Be carefull with that business. Definitely consult with the health department.Good luck

Be carefull with that business. Definitely consult with health department. Good luck Yemek Tarifleri  

Hello Jessica, At this time you will need to locate a licensed commercial kitchen since home-based baking is not an option. Rep. John Proos is sponsoring a bill to create a cottage law in Michigan and below are a couple of links that will provide you with additional information. Michigan (There is a link to a story of a woman in Okemos who built a kitchen for baking in her basement, it was quite an ordeal but she is now a home-based baker in the state of Michigan.) Rep. John Proos initiative Please take time to join my mailing list, since I keep track of all 'cottage law' legislation across the US. I can tell you this year there are three states attempting to get this legislation passed, California, Florida and Michigan. I hope this is helpful. There are a few incubator/shared kitchen facilities that will assist new bakers in starting their business, I don't know how close these are to you. Visit: cookingwithdenay.com/home-based-bakers/incubator-kitchen-directory/ Good luck and stop by my site and let me know how you're doing from time to time. I have a wonderful little Home-Based Baking Q& A book you might want to download, it will answer several questions about the home-based baking industry. ~Denay ---This post was edited to remove a commercial link. Read our discussion policies for more Community best practices.

Hi, Here is a link to Penn State's Resources for Food Entrepreneurs - a wealth of information here - for food entrepreneurs in PA and other states as well:   http://foodsafety.cas.psu.edu/processor/resources.htm 

If you are interested in baking from home in the state of PA you will need to to to the following link http://tiny.cc/haXni and call the following number to locate the regulatory officer in your area. 717-787-4315. Here are the requirements http://www.agriculture.state.pa.us/foodsafety/lib/foodsafety/homeproc.pdf You should be able to get the information you need from these resources. Message Edited by ChristineL on 11-27-2009 12:02 PM

Yes, federal, state and local regulations may apply to your home-based bakery. Where you go next depends on where you are located. In many localities, it is illegal to prepare food for commercial sale from your home kitchen. You must have a separate commercial kitchen that complies with state and local food safety and health laws. There are a few federal laws which may apply to you. 1) The FDA regulates nutrition labeling on food products. However, read the Exemption for Small Businesses to see if your business can file for an exemption. 2) Not sure what you plan on baking, but if it involves meat, you will need to comply with the USDA's requirements for food labeling. However, the state and local laws are the ones you really need to worry about. If can provide your city and state, I may be able to direct you to the exact agencies you'll need to contact.

Start by contacting your county health department.

Hello Head Chef, In Michigan the regulations addressing baking from home are still a bit strict since you must address the regulations of the local health department, the state and the county in which you live. You will want to first check with the Michigan Department of Agriculture, one of the regulatory agencies involved. Please read http://web1.msue.msu.edu/imp/modi2/09159436.html Contact the Michigan State University Extension for more information (1-888-678-3464) They are a great resource for you. Call Toll Free: 1-800-292-3939 Write: Michigan Department of AgricultureP.O. Box 30017Lansing, Michigan48909 Send Email: mda-info@michigan.gov If you would like to know of a home-based baker who beat the odds and was able to create a home-based bakery in her home visit: Lilian Chavira the owner of Gellocake Her story is truly one of perserverance. -- This post has been unlinked. Here are our Do's and Don'ts. We ask that all members do not link to their site, or any commercial site, in their posts. You can post text only links to commercial resources that you find valuable. Members may link to Federal, state, or local government websites for the purpose of sharing verified information. Message Edited by ChristineL on 01-11-2010 01:32 PM

I would like to suggest that although contacting the county/local health department is a great idea you really need to contact the regulatory agency which is often not the health department but the state department of agriculture. I know that appears a bit strange but that is who regulates home food processing businesses.

I would like to know whether federal/state licensing and inspection regulations apply to home-based bakery-businesses. The answer is yes, however the regulations are different for every state. You might want to start by contacting either your local health department or your state Department of Agriculture depending on where you are selling your baked goods. This is quite vague and I could provide more information but I don't know the state where you reside. Specifically, a business that sells baked-goods to individuals as well as wholesale and retail food establishments. If so, where to go for next steps? Do not combine wholesale and retail food establishments, the requirements are different from each, particularly concerning the sale of wholesale goods. This site may be helpful or email the owner: http://cookingwithdenay.com/