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Selling Cakes out of your home in Texas - Page 2

post #16 of 57
5/13/06 at 12:31pm
The laws and rules govern "commercial" sales of cakes. A bake sale is something completely different. In a bake sale, the maker is donating the cake for the sale. They are not directly receiving a profit for that sale.
Unfortunately, the rules that everyone has talked about is the way it is in Texas. Also, don't rush off too quick to add on to your house b/c then city ordinances play into as well. You cannot have an entrance to your house through the kitchen and there are some other rules as well. Plus some cities say that you cannot have any type of commercial business in a residentially zoned area anyway.
Best thing to do? Keep doing it illegally, don't advertise and hope you don't get caught, or find a kitchen to rent
New Year's Resolution: I will not keep making the same old mistakes-I'll make all new ones.
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New Year's Resolution: I will not keep making the same old mistakes-I'll make all new ones.
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post #17 of 57
5/13/06 at 12:41pm
I've also thought of renting space somewhere to cook, but the whole point of doing this is so I could do it from home...be it even in a separate facility.

I'm not sure who to approach to rent kitchen space, or how to approach them? I know a lot of churches locally through friends, etc., but I'd feel a little strange asking them to rent me their kitchen, for some reason...

Has anyone tried this or done it--renting from someone? I don't want to ask a bakery, because then you're in the middle of telling them who you are and what you do, and they then can be the ones who turn you in for baking at home if they decide they don't like your "idea..."
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
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www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
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post #18 of 57
5/13/06 at 1:04pm
Here is a list of places that have been fined for a variety of things in TX....lots for not having permits:

http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/bfds/lic/Licensing.htm

There are varying amounts of fines, so it just depends.

It is difficult to get legal and get started and I suppose in the state's eyes it is a way to protect the consumer by monitoring kitchens and how things are cooked. I think lots of ppl do it illegally from home, and its just a judgement call on what you feel is ok to do.
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post #19 of 57
5/13/06 at 2:30pm
Homecook, I am meeting with someone this evening in ref to renting space on an as needed basis. I will let you know what I find out.

What I dont get is that when I obtained my tax ID for TX is that nobody said boo or denied my app. Good thing I am finding this out before I started baking 1200 cupcakes!
Life's too short to drink poison- Alton Brown
I'll start being nicer when you start acting smarter.
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Life's too short to drink poison- Alton Brown
I'll start being nicer when you start acting smarter.
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post #20 of 57
5/13/06 at 2:42pm
Puppylove,

Yes, please, please...let me know what comes of your foray into renting.

I have no idea where to really start with that...and like I said, all the
"proper channel" departments have blown me off when I've tried to get info from them. Like, hey--I want to follow your rules, if someone will just tell me what they are...!

The whole thing is starting to wear on me. I just wanted to be able to make cakes that folks order, from here, as often as they order (which is not anything like full-time at this point). I didn't want to have to build myself a kitchen and, therefore, a full-time business--I already run our growing company from home...I just wanted a money making hobby and to do something I enjoy on the side.

Renting a space to cook might be my best option to get above-board, because I SURE don't want to get in trouble, and my next cake is for 250...strangers...

DH commented, when I mentioned churches to rent from, that it would be like, um, "money changers in the temple" or something along those lines...but wouldn't churches usually be willing to rent their kitchens out if they aren't otherwise being used..?
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
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www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
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post #21 of 57
5/13/06 at 2:53pm
The tax id is the # you need in order to buy tax exempt and then turn around and sell things to consumers. It has nothing to do with being allowed to sell cakes from your home. You are allowed to sell products from home just not those you have cooked there. I hope you can find a place to rent. Good Luck with that!
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post #22 of 57
5/13/06 at 3:10pm
I'm curious if people have found places who will rent their kitchen on a "per-use" basis...

I am not really interested in signing a rental agreement that will force me to have to make "X" amount of cakes to pay the rent every month...
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
Reply
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
Reply
post #23 of 57
5/13/06 at 3:44pm
"http://www.tdh.state.tx.us/bfds/lic/Licensing.htm"

Personally, after reading this I'm LESS scared than I was before! Some people had actual storefronts and had no licenses for YEARS and their fines were partially or almost totally deferred. Unreal.
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post #24 of 57
5/13/06 at 3:55pm
Homecook, I'm not sure where you are, but there is a place in Austin that a friend of mine was looking into that is $15/hr no min.
Life's too short to drink poison- Alton Brown
I'll start being nicer when you start acting smarter.
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Life's too short to drink poison- Alton Brown
I'll start being nicer when you start acting smarter.
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post #25 of 57
5/13/06 at 4:05pm
Well, it is a long way to Austin from here, lol...

What type of establishment, if I can ask? Restaurant? Bakery? Church? I'm stuck on this--and I'm SO not good at just walking in and saying, "Hi, I make cakes, and I want to rent your kitchen." How'd she do it?
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
Reply
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
Reply
post #26 of 57
5/13/06 at 4:18pm
I was thinking of getting a trailer and turn it into a kitchen to license. I'm in louisiana does anyone know who to talk to there.
Blessed are the peacemakers Matt. 5:9
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Blessed are the peacemakers Matt. 5:9
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post #27 of 57
5/13/06 at 5:09pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by homecook

Well, it is a long way to Austin from here, lol...

What type of establishment, if I can ask? Restaurant? Bakery? Church? I'm stuck on this--and I'm SO not good at just walking in and saying, "Hi, I make cakes, and I want to rent your kitchen." How'd she do it?



It is a commercial kitchen. Not sure on any of the specifics as far as size and what not. I believe he was toying of the idea of catering and was checking into the large scale ideas at the time (this was back in March-ish).

IMHO, I would just walk in and say, "Hi, I'm ..... and I am looking for a site to use on occasion for my cake biz. What do you charge for rentals?"

I'm off the find out about the space around here. I didn't see what area you were from, but I'll see if they know of any others.

I'm really determined to get this worked out. I didnt bust my rear for all this time learning and developing a passion for this to have it all go down the drain.
Life's too short to drink poison- Alton Brown
I'll start being nicer when you start acting smarter.
Reply
Life's too short to drink poison- Alton Brown
I'll start being nicer when you start acting smarter.
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post #28 of 57
5/14/06 at 1:57pm
Puppylove

Good for you! Let me know how it works out. I feel the same way.
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
Reply
www.cakesbystefanie.com
When pricing cake, remember mom's advice: Try taking 150 guests in formal wedding attire to a nice restaurant for dessert, and see if you can get them all a piece of fresh, decadent, custom-designed cake for less than $4.00/sv!
Reply
post #29 of 57
5/17/06 at 5:47pm
Well, I got legal! I found an ethnic hall here that is licenced and that will allow me to bake there. They are charging us $100/3 hours. I just have to hear back from the city and see if my permits are approved.
I cant seem to find anythng online about prep work. Can this be done ahead of time or can I only purchase my ingredients ahead of time? So much to get done and so little time! LOL! Of course, this means I am going to have to increase the price of my goods. icon_confused.gif
Life's too short to drink poison- Alton Brown
I'll start being nicer when you start acting smarter.
Reply
Life's too short to drink poison- Alton Brown
I'll start being nicer when you start acting smarter.
Reply
post #30 of 57
5/17/06 at 8:52pm
puppylove,
looking at your prices, id say they need to go up quite a bit if you're using organic ingredients in your cakes and cookies, your prices are comparable to regular cake, i dont see how you can do it so low. i was looking at organic ingredients over the weekend and they must be 3x as much as regular.
hope all goes well in the kitchen, it seems abit high though.
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