Arkansas Cakers! Get in here! :D

I'm trying to compile my checklist of things to do in order to be legit now that Arkansas has passed a Cottage Food law. Could you experienced folks lend me a hand? Here's my list.

Business License
Tax ID number
Liability Insurance (is this required by law or just for peace of mind?)

Anything else? I feel like I'm missing something and have been all over the state website. Thanks in advance for all of your help!

Thanks for all the help! It's been frustrating talking to the city and state agencies. Half the people don't know about the Cottage Food Law being passed so I've been spinning my wheels. Ugh!

Yes, the law does allow for baked items that are "low risk" meaning they don't have to be refrigerated. Now I'm trying to find out if my kitchen needs to be inspected or not. When I talked to the lady in the Environmental Health department she said my kitchen wouldn't need to be inspected but when I talked to someone in the business license department today, she said the City of Little Rock requires it. Aaaarrrggghhh!!! I wish you could just call one number and get all the answers you need, but then that would be too easy wouldn't it? LOL Hopefully I'll get all the answers I need tomorrow.

I did it! I'm legal and legit now! I opened up as a sole proprietorship but will probably change to LLC later on down the line. Here is what I had to do. I'm in Little Rock so things might be different in other cities/counties/etc.

1. Get approval from the zoning department. In Little Rock, it's at 723 W. Markham.
2. Apply for a business license. This office is in City Hall at 500 W. Markham. It's across the street from the Robinson Center downtown on the Broadway St side. I went back and forth over email with the person who approves licenses and in the end her boss told her to give me a license under the cottage food law. It's important to educate a lot of these employees because most of them don't know about new laws being passed.
3. If you're going to be doing business under a business name, you need to apply for a DBA (Doing Business As). This office is the same office where they do marriage licenses. It's in the county courthouse which is across the street from the Robinson Center on the W. Markham side.
4. Apply for a state sales tax ID. This office is in the Ledbetter building on 7th street behind the State Capitol.
5. Get liability insurance. This isn't required, but I would definitely get it for peace of mind.

Hopefully this will help someone else out who's in Arkansas. It was a pain in the rear because I was in my work clothes and heels and let me tell you, all that walking on concrete was not friendly to my feet or my back. All the fees for the license, DBA, and state sales tax ID came to about $180.

CoveredInCake, you're welcome! I don't have a facebook page set up for my business yet but when do get it set up I will add you. This is so exciting!

Oh, and go get your license!

louanne, I understand how you feel. I'd probably feel the same way. Look at it this way, though. You can still do things that us "cottage fooders" can't. You can make and sell goods that have to be refrigerated.

coveredincake, did you get your license?

You're welcome! I'm glad I could help someone else. Good luck to you too!