When You First Started Decorating, How....
Baking By MrsMom Updated 14 Jan 2007 , 8:39pm by playingwithsugar
did you get your name out?
OK...I haven't taken any classes yet and have REALLY just started, but I'm thinking for the future. I have been making cupcakes (and want to do a batch of vday cookies) for DH to take to work. Once I get better and ready to have my name associated with stuff, would you wrap the cookies individually and put a label on them? How else would you do it? Thanks...
Before you start advertising, you should make sure it is legal. In many states you need to be working from a commercial or inspected kitchen in order to legally sell homebaked goods.
Word of mouth is usually the most effective method for sharing your work. Individual items with labels can be useful. You should also have an idea of how you are going to charge for items, at least a base price. That way you won't be put on the spot when someone asks for a price.
JoAnn...how would I go about finding out the laws on this? If Maine does have these laws, does that mean that I wouldn't be able to sell anything? 
Yeah, I figured word of mouth would be a good way. That's why I started sending things to work with DH. They don't necessarily know who makes them, but I'm getting some practice. When I want to own up to my goods I figured maybe putting my name/phone # on them would be good if people want to contact me.
I started by sending some cakes to my child's school for the teachers, my dad and husband's work. I average about two to three cakes a week this way. I started in Feb. and would have never thought is would have been this quick. I live in Louisiana and it is not legal here, so I do not advertise. When I deliver a cake I hand some buisness card with my name, phone number and address. I did not put a buisness name so no one could come back on me for having a buisness.
Mrs. Mom...I live in Maine and in order to sell home-baked goods legally-your kitchen must be licensed. I am in the process of doing this-updating my kitchen, etc...You should contact the Maine Dept of Agriculture,your local town/city, as well as the health dept to find out what is required. (There is a wealth of information on the web.) For now, I sell just by word of mouth(friends and family)and do not advertise. I find giving out samples are the best way to develop a steady customer base.
There is an article in the Articles section about starting cake businesses, and I believe there are links to each state for information.
Theresa 
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