Kitchen Requirements For Home Baking Business

Before you start a home bakery and make tasty treats like bread, cakes, pastries, and cookies, your kitchen needs to meet safety rules set by your state's health department. These rules vary by state and can be strict or not so strict.

You don't need a license in Texas, and the health department doesn't check home kitchens or give certifications. However, the local health authority can step in if there's a risk to the community. Home bakers must finish an okayed basic food safety course and follow other rules.

A Home-Based Bakery

Great news! You don't have to have a store to sell your baked treats—you can begin baking and selling right from your kitchen. A home-based bakery is a fantastic choice for those who prefer starting on a smaller scale. Consider what you bake best, and choose one or two items to concentrate on.

Here are some examples of baked goods you can easily make at home:

• Cookies, brownies, and bars

• Muffins and scones

• Cakes and cupcakes

• Bread (savory and sweet)

• Pies and tarts

• Biscotti

• Dog biscuits

Are dog biscuits considered real baked goods? Absolutely! I know someone who, after a failed waffle attempt, turned it into a successful dog biscuit business. Inspiration strikes unexpectedly, so you never know when a great idea will pop up.

What Do You Need To Start A Bakery From Home

Licenses and Permits

Talk to your local zoning board to check if you can run a home-based baking business at home. If it's needed, get zoning permits or licenses. Some states ask for a kitchen health check and completing food handling courses. You might also need a food-handling permit and a business license.

PHF vs. Non-PHF Foods

See what foods you're allowed to make at home according to your state's rules. In Massachusetts, for instance, you can make non-potentially hazardous food (non-PHF), like baked goods, jams, and jellies. Non-PHF doesn't let harmful bacteria grow. However, potentially hazardous food (PHF), like cream-filled pastries, cheesecakes, and custards, can support harmful bacteria and is not allowed in a home-based kitchen bakery.

Your state might need a lab test to confirm your baked goods are non-PHF.

Register Your Business

Sign up your home bakery with the secretary of state. Think about forming a limited liability company (LLC) for personal liability protection from business debts. Reach out to the Internal Revenue Service for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) to use on business papers.

Buy property, liability, and home-based business insurance from a licensed provider. Check out the Food Liability Insurance Program for affordable options.

Purchase Your Equipment

Adjust your kitchen to meet health department rules for running a home bakery. Usually, you can't mix your professional stuff with personal items. So, you might need more sinks, separate places for food storage and prep, and safety gear like sprinklers, fire extinguishers, or oven ventilation.

Get bakery gear from companies like MONO, Bongard, and Sottoriva. Find baking ingredients at WebstaurantStore or Pastry Chef Central.

In addition, you will also need to purchase packaging for your bakery business. For example, custom boxes for baked goods are your best options. Due to the customizability of these boxes, you can also promote your bakery.

Research Bakery Operating Rules

Ensure you follow the rules for your home bakery business in your state. In Massachusetts, only people in your household can work in your home kitchen business. You can't sell your baked goods outside the state because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration only approves certain sources.

If you sell food from a home bakery in Texas, it must be packed and labeled with your name and where you are. The package must also say if there are any big food allergens and mention, "This food is made at home and not checked by the health department."

Local Cottage Food Laws

Home bakeries often fall under a category known as cottage food, which distinguishes them from commercial operations with storefronts or production kitchens. Unlike commercial bakeries, which must meet specific equipment and sanitation requirements, cottage-food operations follow different rules.

Cottage food regulations vary from state to state, but they typically apply to shelf-stable products that don't need refrigeration—ideal for baked goods! Cottage bakeries often have sales limitations to prevent large-scale operations from avoiding retail bakery regulations. They're usually limited to direct-to-consumer sales, meaning you can't sell to local grocery stores or bakeries.

Before diving in, check the rules in your area. Your state and local health departments can provide more details on cottage food laws in your region.

Create a Business Entity and Get Licensed

When you start your home baking business, there are other legal things to consider before you start baking. Some states might ask for a business license to run your home bakery. Depending on where you are, the health department might also need you to have a food manager license.

Creating a business entity like a limited liability company (LLC) is a good idea. Unlike running as an individual or sole proprietor, this shields your stuff from legal problems in case of a lawsuit. You might also need insurance. Get advice from a cottage food expert or an attorney on the best steps forward.

Market your business.

Whether you're selling fancy macarons or kitschy cupcakes, you need to let your customers know you're open for business. Here are some ways to get the word out:

Social media 

Getting customers is easy with social media. Make a Facebook account. Set up a cool Instagram page. Start tweeting on Twitter. Share pictures of your treats and talk with your customers online. Being on social media helps show off what you have and get noticed.

Website

A website is super important for your business. It's where you can share your brand's story, put up pictures of your treats, or write about your baking tips. Keep it simple, but make sure to have a menu with ingredients, prices, and info on how to order.

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Created on Nov 14th 2023 16:31. Viewed 168 times.

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