Is there anyone on here in GA that has gotten the cottage food permit? I’m in the process and I called my local environmental health office to see if there’s any other requirements for my county (like the cottage food says to do) and he’s telling me I have to apply for a food service permit just like a restaurant would. According to the cottage food you only get inspected upon licensing and if you have a complaint or something they need to check out. The man also said that I would be the first cottage food in our county and he’s going to have to brush up on everything too. He’s acting like it’s super hard to even get licensed for my Home kitchen and it would be better if I built a separate building for my kitchen. Honestly it seems like he’s unsure of the cottage food rules and regulations and is trying to license me like I’m a restaurant. Does anyone have any insight?
No, no, no....I'm in GA. Got my license last year. This is EXACTLY what I ran into. You DO NOT have to do what a restaurant would have to do. The problem is, nobody locally is even aware of the cottage food law and how it works. They tell you it has to go through health dept (it does not)... This is what I did.... I attached a copy of the GA Cottage Food Laws and emailed it to my local officials. Now you can't give up because they will probably try to blow it off to the health dept, etc. I had to educate EVERY single person in the chain of command as to what a cottage business actually is. Even the accounting firm I used had no clue....you will have to clear it (zoning wise) with local city hall, apply to state for license, they will call you to set up inspection (a one time thing). You have to get local business license and sales tax ID from state. Go to website for rules for state of GA. it is SO confusing I cannot tell you. It drives me insane how there is so much red tape to everything.......I'm like screaming in my head...." I just want to make some cakes in my own kitchen" ! Let me know if I can help further.....I had no one to guide me and it was insane.....good luck and remember, do not take no for an answer!
Yes, it seems a little crazy just to try to bake some cakes for local friends and actually get paid for it. He did say I would be the first in our county which really bugs me because I know if two people right off hand that have thriving businesses out of their home and obviously they’re not licensed because we are in the same county. I just want to do this the right way lol. Okay so if you don’t mind shining a little more light on a few thing for me I would greatly appreciate it! By clearing it zoning wise with city hall What do you mean exactly. Who do I need to contact and what would I need to say? Do they come out as well? Do I do that before or after I submit an application for the cottage food permit? Please bear with me but I’ve never dealt with anything like this before. And getting a business license and tax ID? Would that come before or after I get the cottage food permit/license? Thank you!!
First thing is go to state of GA Cottage Food Laws. Print out several copies of the brochure. Take that to your city hall , because if you don't get zoning clearance nothing else will matter. You just have to get their permission to be able to run a business from your home in your city. Then if you are on well water and septic tank, you will have to get that tested and approved. I was on city utilities so it wasn't a problem. Then you go online and take your food handling safety course. I did Serv Safe, it was only about $15 and took about an hour or so and is super easy. If you pass, they send you the certificate via email, it's good for 3 yrs. You print that out to keep with your records. Then you go back online and fill out your application for Cottage Food Business. I think I mailed mine in with the $100 fee. They will call you within a couple wks to set up your kitchen inspection. They will come out and check your kitchen and ask questions ( the details off inspection are on the website) although I was a nervous wreck because my house is not great , but it was easy and they were nice. They will sign off on your application if approved at that time. Then you go back to city hall to get your local business license (cost vary) then you go to the IRS website and get your EIN number and register your business name. Then you need to see an accountant to give you guidelines for small home business, and decide if you want to do an LLC or DBA. You will have to keep up with invoices, your expenses, mileage, household utilities, annual inventory taxes. If you want to set up a separate business checking account you have fill out extra forms for that. Then you have to go to GA sales and use tax website to set things up to file and pay your sales tax either monthly or quarterly. If you are late on that they hit you with HUGE fines. If I had it to do over again I don't think I would have even put myself through the expense and pure hell that is involved. I still have no idea what I'm doing. Most creative people are horrible at business. I too know a lot of local people that do it underground and never get caught. But I'm very honest and wanted to do it right too. I've cried, felt stupid, hit dead ends, gotten mad because the officials couldn't answer my questions, and in the end this business has cost me a fortune ....i promise I'm not trying to discourage you, but just letting you know it won't be easy. Good luck!
bless you, mamageese -- yeah you said it -- i think we are all high on sugar or cake fumes or something to try & do this stuff -- hahahahaha -- maybe it's vanilla vapors ... 
True......just makes me mad because the un licensed bakers don't have to do all this. I read somewhere that the authorities don't crack down on them because the system is so bogged down, they overlook a lot of that . I actually had an official tell me I would have been better off just never saying anything, just keep a low profile and nobody would have noticed. Wish I had listened
Well that stinks for sure! I’m glad you’re being real with me though! I still want to jump through their hoops as I don’t want to have to be paranoid or live in fear of getting caught and fined. I would love to go as big as this business will take me and possibly open a bakery one day but I know I have to start somewhere. Thank you for all of your advice!!
the irony is that what you are saying about the unlicensed hurting cottage bakers is what brick and mortar, mom & pop bakeries always said about suzy homemakers baking unlicensed -- till those fully licensed legal places -- whose owners depended on this income as their entire livelihood -- mostly got put out of business -- as big box baking, grocery store, and cottage baking has come into being --
cottage is the new kid on the block but the same challenge is still there -- it hurts the legitimate ones because everyone can bake and does -- plus the baking aisle at my grocery store has more great stuff in it than you could get in some cake deco stores at one time -- fondant, royal icing eye balls, unique cake pans, cookie former pans, beautiful bread pans, designer cupcake wrappers, sparkley gels ready to write with, etc.
so an industry comprised of free standing businesses that used to support a family is now a side line type job for a family -- but everybody can bake and still does
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