It's not that I think it's more frequent to get sick from a home kitchen (remember I have a legal home kitchen). It's the fact that if you get sued.. you could lose your house. I can't see taking that risk. Being legal allows you to be able to get liability insurance to protect your assets.

Yes, Don t lock this thread! I am enjoying! Nothing like a good spirited discussion. Those who are choosing to leave CC because of this discussion don't know what they are missing, as you can learn SO much from this board!!!

A home baker in MI lost her home and everything she owned 3 years ago by baking illegally. It was her 1st offense. Someone got sick and said it was the cake (more than likely not) found out she wasn't legal and sued. She lost everything! Most cases you get told to stop baking right then and there and the HD comes out and does periodic unscheduled checks to make sure your not baking over the course of a few years. This case was unusual for the fact it was her 1st offense and that's what happened. I know the HD is busy but if they get a call they must check it out, which puts illegal bakers in a horrible position. I know that this was an odd case for this to happen but I just wanted to let you all know there is a real possibility that it can.


And to go along with the good vibes--I'm pro-life, pro breast feeding, for womens equality, marching on Lansing soon to help change the Autism bias the insurance companies have and I dislike all 3 presidential hopefuls.

Thats VERY informative mkolmar! And a good glimpse of reality to abiding by the laws that govern-they are there to protect us all, (though sometimes make no sense )

Wow, that is very scary!! I can't imagine losing my house over a cake!!

What about bake sales? People who are making the goods for those are baking out of their house, right??

When I was researching home bakeries in my state, I found that there is a special exemption for charitable organizations (including churches and schools) to sell items baked at home at bake sales.

They need to fill out a form and get it approved. Items like pies and cakes must be sold as whole units (not in slices) and there can't be anything with custard or cream or any other ingredient that could go bad without refrigeration (including pumpkin.)

And lastly, "Consumer is informed by a clearly visible placard at the sales or service location". Not sure exactly what that means...

I would guess that other states have similar procedures to this.

I can't have a home bakery...but I can donate to the school bake sale. So at least I have another excuse to bake

I'll be honest, I only read up to page 4.

Right now I'm a hobbyist and learning. I don't want to work out of my home illegally. I want to be licensed. I want a store. I want to be legit. I am giving myself one year to get my recipes down, my decorations perfected, and to develope my style of caking. This time next year, I want to be looking at space, I want to write a biz plan, I want to buy the equipment. I'm not rich. We live paycheck to paycheck.

I don't want to let this dream go - a dream I let go when I was 18 and then again at 24. I'm 40 and don't want to waste another 20 years. I want to know what I need to do. If anyone that is licensed that would like to mentor me to become a successful business, I surely would love it. I don't know the first thing about opening a business, but I am a fast learner and want to learn. Please someone, point me in the right direction.... Please PM me if you would like to help me get started in the business.

Thanks!

I like to eat raw hot dogs, but only Oscar Meyer and only at 4 am!

I read up to page 7 and ended up crying...

I know I am a big ole southern baby. I feel very hurt... I feel as though if some post here maybe they will get turned in or something....

The things that were said in the first couple of pages hurt ME..

I am very clean... I'm working on getting legal and we have NO others around here that are legal. 1 grocery store .... I don't think I have ever HURT a business...

And I really don't think I have EVER tried to step on toes here... but some really have said somethings that make me think twice.

Why do we have to get angry and bitter when it comes to being legal ?

Sure make your point... but don't say us who bake out of our homes are GROSS or make AWFUL icing out of a can or anything else...

I don't know.. maybe CC isn't the same anymore.. I thought I was helpful maybe at some point but maybe sense I'm not legal I'm not?

I am sooo confused and hurt..

Sad post SAD

Christi

Don't fret Christi.. you are such a sweet person. Try not to take anything personally okay? I can vouch for your kind nature. These sort of posts stir up a lot of emotions.. ((hugs)).

(((big ol' hug from me too))) *Christi--you know I got my table friends covered!

I don't even know you Christi and what you wrote made me sad! I don't think it was anyone's intention to be cruel or insensitive. Don't take to heart what some people have said. Try not to worry about it. Your cakes are beautiful and you have wonderful ideas to share with us! Think like Shakespeare...âDost thou think, because thou art virtuous, there shall be no more cakes and ale?â Don't let them bother you girlie!

Oh my God I just sat here for 2 1/2 hours and read through this entire thread!!

Need.........water..................can't............................go...........on........

Seriously, it was quite an education to see everyone's point of view on this issue. I've learned a lot, regardless of what my stance on it is. My question is this: What if someone truly cannot afford to go to a designer (expensive) bakery for their special occasion cake and you (unlicensed baker) can do something comparable for much less? Is there no happy medium between "designer" and WalMart? I completely understand the cost of doing business for a licensed baker means higher prices for their cakes but honestly, think of it from a customers perspective......

There shouldn't be a happy medium if you ask me. Because the decorator doing their cakes for cheap, is not getting what they deserve for their time and hard work.

I read about 1/2 of this thread. I've read stories about craft people going to craft shows. I've read about "hobbists" underselling "pros". I've read about the cost of starting up, "so I can't make the investment to do it right". The one thing I haven't read is. What the heck will the "hobbists" do if someone gets sick from a piece of chicken, and thinks your cake made them sick? Then they sue, and you lose your house. That "small" investment doesn't look to big now that your homeless. Oh BTW I live in MI, and I will be legal in my home. There are ways to do it. My legs sure are tired from jumping through the hoops though. You want to talk about expense where I live it costs 500 for the HD to JUST look at your plans.

Mike

Whether or not this thread has angered some people and made some people sad, I think it has been very imformative. I want the legal business, and the more I read, the more I want it. The more I NEED it to protect myself.

I've read most of this post.

I don't agree with loop holes to being legal. Just too much to gamble. Not worth it to me.

I understand both sides of this conversation. I understand the hobbist/just starting up bakers. Everyone has to start somewhere. I understand those who have invested countless hours and money to start their business. I am fortunate to live in a cottage state. But my goal has always been to have a store. I'm kind of in the middle. I work out of my home (for now...currently looking for a kitchen to rent). But I am just as obsessed with my business (Hi, My name is Erica. And I am cake addict). Does my business support my family? No...not yet. But I've already spent between $5000 - $6,000 in advertising this year. And it's only April. I am very serious and have my eyes set on a goal. We (as others) have had to make a lot of sacrifices to get the business up off the ground. We've done a ton of research on where to put our advertising because we are working with a limited budget.

I know a lot of people have been sad or hurt reading this post. But honestly, I don't think anyone was attacking anyone else. This has offered great information. I think this will always be a hot topic in any business. I truly hope no one takes it personally. The amount of information that is passed back and forth on these boards every day is priceless.

Ive been reading through a lot of these posts, and something comes to mind for me. I thought for the longest time that all I wanted was to have my own bakery, here in MN it's tough as MN Flower girl knows. Our laws are so strict.
I had a discussion with a friend who owns restaurants, as he was eating a piece of my cake and said NEVER go into business, you will hate decorating cakes if you do. Just do it because you love it.

What do you guys think, those who now have their own bakeries, do you hate it? Are you glad you made the change and became legal? Or is it to much?

Or did I get on this thread to late with the wrong topic?

Love you all, because everyone brings something new to the table.

I think everyone has had enough time to express their opinions on this one, so I am locking this thread. Thanks everyone!!