Do you think it would be all right to pass out business cards to your customers if you are illegal? or is that advertising?
I was thinking if you passed them out to the ones who already bought something it might be all right.
Thank You

I'm pretty sure that is considered advertising. They probably look at it like you are representing yourself as a business (which they would say you are not because you are not legal).

It depends on how strict the area is that you live in. In some stricter places I've heard of decorators that make cards with their name and contact info, NO mention of cakes/food. They give these to customers. HTH!

hmm
How do you find out if your in a strict area?
Thanks

As long as it doesn't say anything about your business, it is OK. Otherwise it is advertising.

By strict I mean the regulations. Where I live I have to have a commercial kitchen to be licensed, they do prohibit selling food made from home kitchens but make some exceptions for non-hazardous items such as cakes and cookies. I can't advertise but that term is used loosely here. This is a relatively small city so the dpt of health isn't too uptight. I just called and asked them outright what is okay and what is not. Call and ask lots of questions while giving as little info as possible. You may be pleasantly surprised.

There's no reason why you couldn't have cards with your name, number and an e-mail. It's just a "calling" card. But I wouldn't put a business name or what your services are though. If you're giving them to people who've gotten cakes from you then they'll know what the card was for.

I'm new to all of this, and am unsure of this issue as well.

When making a "calling card" with name phone number and email address, would adding a freewebs website (that of course has images of your cakes) through that over the edge?

A family friend owns a deli that does catering, and she wanted me to either make pamplets or business cards with my info on it so that she can refer me when people come in for catering needs. She already has a portfolio with pictures of my cake at her store, I just want to make sure what im going is not "illegal"

Thanks for any insight you all can provide.

Tina

If you are not licensed according to your state and county, it would NOT be legal for your relative to refer cakes to you. HER business is at risk of penatly.

You should contact your department of agriculture, or your health deparment and find out how you can become 'legal'.

The advertising itself is not illegal, but it makes it easier for them to prove you have been selling goods without a license. That is illegal.

ok...now I have a question. If the business that I work at lets people put business cards here for people that ask about cake decorators, can we get in trouble? I know for a fact that these people are not liscensed, don't have a permit to bake cakes in their homes, but do it anyway. Should we remove these cards?

What if you made a "calling card" with name, phone number, email, etc...and put a picture of a cake on it, although you wouldn't technically be saying you were a cake decorator on the card? Then, people that you give the card to would remember what it was for when going back later and looking at it.

You should check with the health department, but yes, I think if you knowingly refer someone to an unlicensed decorator, you can be at least partially liable. I think your insurance company would have a stroke if they knew.

Again I think it depends on your area and your Health Department.

I checked with mine and they only concider any ad you pay for as an ad. So I can put up flyers in stores, schools, churches, mail huts, etc...