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 10:36pm
post #19 of 46

Before I spent $30K+ to build my building and equip it, I did write letters, meet with representatives and it did not happen.  They understood what I wanted, but were very concerned about public safety.  Nobody wants to give up their authority.  Annabakescakes is in a different part of the state and her regulations are totally different from my county. 

I live on a road that is the border line for two counties and yet the county that we built in has more demanding specifications for building codes and inspections than the one across the street.

So, I don't see this becoming a possibility.

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LKing12 Posted 17 Jun 2013 , 10:41pm
post #20 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

Where in the heck is Fiskburg? I mapped it on my iphone, but it shows Crittenden? Is that correct?

Crittenden is about 8.5 miles SW of Fiskburg.

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Annabakescakes Posted 18 Jun 2013 , 4:39am
post #21 of 46

ALinda is correct! Our regulations are very different, and weird. I live on a City line, not county, and it was such a blessing because my city doesn't actually allow a home based commercial bakery, but since I am not in city limits, I could have it. Right behind my house are different regulations, and the city over, where I lived previously, requires a bathroom to be installed, as well. The NKY Independent district sanitation department collects $330 a year for grease traps, and I am quite certain those a-holes will fight a cottage food law tooth and nail. They can't require it if it is not a commercial kitchen.

And yes, it takes time, but it is not unattainable to build your own kitchen. I was a divorced, single mother of three toddlers making $7 an hour when I started saving for my build out. I didn't even have a house, I lived in an apartment! I used my tax "refund" to buy large items as I saw them for cheap, and hauled them around with me to a rental house. The house was rent to own, but we discovered the basement was needing a complete redo before we would even want to do laundry down there, let alone make food! It even had bats in it!

But you will never get there until you start striving, and I know there are plenty of cottage food bakers who make decent money, and have a decent time doing it, but I have said it before: I would quit cakes cold turkey before I ever baked another one in my home, let alone decorated it. It is horrible, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy. And I have cake decorating in my blood. I dream cakes, wake to cakes and make cakes and look at cakes and spend all my money on cake product, and search cakes on the Internet and have a bajillion posts on cake central, and go to bed thinking about cakes. I love them, with an obsession, and would thump someone in the head if they ever asked me to decorate a cake in my home kitchen. You couldn't pay me enough to have it all spread out in my dining room.

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MissMona Posted 19 Jun 2013 , 5:12am
post #22 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

and would thump someone in the head if they ever asked me to decorate a cake in my home kitchen. You couldn't pay me enough to have it all spread out in my dining room.

Haha!!!  Thump someone in the head!  I love it.  :)  Yeah, I'm in KY and NEED a kitchen in the worst possible way!!!!!

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Annabakescakes Posted 19 Jun 2013 , 5:22am
post #23 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMona 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

and would thump someone in the head if they ever asked me to decorate a cake in my home kitchen. You couldn't pay me enough to have it all spread out in my dining room.

Haha!!!  Thump someone in the head!  I love it.  :)  Yeah, I'm in KY and NEED a kitchen in the worst possible way!!!!!

Where are you in KY?

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MissMona Posted 19 Jun 2013 , 5:31am
post #24 of 46

Somerset

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Annabakescakes Posted 19 Jun 2013 , 5:43am
post #25 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMona 

Somerset

Most everyone is so far from me! I am in Northern Ky, and would love to rent out my kitchen. I don't ever go out there during the day, Except on Friday's and Saturdays. I work evenings and nights, and I have most everything anyone would need. I would really love to find someone who does cookies or chocolates, to complement my cakes, rather than compete.

 

A lot of us licensed bakers do get a bit uptight thinking about a cottage food law being passed, after we have spent multiple thousands getting licensed, but I really think that most of us would be okay with it if the CFL bakers would at least charge an acceptable price, and not drive down the market prices. I know that I need to charge $3 a serving for buttercream to make it worth my while, and $4 for fondant. I charge a little more than that, because that is where my competitor pricing is right now. I specifically raised my prices to be closer to theirs, because I know my cakes are every bit as good, and I didn't want my lower prices to be perceived as reflecting lower quality.

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kycake804 Posted 2 Aug 2013 , 10:55pm
post #26 of 46

If anyone here is still interested in the cottage food law you can contact me.  [email protected]  I have already stated a petition and I have someone on the city  council helping me with what i need to do next.  I could use all of your support with getting signatures. The website is http://kycakesociety.wix.com/kycottagelaw Thanks!!

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familysauce74 Posted 28 Aug 2013 , 2:41pm
post #27 of 46

AHello everyone! I'm new to the site an have been browsing topics. I am in Louisville ky and while I do not bake I am looking to bottle and sell a bar b que sauce . The cottage laws of course do not seem to allow for that in my home kitchen. I had looked into rented commercial space! And it's pretty inexpensive for what I need. However I Would love to get on board with whomever is starting the petition to change kys cottage laws! I there is a petition or fb page please let me know!

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wonlove Posted 3 Sep 2013 , 3:19pm
post #28 of 46

I am in Louisville KY and I too would like to jump on board. I need to read into the whole CFL cause I'm not really familiar with it but I want to be able to bake cakes in my home and sell them. Please let me know what I can do to help and please fill me in. Thanks

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CakeShopLex Posted 3 Sep 2013 , 5:34pm
post #29 of 46

I am not sure how far you are from Lexington, but I am in the process of opening a commercial kitchen.  Hoping to be opened by March 2014.  I know that doesn't help you now BUT you might want to keep it in the back of your mind.  I will be working out details of kitchen rental contracts through out the next few months.  Message me if interested.

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leah_s Posted 5 Sep 2013 , 4:49am
post #30 of 46

AThere are at least 3 rental kitchens in Louisville, two of which are good sized. I really cant personally get behind a CFL. And knowing the Louisville Metro HD well, they would never support it.

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