Trying To Do The Right Thing....

Business By theSugarQueen Updated 5 Aug 2010 , 9:48pm by JimMitten

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theSugarQueen Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 5:27pm
post #1 of 9

I am trying to sell cakes from my home...Of course I have done tons of research on this subject which led me here. I have found out alot of reallyyy good info and I appreciate it!!! icon_smile.gif

I have called the administrative office in my VERY VERY VERY small town (there were only 3 numbers to choose from!) to see if it was legal where I live. They LAUGHED at me...and said that of course "everyone" sells baked goods from their house and they had never even heard of people calling to see what was the legal way to go about it.

No matter what I said they said it would be fine. I do NOT want to get in trouble and told them that. They said unless I sold large amounts of cakes I was not to worry about it. I even gave them my address and they said it was fine for me to sell cakes there.

I know I live in a very small southern town in NC but still!!!

8 replies
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Doug Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 5:35pm
post #2 of 9

and in NC ---

STATE dept of ag governs homebakers -- you WILL have to be inspected by them (oh -- MAJOR requirement -- NO PETS! which is why I can't)

still need:

biz license if your blink and miss it town requires one.

register name of biz at county court house.

STATE tax ID # (easy to get on web -- just google NC Dept of Revenue and wade through all the menus) as you MUST collect sales tax and pay it/file it (online too)

---

good business practices:

separate checking account for biz -- don't commingle money in personal account -- looks shady and makes taxes a real pain. IRS expects to see this.

separate credit card so you can charge supplies in advance -- get Business card not a personal card

---

congrats on starting your own business!

what's it's name?

where's the website??? and facebook page?

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catlharper Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 5:35pm
post #3 of 9

I would note the conversation down, including who you spoke to, and save it for the future. Sounds like they are not concerned until to you get to storefront volume, then you will have to worry from there. They figure with such a small town you won't be getting up to that level anytime soon....prove them wrong! LOL!

Cat

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leah_s Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 5:38pm
post #4 of 9

Sounds like you simply called the wrong office, and from Doug's info need to call the State Department of Agriculture.

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jason_kraft Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 5:40pm
post #5 of 9

Definitely talk to your county (or state) health department, they usually have responsibility for licensing and inspecting kitchens, not the municipality.

To add to Doug's excellent list - look into liability insurance and forming an LLC to protect your personal assets in case you get sued.

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Doug Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 5:51pm
post #6 of 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by jasonkraft

Definitely talk to your county (or state) health department, they usually have responsibility for licensing and inspecting kitchens, not the municipality.




NC has cottage law that allows home baking.

Health dept. NOT involved -- just State Dept. of Ag. -- if out of home.

Once at store front the Health Dept. steps in.

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oh and check zoning. doubt it will be a problem, but check anyway.

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cblupe Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 7:08pm
post #7 of 9

"NC has cottage law that allows home baking."

When you say home baking you mean a separate kitchen, right?

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Doug Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 8:09pm
post #8 of 9
Quote:
Originally Posted by cblupe

"NC has cottage law that allows home baking."

When you say home baking you mean a separate kitchen, right?




nope - your regular family kitchen.

have to have separate storage (like one side vs other side of kitchen)
separate shelf in frig.
and NO PETS -- not even a guppy.

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JimMitten Posted 5 Aug 2010 , 9:48pm
post #9 of 9

Found this link - thought it might be of use:
http://www.ncagr.gov/fooddrug/food/homebiz.htm

Lists all that you need to do to start a home bakery business in NC.

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