I have a question for my fellows Texans
How do you operate your business? I know that no one here will be ready to jump up and tell me all about their "illegal business" but I'm really wondering b/c I know there are so many of us in Texas. I'm kinda just starting out, I work FT so cakes are a PT thing for me and right now just for family, friends and co-workers. But I've been thinking about the future and I've heard so many things about how hard it is to get a license in TX. Not as easy as enclosing my garage like I thought. Do some of you rent kitchens? Is it worth it??
My MIL makes cakes too and part of me dreams about the two of us opening up something together (we would have to work opposite shifts though ) but I'm wondering how $$ smart this all is. You would have to get big for it to pay off, right?
Any input? Suggestions??
Thanks SO much!

Hi near neighbour.
So far i have just done it word of mouth. I looked into opening a shop about 4 yrs ago, but the outlay was too big and on serious consideration decided this wasn't the right time for me and my family. Since then i have diecided to convert 1/2 the garage into a commercial kitchen and hubby is SLOWLY building it himself as the estimate i got from a builder, my hubby said was way too high. thats why he's doing it. hope you find a compromise somewhere. Places that i considered asking to rent their kitchen space where, donut shops that close at noon, night clubs, VFW, cafes that were closed in the eveings. i never did ask any of them though.

We have a cooking school/kitchen gadget store here that allows me to use their kitchen (do occasional demos and BD parties for them) and we are in negotiation to rent 2 nights and on Sundays.

My partner & I tried to open a catering business in Texas. Restrictions make it almost impossible unless you have endless amounts of $$$. I have finally found a building to rent that is already set up and has already been inspected. Hoping to start in a couple of weeks. Good Luck!

Good luck Gilson6--
BTW--where is Magnolia, Tx?

Yeah, from what I've heard and read it seems SO difficult! I don't think any of us are made of money but it sure seems like you have to be! I wonder how expensive it is to rent a kitchen in these places?? What a mess!! Thanks for your responses though!
Good luck to you gilson6!! How exciting!

Magnolia is between Houston and Conroe. Small town. Thanks for the encouragement.

Hey Gilson6 ~

I have a friend that lives in Magnolia, what a small world!! You are right it is a very small town!

I have a friend that is a caterer, and she lets me use her kitchen anytime I need to. So this has not been an issue for me. Getting my license was not difficult and since I am using a licensed caterer's kitchen it has been inspected and passed. I suggest making friends with someone that is a caterer, they are great for helping with the kitchen issue and they are great at recommending you to clients. It has worked wonders for me. We are like a one stop shop. She does all the food, my mother does all the florals, and I do all the cakes.

BRIDES BEWARE!!!

Do any of my fellow Texans know if you must bake AND decorate in a commercial kitchen here?

I just want to be clear on whether I will have to do the whole process in a commercial kitchen or if I can do a portion at home...

Thanks all... new here, but I'm thrilled to see so many people who share my passion.

Welcome to CC!!!!

I don't know what the law says, but depending on the size of the cake, I bake at the commercial kitchen and then decorate at home. That way I can bake 5 ~ 10 cakes at a time and freeze them until I need them.

You have to have a license and a certified kitchen whether it's for cakes or for catering. They make it very frustrating. I know if varies from county to county so check with the county you live in.

I asked the health department in Austin and they said I have to decorate in the commercial kitchen too but even at the night rates I can rent at ($10/hr) that would be a losing proposition, so when I get licensed (probably next summer) I'll do the decorating at home even though I'm not supposed to.

Right now I only do a cake or 2 a month, so it's not a problem.

gilson6 you mentioned checking with the county you live in. So does the County Health Dept rule what you do or the State? I would think the State but I've heard multiple times that you go more by the County and City. Anyone know??
I think for me either way right now is way too $$. But you know, it's like in school, we have those rules b/c some idiot down the road messed things up for people like us!

You go by county unless you sell across county lines, then you go by state.

I called last week and here in Travis county, if I don't count registering my name & getting my business license, it will cost $505 for health dept permit, transfer of operation (to operate out of somebody else's kitchen) and food manager's class. I may do it next summer.

That's the way I understand it to be, too. I'm not sure about the consistancy of inspections & etc. It really is up to you whether you want to risk the fines & all that.

I am in the process of starting a mobile food vending business (hot food truck) and doing cakes on the side. Here in San Antonio, you have to have a city license and if you are going to sell outside of the city a county license. BUT........that means I can only sell in San Antonio. There are numerous "little cities" within San Antonio that I would still have to get a license for, if I wanted to sell within their city limits. Fortunately, I am only dedicating my business to sporting events, special events in San Antonio like Rodeo and possibly construction sites (which are in abundance now) lol. The cakes I am just doing word of mouth for now. If all goes well, we will separate the cake biz from the food biz and make two separate corporations.

I'm going through this right now in Houston! I found a church to give free kitchen space for the first kitchen of my business (after hundreds of phone calls I got VERY lucky!). But I can't work on weekends or at night and I need more room for wedding cakes, so I'm looking into renting space from an established kitchen. The going rate is $1000-$2000 per month plus equipment costs! Please let me know if anyone knows of someone who can rent me space. Thanks!

gilson6, did you used to have an AOL account with the screenname kakdecor8r or something very similar?