I was just wondering how many people out there sell cakes out of their home without any licensing or anything? I have just begun to sell cakes and I was wondering who was in the same boat. I have seen on here that South Carolina does not license home bakers and so I really dont know what to do? Thanks for any help!

I know in Alberta (Canada) you can face fines up to 50 000$ if you get caught...is it really worth it?? (not to mention being sued if you make someone sick) Not in my opinion....I 'd rather sink 50 large into one hell of a nice kitchen!

This question has been addressed numerous times on CC. Anyone that is operating illegal would probably be reluctant to say so on here for fear of getting caught. I would almost guess that the illegals outnumber the legals.

Diane

i did for almost a year before I was able to open my own shop. I am in oklahoma and under no circumstances can you bake from the home.

i have only sold a couple of cakes to friends and i just wonder how big of a deal it is to continue doing so for only close family and friends?

As with anything that is not legal, it depends on who cares and who would turn you in. I never worry about it as I don't do that many but it is a factor. If there was a bakery in my town, I would really think twice for fear that they would turn me in. Figuring that they have gone to the expense and trouble of being licensed, it would be understandable why they would.

Diane

the thing is there was only one other true "cake decorator" in town that actually owned a shop, and she closed down about 6 months ago. The only other places we have is wal mart and bilo.... so there is a need for custom cakes!

I'm very obedient to the law. Plus, I can't imagine going to jail when I am a teen prosecutor for my county.

so why not go legit??

Can you find a church kitchen or somewhere that you can rent their kitchen for a reasonable rate? If your state will not let you do it from home and you've got a corner on the market as far as unique, higher quality cakes then it may be worth finding a space to rent.

well i am a full time student and this is something i do on the side. I am in no way prepared to go full time or put a lot of money into a space.

oh right state laws...hummm...I don't understand why some of the states in the US are so against home bakers...at least you would make the effort to be legitamite if you could...but they won't even give you a chance??? weird

I'm not legal yet but I don't sell my cakes yet either. I'm doing everything I can to become legal, its important to me.

i would love to become legal, but its really just not realistic. I only average about 1 or 2 cakes a month, so how is it possible to pay so much money for licensing, somewhere to bake, etc. its just so darm complex!

I don't sell any. I would think if I did it would be cash only and no paper trail. Funny how hard it is for home bakers or chefs when you see the gory stories on the news about bugs, rats, etc. in licensed kitchens.....

mthiberge, were you talking to me? I don't sell cakes, that's what I was saying.

I'm not posting this to start an argument, I'm just posting this to share the views on the "OTHER" Side of the coin, so If I end up offending anyone...I am going to apologize for that up front, but I'm NOT going to apologize for having my opinions...so...Let's play nice. OK?

I too didn't think that anyone would post to this thread, for fear that all of a sudden the "CAKE SWAT TEAM" would decend on them..lol


(I'm not going to "qoute" directly from anyone as I don't want to get flamed, but...you ALL know that I"m quite MILITANT about this issue!!!)


"As with anything that is not legal, "

(operative words...NOT LEGAL!..would you guys be breaking the laws on ANYTHING ELSE? The law of the land states that you cannot commit FRAUD, or MURDER...Is that ok also, because it would depend on "WHO CARED?")

"it depends on who cares and who would turn you in. "


"I never worry about it as I don't do that many but it is a factor. "

(What is a factor? that you don't do that many? Even selling ONE cake is still breaking the laws!)


"If there was a bakery in my town, I would really think twice for fear that they would turn me in. '

(Even if there ISN'T a bakery in town...why do you think it's ok for someone to break the laws? Is this what you want to teach your children? It's ok to do something against the laws as long as there is no direct victims....Well, they also consider prostitution a "VICTIMLESS CRIME" but it's STILL not legal!)


Figuring that they have gone to the expense and trouble of being licensed, it would be understandable why they would.

(Ok, then...at least YOU understand when someone gets turned in for running an ILLEGAL BUSINESS from their home! and the reasons why a lic. baker WOULD care!!)



"Funny how hard it is for home bakers or chefs when you see the gory stories on the news about bugs, rats, etc. in licensed kitchens....."

(Like everything, one sensational case makes the news and all of a sudden out come the finger pointing and the HOW I KEEP MY BATHROOM CLEANER THAN SOME LIC KITCHENS!...Ok, try doing production lines when you have more than 10 cakes a day every day and see how clean you keep your kitchens. THERE IS NO EXCUSE for vermin in a business, and if licencing wasn't such an expensive propsition that we could lose a day a week or even a month by closing and steaming down and chasing after vermin I'm sure that it would be done by 1/2 of those places that make the news.

I'm sure that there are a lot more businesses out there that run clean kitchens, by the book LEGALLY....why don't THEY make the news???)

( and finger pointing...LOOK..THEY CAN DO IT, so why can't I...I'm cleaner..

NO...YOU CAN'T............Once you get lic, you can use your kitchen as a TOILET...until the Health Department closes you down...but you still have that PIECE OF PAPER that states....YOU HAVE BEEN INSPECTED, YOU HAVE PAID TO BRING YOUR KITCHEN UP TO THE LEAGAL CODES OF YOUR STATE OR COUNTY OR CITY and now..YOU CAN CONDUCT YOUR BUSINESS)

(and pay your taxes!! do you know that in some of your states, you MUST pay a tax on the service that you provide? so if you're not charging and paying your tax...you are also a TAX EVADER?)

( Harsh words, aren't they? But...truth never the less.)

( I do NOT want you to now feel that you must be looking over your shoulders and shaking in your boots, but you MUST know what you are doing and if you CHOSE to keep doing it...then you HAVE to be willing to eventually pay the piper down the road. MANY, MANY people continue baking from home, unlic, and absolutely NOTHING happens more often than not...so you're safe about 99/9% of the time.

and that is how a LOT of us started...AT HOME baking for friends and family. Our wonderful friends and family that will support us no matter what...but, will they be willing to pay your fines if you get caught?)

(Some things to think about...!! )

RisqueBusiness, I am not going to argue with you because everything you said is correct. I am not speaking for anyone else but I will say for myself that even when I sell one cake I know it is wrong. Why do I do it? Because I am living on SS Disability and draw $840 a month. I have no other income. Sometimes the $20 for that cake makes a difference as to whether I can buy groceries that I need. I sell at the most, 2 cakes a month. Other than that I bake for my kids and grandkids.

Diane

RisqueBusiness what i dont understand is how you ADMIT that you started selling out of the house and thats how you got started but now you have info on your website to report "violators" and such, trying to get people who are doing what you did, in trouble. Just a thought.

oof!

Ashley, I think there is a business incubator near Greenwood (joint venture with Piedmont Tech and Clemson maybe?). If you are in school full time, use the resources available to you - your school. You never know what they may have available, such as an incubator that allows the cheap rental of kitchen space. Go to your school, tell them your situation, and let them hook you up with the right people. A lot of schools have resources that students aren't completely aware exist. Not only may they be able to connect you with a commercial kitchen, they should be able to help you establish a business plan that can turn your current situation into a real success. Your area is really rich in resources for encouraging small businesses, so see what all is out there. You might even want to contact the health department and talk directly to an inspector to see what they would suggest.

Ok, I find all this fascinating! Can anyone tell us the steps to take to GET licensed? I am sure that most people don't wish to break the law, they just aren't sure how to go about registering or can't afford to do so.

The 'States that License Home Bakeries' thread pinned at the top of this forum has a lot of information about who to contact in specific states to get licensed.

Great.....here we go again!

Yes, in the newsletters there are a list of states and links and a lot of helpful information!

( by the way, I posted..not to inflame anyone, but, to give the view from the "other side" and that..you CAN..sometimes it takes people months...or if you're like me....over 20 years..lol...with many, many interruptions! As we are ALL well aware...LIFE has a funny way of getting in the way!) lol

I think this is a VERY important discussion to have (politely, of course). I know it's been chatted about a bit, but new members come on without knowing what all has been debated previously. I live in a community where problems with a home baker resulted in a bunch of children getting sick. As a result, our schools do not allow ANY home baked treats to be handed out at school. While this certainly could have occurred with a prof. bakery as well, it's the home baker being protected with the information - not a battle of good versus evil. Better to know the information on the front end than get in a situation like some of our fellow posters in Texas who are receiving love notes from the health department.