Well, if you do already sell baked goods maybe you can help me or if you are wanting to sell baked goods maybe we can help each other. First of all, let me just say that I love to bake. I'm never so happy as when I'm baking. Not to brag, but I know this is my talent. People are always telling me I need to open a bakery & that is what I want to do. I have worked real hard & finally saved up $20k. I would love to just quit my job right now & attempt to go ahead & open up but am not sure if this will be enough. Has anyone else opened a small bakery?? Is it doable w/$20k? If not, I will hang in there & save more. But if I do need to wait I want to, at the very least, start selling baked goods from home. Is this legal(I live in KY)?

And... Can anyone recommend I good place to get low priced bakery supplies? from the high price items (oven, refrigerators) to the ingredients (primarily- flour, sugar, milk, butter, oil) to packaging & labeling. I have a Hubert Restaurant supply catalog & it is very expensive. Surely there is a less expensive way. Is there a website you can recommend? E-bay? some secret that experienced bakers know?

Some ways I thought I could promote my baked goods by selling from home are:
1. Putting my baked goods in charity auctions- people would be able to get ordering info off the label
2. Word of mouth
3. Newspaper Ads
4. Checking around at local restaurants to see if any would agree to carry my products

I thought about going to some local bakeries & asking to volunteer in exchange for advice & training but had some people talk me out of that, saying it would be tacky & all.

Your thoughts, ideas, & friendship are valued & welcome with me.

You should check with your local health and sanitation department regarding selling baked good from your home. Here in Hawaii, you need to meet specific requirements as far as the type of equipments you are allowed to use and also how well your home should be ventilated to whether or not you should install a grease trap. My mom and I use to bake and sell the goods at a local craft fair and to close acquaintances. I know a lady that rents out a kitchen from a business owner then sells her baked goods from home; that's another way to avoid high priced renovations and purchases. Good luck and I hope you do well.


*mai*:-)

I would recommend talking with another bakery and asking them the questions that you mentioned above. I used to walk to this bakery when I lived right accross the street from them. The managers/owners were super nice so I feel like they would be willing to talk with you about questions or concerns you may have about starting up your own bakery. Since this bakery is in VA, I don't think they would be worried either about giving advice to "competition". Anyways, if you're interested, their website is http://www.love2loaf.com/ . The one that I went to was the Burke Commons Road location.

Hope everything goes well with your new business venture!

Thank-You!! I will get in touch w/them. That was one thing I was having a hard time w/around here. I felt bad about asking a "competitor" for info.

The laws surrounding home-based baking "cottage food laws" are changing everyday. In fact the state of Michigan just passed a cottage food law to allow the production of non-hazardous foods. Please visit http://homebasedbaking.com and chat with the staff, they can help get you started. Good luck!