Turn Your Home Kitchen Into a Business (CFO)

Kitchen Brigade a Home Cooking Community. A Cottage Food Operation. A Home Baking Business and what you need to know.

Cottage Food Operation-A Home Baking Business: What You Need to Know.

A simple, friendly guide for aspiring home bakers, No legal jargon, just practical steps and thoughtful suggestions shared with heart and experience curated by Rany.

Thinking of turning your love for baking into a home-based business? Whether you're dreaming of selling cookies, breads, cakes, or goods that are shelf stable there’s a lot to consider before firing up the oven. Here’s a practical guide to help you get started step by step.

1. Do Your Due Diligence: Follow the Rules - Follow the Laws Don't break any laws.

   Don't spoil the movement. We worked hard to support the original California Homemade Food Act (AB 1616)

   
   

2. Reach out to your local health department to understand the specific requirements in your state, county, and or township. Regulations can vary widely, so don’t assume one-size-fits-all. This is your starting point- if you are eligible to apply for a licence & permit.

3. If yes, apply for food Handlers card.

   
   

4. Make a request the Allowed Ingredients List

   Each state has its own approved ingredient list for Cottage Food Operation or Limited Food Establishments. You can usually find this list online—but don’t rely on old versions.

   📞 Call your local health department to confirm you’re looking at the most up-to-date list. Using unapproved ingredients can delay or prevent your approval, so double-check before developing or finalizing recipes.✅ Tip: Create a list of questions and email them they’re incredibly helpful. f you prefer to email; Scroll down, copy n' paste the template and email to your local Health Dept..

   
   

5. Know Your Market The baked goods market is competitive, but exciting. Take time to understand where your product fits in.

   
   

6. Identify Your Customers & Distribution Plan

   
   

7. Think about who your ideal customers are and how you’ll reach them.

   
   

8. Check in With Yourself; Reflect honestly: Is running a mini bakery from your home kitchen truly doable for you? Consider your time, space, energy, and commitment.

   
   

9. Map Out the Logistics From supplies to packaging to scheduling, get clear on what your business needs—and how that might impact your home life.

   
   

10. 🐾 Pet owners: This is important—contact your health department to see if pets will be an issue (in many places, they are!).

"Still Thinking of Starting a Home Baking Business?"

12. Assess Your Kitchen Layout Take a good look around your kitchen and sketch out a basic floor plan.👉 If you’re using something like a baker’s racks, dedicate that space strictly to your baking business. It must be at least 6 inches off the ground to meet most health department standards.

13. Scope Out the Local Competition. Visit nearby stores, bakeries, and markets to get a sense of what you’re up against. It’ll help you position your product and find your unique niche.

14. Develop & Perfect Your Recipes

Purchase the Culinary Bible and a notebook. Start by using the notebook as your creative lab experiment, tweak, and test until your recipes are just right. Once you’ve fine-tuned them to perfection, transfer only your finalized recipes into your Culinary Bible there's also a cost sheet for your convenience)

This becomes your master guide—the foundation of your brand.✅ Pro Tip: Stick to your perfected recipes. Consistency is key to building trust with your customers and establishing a professional reputation.

15. Cost Out Your ingredients in to the Culinary Bible if it helps in pencil then pen.

Your Culinary Bible will include a cost sheet next to each recipe—use it! This feature makes it easy to track exactly how much each batch or item costs to make.💡 Why this matters: Knowing your ingredient costs is essential for setting prices, maintaining profit margins, and deciding if your baking business is financially viable.

💡 —be thorough!

16. Cost Everything Else Once your recipe costs are figured out and you’re ready to proceed, it’s time to price out everything else. This will be an ongoing expense.

Sanitizing supplies, Equipment, Gloves, masks, and other safety gear, Packaging, labels, delivery materials and All the little things (because they add up!)

17. Understand Inspection Requirements

    Any residential kitchen operating under a Home Based Business are required to show and or display their Food Handlers Card, pass a health inspection to receive their Food Licence from the inspector.

    🚫 Skipping this step can put consumers at risk and could lead to fines, penalties, or worse it could jeopardize the entire home-based food movement for others.

    
    

    Need Help Getting Started? For guidance, feel free to reach out and I’m happy to help

18. Food Safety is Non-Negotiable

Just like any licensed food establishment, home-based bakers have a serious responsibility to produce food safely.

From personal hygiene to hand washing, sanitizing surfaces, and maintaining a clean workspace—safety comes first. It’s not just a regulation—it’s a commitment to your customers and your business.

✅ Practicing good food safety is paramount—and it’s one of the easiest ways to build trust and long-term success.

⚠️ Please Note:

This information is specifically intended for those operating under a  under a Cottage Food Operation or Limited Food Establishment license —specifically for perishable baked goods that are shelf-stable and "do not require refrigeration."

This includes products such as cookies, cakes, muffins, breads, and other baked goods that can be safely stored at room temperature.

📞 For a complete and accurate list of approved foods and laws in your area, please contact your local health department or appropriate state food safety authority. *Below is a sample email."

Thank you and good luck on your delicious journey! 🍪👩‍🍳👨‍🍳

Sample *Email Template

Subject: Request for Current Approved Ingredients List – Home Baking Business

Dear [Health Department Contact Name or "To Whom It May Concern"],

I’m in the process of setting up a home-based baking business under [your state's Cottage Food Law or Limited Food Establishment license], and I’d like to request the most current list of approved ingredients.

Although I’ve found a version online, I want to ensure I’m working with the most up-to-date and accurate information. Could you kindly send me the latest version of the approved ingredient list, or direct me to the correct source?

In addition information pertaining to all permits and licences for a home based kitchen.

I Thank you so much for your time and support.

Your Name and Contact number.

⚠️ Disclaimer

Information provided is shared courtesy of Rany and is intended for general guidance only. Rules and regulations are subject to change. Please contact your local or state health department to confirm the most current requirements. Rany assumes no responsibility for any errors, omissions, or regulatory updates.