Calling All Ca Ccers...i Wanna Cry.
Business By tobycat Updated 28 Mar 2007 , 10:10pm by cupcakegirl27
I just talked to the Health Department, and they said there's absolutely selling of any baked anything or food prepared anything from home in CA. 
I knew this was the probably the case, but now I've found out for sure. This is so ridiculous! 
I know that there are people out there with unsanitary situations, but inspections could handle that. I just think it's unreasonable, especially when there's other states out there, like Oregon that allow it and even seem to be reasonable about it.
Most of you already probably knew this, but it's just so depressing to have the cold, hard facts. 
Sarah
Oh Sarah, don't cry...... I suppose you just do what a lot of people do. Don't advertise and maybe just get reimbursed for materials? I'd be intrested to know the percentage of ccers that are legal as opposed to not.
I personally don't see the big deal. I think most people have people come to them by word of mouth, friends, family. Theyre not going to have someone unsanitary who may poison them make a cake for them. Just be cautious. Maybe you could accept tips on top of material? Just a thought.
CA needs the tax money, so now might be a good time to contact your senator re changes. Some states have a dollar amount--something like $10K a year in sales (there should be a provision for inflation). This would be great for small businesses and stay-home moms.
Short of that, look for a bar with a kitchen; they're seldom used. Maybe you can barter???
CA needs the tax money, so now might be a good time to contact your senator re changes. Some states have a dollar amount--something like $10K a year in sales (there should be a provision for inflation). This would be great for small businesses and stay-home moms.
Short of that, look for a bar with a kitchen; they're seldom used. Maybe you can barter???
Thanks everyone for the replies...makes me feel better just knowing that others know the situation! This is something I might do in a few years, but right now my kids are 1 and 3, and I was hoping to do something literally "from home." THis is such a shame. Perhaps I will contact our senators.
Sarah
I know how you feel Sarah. I'm in Washington as from what I understand we can bake at home if we have a separate kitchen which needs to be located away from the living areas in our home (like in your basement or garage) and no pets. I unfortuanatly do not have a basement and the garage is not gonna work for me so I just pass out my business cards to people I know. I'm considering looking for a kitchen to rent which could be an option for you?
Jacqui
yep - it is so depressing...the only options are doing it and hoping you don't get caught or renting space from a local cafe, etc.... I have 4 kids so I am in the same boat 
I agree with you and think it should be on a case by case inspection for at home baking. Texas is the same so we have the same problem here. The only thing I know to do is simply bake for family and friends and by word of mouth until I decide whether or not I want to open a shop one day.
I am sorry you are so upset right now and hope you can see a bright light at the end of the california tunnel that is holding you back at the moment. Try to cheer up so you can put your best foot forward and see what it is you should do to resolve this issue. Cheers 
your way!
Too bad California is so darn big. If we all lived closer to eachother we'd have enough decorators to all pitch in a start a huge, kick @$$ cake decorating business together.
Maybe I can bake Arnold a cake and he'd bend the rules for me. 
Sarah I know you knew the answer before you called them, but you can always hope there is a change in ruling or zoning in your area. California is a sue happy state, that is why we can no longer buy silver dragees. Not because anyone got sick, because a smart attorney decided that the companies weren't posting a warning label large enough to read and he sued them. So, the home baker is another place for frivilous lawsuits. Someone on here posted just recently that a client said her chocolate cake made them ill, now they ate other foods at this party, they may have had a flu bug, but they zeroed in on the cake. And my guess is because they knew it was baked at home in someone's kitchen. Look at the times we have read of a member's cake being eaten by their dog, some sue happy client is someday going to say they have found dog hair in the product and sue them. California is the one who provided you a license to bake at home and someone got sick from who knows what, they sue you and they sue the county and state for issung you a license. I don't believe California will ever allow home licensed baking in my lifetime.
It is allowed in our county, but the rules and regulations are
Your area must be zoned for small business in a residential area, how many homes do you know of that qualify?
A unit built that is not attached to your home
no food other than cakes can be prepared there
triple sinks
double ovens
all cabinets built off the floor
a separate bathroom with a shower that is not used by anyone other than the owner or employees.
Knowing how much that would cost, I don't know of any home baker who could afford it, not even mentioning the cost of insurance to cover you if someone should decide to sue. It's sad, it's discouraging, but that's the way it is and I don't think there is any way around it. If you have a website with your business posted. if you hand out business cards, if you enter a bridal fair you are exposing yourself to someone turning you in. A disgruntled neighbor, a licensed bakery who sees you as competition. Or someone else who wants to do cakes at home and can't afford to do what is required to become legal and they don't want you to be able to do it either.
I agree with you and think it should be on a case by case inspection for at home baking. Texas is the same so we have the same problem here.
The only thing I know to do is simply bake for family and friends and by word of mouth until I decide whether or not I want to open a shop one day. I am sorry you are so upset right now and hope you can see a bright light at the end of the california tunnel that is holding you back at the moment. Try to cheer up so you can put your best foot forward and see what it is you should do to resolve this issue. Cheers
your way!
Thanks for the positive note, Teecakes! I've been reading about some of the issues you've been dealing with in Texas, and I can't say it's much happier where you are.
This is a drag though (boy, I didn't know about the dragee suit! 
) CA is such a sue-happy, pc state! It drives me nuts sometimes. I wouldn't mind renting, but I'm actually taking a year off from work starting in June to see if we can make it on one income. We really think my staying home is the best option for us -- our kids have trouble with our split schedule. DH works from 2-midnight so they aren't in daycare. If I rented, I might as well be working outside of the home, like I'm doing now. It just stinks all around! 
Someday, someway though, I think we'll figure out a way for me to do this.
Can't see ARnie being sucked in by cake -- he's so health conscious and all (except for the steroids when he was in his 20s of course! -- dry humor, sorry.) And, given that we had a CA politician (can't think of her position -- representative?) who just 3 weeks ago wanted to put a no spanking bill on the books (that means no parent at any time could give their child a swat on the behind - up to 1 year in jail and fines possible! Luckily, there was such a backlash, that this one is off the table.) I doubt our "sunny" state will see it's way clear to expose people to the horrors of home-baked goods. How on earth do any of us survive out here? I mean if our kids are eating in kitchens that are sooooo contaminated and all.!!!!
Sorry for the rant, but I feel better...
Sarah
I'm so sorry to hear your news. What if you only did dummy cakes for weddings. I know it's not the same. It's not edible art. Would that get you around the rules? That way people can have the fancy center piece fake cake and get the real cakes from somewhere else.
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