As with any other business endeavor there are certain rules and regulations that govern the industry. These rules and regulations are set by the individuals states and cover the types of items that can be sold, where vendors can sell, how products must be packaged and labeled and much more. There are currently 31 states that allow citizens to bake from home for profit in some form (i.e. selling directly to the public or selling via state sponsored farmers markets). While some states allow bakers to sell commercially, other states have major restrictions. You must check with your particular state in order to get complete details on how, what and where you may sell your products. See a listing of the Cottage Food Law States
For more information on Cottage Food Laws, visit CottageFoodLaws.com
Can I Bake From Home For Profit?
Information about the laws behind baking from home for profit can be evasive to say the least; and knowing where to start looking for that information can sometimes be worse than pulling teeth. The most effective way to get the information you want is to ask the right questions to the right people in the right department. But what are the right questions, who are the right people and what is the right department? Read More>> 
What Is A Cottage Food Law?
The term “cottage” originally referred to the family cottage (home) familiar to most rural communities; and described as a source of pleasure, family bonding, and individual rest and relaxation. When we refer to the “Cottage Food Law” we are addressing legal tools employed by a state government to establish a legal arrangement for low risk food production prepared at a home residence. Read More>>
Cottage Food Laws
There are currently 31 states that allow citizens to bake from home for profit in some form i.e. selling to the general public or only via state sponsored farmers markets; these states are… Read More>>
Working With Kitchen Incubators
There are a number of reasons why a home-based baker would need or prefer to work with a kitchen incubator. If you are not legally allowed to bake from home for profit in your state or if you have indoor pets, you will need to work out of a kitchen incubator in order to stay compliant. There are many kitchen incubators across the nation and new ones opening every year. Read More>>
Resources
- How to Start a Cottage Food Law Movement
- Do you live in rural America? Change Your Local Food Processing Ordinance
- How to Start Your Own Kitchen Incubator
- Get Inspired: Meet Twisted Sisters Barkery
British Columbia – Baking from Home
British Columbia members seeking home food processing and home-based baking information may wish to contact the Public Health Protection office in their area. Read More>>
Ontario Canada – Baking from Home
Canadian members seeking the Health Protection and Promotion Act for food processing in Ontario, Canada should review the information in this section. This law applies to all of Ontario. Read More>>
United Kingdom – Baking from Home
The regulations for home-based baking in the United Kingdom vary from council to council. Bakers may have to submit an application, answer questions about your bakery business and products and participate in a site visit from the authorities regulating your home bakery. Read More>>
