What advice can you give someone wanting to open a homebased decorating business (probably in an apartment). I live in a city of about 50,000. The average person goes to Wal-mart, Harris Teeter, Foodlion, etc.

There is a small demand for specialty cakes and those willing to pay. The bakeries make the sheet and wedding cakes to but not like what you see on Food Network TV (which is what I want to make) just more custom made.

I realilze I'll have to go to a larger city for clientelle that is willing to pay for the purse cakes, pillow cakes, etc.

Any advice?

Well it's not hard to do in NC. Contact the dept of Agriculture but I would check and see if there are any rules with my apartment complex. I work out of my house.

The NC department of Ag inspection is a joke. As long as you don't have well water and don't have an indoor pet they will pass you. Your only restrictions will those imposed by your landlords and any neighborhood covenants.

Here are a couple threads you may find helpful.

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-617174-inspection.html

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-619199-inspection.html

Hi--
I'm in High Point and I teach a business class that covers all aspects
of the 'caking' business. Additional info is on my website, www.crawfordscreations.com. Hope you'll join us!!

DDiva's "caking business" class is awesome. I've taken it and learned a lot about NC's rules & regulations for home-based bakeries. Worth the money, she is a fountain of knowledge. If you are in an apartment, I would check with your landlord as well as the city regulations/zoning on a business.
Leslie

Hey ddiva, I'm definitely interested in some information regarding your class on home based businesses. For some reason I couldn't get anything from your website. Could you pm me?
Thanks!