I live in California and I just got my home kitchen application today. After a successful soft launch over the holiday season,  I've suddenly got cold feet! What if... What if... What if...

I guess I just need a boot in the pants, but my hands are shaking and my mouth is dry.

I had to close my biz a few years ago when kitchen rental costs became prohibitive. I guess I'm worried about failure. 

*whew*

anyway, I'm filling out the papers and diving in. A silent thanks to the lobbyists and legislators in CA who finally got this law passed!

Jen

Read these when you get nervous   http://www.inspirational-quotes.info/failure.html

I still have to order my packet, so you're ahead of me!

AElla First off congratulations on taking the plunge. It takes a lot of courage. I too am starting my CFB. I got all of my info online. How did you get yours? My county had a flow chart set up on their website so it was easy to follow.

Good luck

Thank you for the encouragement!

I am in Orange county. I printed the paperwork. It's not even going to require an inspection. Imagine! 

The website for OC is www.ocfoodinfo.com

My stomach is in knots! I'm also changing my pricing since the last time I was in business. No more wasted time on cakes that don't make any money! Minimum orders only! Look out Sprinkles! Here I come!

Jen

i've said this recently somewhere so forgive me repeating myself but we have cottage food regulations here and in my county this does not include decorated cake except out in the unincorporated boonies where my friend has a shop

decorated cake is under catering and it has a whole ton of requirements--like business zoning

anyway

it's all about how each locality adjudicates these regulations

but there ain't nothing in yours about decorated cake either--doesn't use the word cake

i'd recommend that you make a phone call if you haven't already

don't hate the messenger

cottage food laws pertain to products

designed specifically to help growers and people in the region generate tax revenue

"

Q: What foods can I produce as a Cottage Food Operation?

A: The list of foods is very specific and maintained by the State of California at

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/fdbCottageFood.aspx

. Only foods found on this list are

permitted to be cottage food products. All cottage food products must be “non-potentially

hazardous”, meaning a food that does not require time or temperature control to limit pathogenic

micro-organism growth or toxin formation

. If you are in doubt, please contact Environmental

Health prior to producing and selling the product.

Approved Food Products List (January 1, 2013):
(1) Baked goods, without cream, custard, or meat fillings, such as breads, biscuits,
churros, cookies, pastries, and tortillas.
(2) Candy, such as brittle and toffee.
(3) Chocolate-covered nonperishable foods, such as nuts and dried fruits.
(4) Dried fruit.
(5) Dried pasta.
(6) Dry baking mixes.
(7) Fruit pies, fruit empanadas, and fruit tamales.
(8) Granola, cereals, and trail mixes.
(9) Herb blends and dried mole paste.
(10)Honey and sweet sorghum syrup.
(11) Jams, jellies, preserves, and fruit butter that comply with the standard described in
Part 150 of Title 21 of the Code of Federal Regulations. 
*see below
(12) Nut mixes and nut butters.
(13) Popcorn.,
(14) Vinegar and mustard.
(15) Roasted coffee and dried tea.
(16) Waffle cones and pizelles.

great good luck though--hope it happens for all y'all!!!

Aren't you in Tennessee? The OP and other posters are in California, different CFL thus different regulations. ( I would presume).

How did you get the papers, I am looking on line, but all it shows is info about it on the gov website.

Thanks for any help

Paula
 

AHappy for you!!!! But I am glad we don't have cottage food laws here in Kansas! One less thing I gotta worry about!

A

Not that I'm going to do it, but I got the paperwork for the CFO in Sacramento County, and the state paperwork didn't say cakes, but the county paperwork did.  On the Sacramento County Environmental Management website I found a 2 page document that contained basic information.  Listed in approved foods it states "Baked goods such as cakes (without cream), cookies, bread, scones, candies, nuts, granola, etc.  (see California Department of Public Health Approved Cottage Foods list for complete list)."  So if you're in the Sacramento County area, I'd double check with the county to make sure you can bake cakes.  Their office is at the old Mather Air Force Base.....Environmental Health Division, 10590 Armstrong Avenue, Mather, CA 95655-4153, (916) 875-8440, [email protected].

I even went so far as to get the application and everything, but just for informational purposes.  I wanted to know what was involved in it.  They have it broken down into 2 categories - Class A CFO's are only allowed to engage in "direct sale" of cottage food.  Class B CFO's may engage in both "direct sale" and "indirect sale" of cottage food. To get the permit, Class A costs $107; Class B costs $227.  You can have 1 full-time equivalent employee (not counting family members or household members).  I'm retired and a hobby baker.  Thought about doing this, but decided not to.  I think it's a great idea, though.

AThe master list of approved products for cottage food businesses is maintained by the CA state health dept at the site below, the list on the county application is irrelevant since the state's list is codified in the law. The state does not specifically list cakes but since they are baked goods they qualify as long as they are not potentially hazardous (basically nothing requiring refrigeration).

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/FoodDrugandRadiationSafetyDivision.aspx

i wish that were the case in shelby county tn

i have friends who have received cease and desist letters from the local authorities

i would be shocked if the the state of tn ever took action against a caker

here they let the locals take care of that

and in fact i read through some of ca's rules and i know it said subject to local  rules & reg's somewhere

decorated cake is a catered item here-comes under more rigorous rules

these things are definitely defined differently from jurisdiction to jurisdiction here in tn

no debate--this is meant to be just an additional view of the subject

Congratulations on taking that leap! I just printed out all the info online to read over the weekend. I'm also thinking of making that leap. A little nerve wracking thinking my clients will not be family getting freebies. My family is easier to please. LOL. Let us know how it goes. I'm in LA County so I'm sure it will differ from your county regulations. Good Luck!

AThe FCL passed already in CA, you guys could bake from home now?

Yes it did! As of this month!

AI'm writing up a budget and biz plan to build a new kitchen in a different part of the house. My stomach is in knots! But I'M ALSO excited!

The last time I had my sister to handle marketing and my husband handled graphics and websites. This time, i'm divorced and my sister is not in the picture. At times I'm so overwhelmed! But I am going to go against type and stick with it!

AOh wow!! The works! That's awesome! Have you checked with your city? In reading the packet for LA County, they ask for a letter from my cities approval. I checked the cities website & they don't allow home based businesses! BOOO!! But I'm not giving up. I'm hoping the website is just out of date & I'll be stopping by my cities planning dept. wish me luck!

Thanks for the heads up. I happen to live in an unincorporated part of the county, so it all goes through the county.

A

the fire marshall & code enforcement might have a word or two also

they do here

AIf you are in San Diego County, you can get alot of info from www.sdcottagefoods.com Even if you are in another county, there will be information that's relevant statewide, and tips that will be useful for establishing and growing your cottage food business anywhere!

AReceived my permit number today applied 3 days ago

I'm getting ready to submit my permit application. I'm pretty sure you can sell cakes, as long as they don't contain a cream filling. In other words, if you must refrigerate it, say a bavarian cream filled cake, you can't sell it. A regular buttercream frosting cake, that's okay.

Check with your local Health Department. In San Diego, commercial, shelf-stable frostings are ok. Others must be submitted to and approved by CA State Health Department first.