Starting a Cottage Food Business - Help Needed!

Hi, Vartouhi, Congrats on making your first post. I look forward to many more to come!

Hi, again, @Vartouhi. You seem to have at least two questions here. I'll try to tackle each one.

1) Can someone outline the steps to starting a business using cottage food law? I understand that is the key to cookie business.

First, cottage food law only applies to starting operations out of one's home, that aren't as regulated as commercial operations in licensed, regulated standalone brick-and-mortar establishments. I wouldn't necessarily say that starting a cottage food operation is "key to cookie business", as I started a bakery without ever having a cottage food operation. I started by renting space in a licensed kitchen, and, then, less than a year later, I bought my own bakery. So there are many ways to enter the bakery business and to be successful. Certainly a cottage food operation is the least costly and risky way to start out, as you don't have to invest to the same extent in infrastructure, licensing, etc. Yet, cottage food operations are often restricted in the types of products they can sell, and where. Commercial operations aren't subject to the same restrictions because they undergo health department inspections and other licensing hurdles on a more regular basis. So there are tradeoffs to any approach. If you think you want to operate out of your home, some great ways to learn about cottage food laws, which differ widely by state, include: (1) check out this site (http://forrager.com/laws/), (2) google "cottage food law" for your state (your state should have its own site on the topic), and (3) contact your local health department.

2) Julia, in one of your blogs, you stated: "I will take a two-pronged approach with this blog. The first will consist of the mechanics and the second will be mindset . . ."

Actually, I did not write any of what you quoted. It was written by a former contributor to our site, who started (but never finished) her business of baking blog series. The best place to find all she wrote is under "The Business of Cookies" section of our blog (http://cookieconnection.juliau...-business-of-cookies). You'll find other useful business articles there, written by others, but none written by me.

@Vartouhi  - hi! I'm going through the process of getting a Cottage Food certification and business license myself. If I can just say, is not that easy at least not in Georgia, where I live.  Like Julia said goggle "Cottage Food Program" for your state, or go to the Department of Agriculture site for your state, as that's where this program falls under. 

The requirements vary from state to state. Some states are more strict than others... GA seems to be on the strict category. 

Here's a really good FB group to join - The Foodpreneur Institute - https://www.facebook.com/foodpreneurinstitute/ The group was created by 3-4 Cottage Food operators to teach bakers how to obtain the certification and share relevant info about the industry, as well as some regulations across the US. 

This webinar also gives you a good in-depth overview of what the requirements are -- but remember, requirements vary from state-to-state -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb29UPDI708

Hope this helps and much success!

Linda Velez-Reblando posted:

@Vartouhi  - hi! I'm going through the process of getting a Cottage Food certification and business license myself. If I can just say, is not that easy at least not in Georgia, where I live.  Like Julia said goggle "Cottage Food Program" for your state, or go to the Department of Agriculture site for your state, as that's where this program falls under. 

The requirements vary from state to state. Some states are more strict than others... GA seems to be on the strict category. 

Here's a really good FB group to join - The Foodpreneur Institute - https://www.facebook.com/foodpreneurinstitute/ The group was created by 3-4 Cottage Food operators to teach bakers how to obtain the certification and share relevant info about the industry, as well as some regulations across the US. 

This webinar also gives you a good in-depth overview of what the requirements are -- but remember, requirements vary from state-to-state -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb29UPDI708

Hope this helps and much success!

Thanks for sharing these great links!

You're welcome!

@Linda Velez-Reblando posted:

@Vartouhi  - hi! I'm going through the process of getting a Cottage Food certification and business license myself. If I can just say, is not that easy at least not in Georgia, where I live.  Like Julia said goggle "Cottage Food Program" for your state, or go to the Department of Agriculture site for your state, as that's where this program falls under.

The requirements vary from state to state. Some states are more strict than others... GA seems to be on the strict category. 

Here's a really good FB group to join - The Foodpreneur Institute - https://www.facebook.com/foodpreneurinstitute/ The group was created by 3-4 Cottage Food operators to teach bakers how to obtain the certification and share relevant info about the industry, as well as some regulations across the US.

This webinar also gives you a good in-depth overview of what the requirements are -- but remember, requirements vary from state-to-state -- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zb29UPDI708

Hope this helps and much success!

Hello!

I realize that the above is an old post, but just tried the youtube link and found it no longer valid.

I did find a current webinar by the CCOF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nox5z_QYQsY that should be of interest to those who are interested in the Cottage Food Laws in the State of California and State of Washington, and those in other states generally.  Full length of the webinar is 1hr 27mins and is dated 4/28/2022.   Note that Federal regulations are also referenced where compliance is required by the Cottage Food Operator for the food product chosen to sell.

This webinar offers those looking/considering to just start operations under Cottage Food Laws (I would definitely recommend watching the whole thing) pertinent details of how to get the cogs in motion.  Cottage Food Laws start at 27:30, State of California Cottage Food Laws start at 32:27, and State of Washington Cottage Food Laws starts at 43:00.

Commonalities with Cottage Food Laws among US States:  Production is only in primary residence kitchen, hand washing sinks available (designated for the Cottage Food operations), not allowed to have carpet in areas of production, countertops have to be easy to clean,  have to have a management plan to restrict kitchen access by pets and children during production, basic requirements for cleaning and sanitation,  approved ingredients sources (56:03)  labeling requirements (59:27), organic considerations  - and labeling (1:01:46), Resource list for those interested in starting a Cottage Food business (1:06:01).

Best to you all in your cookie adventures!

@EAC posted:

Hello!

I realize that the above is an old post, but just tried the youtube link and found it no longer valid.

I did find a current webinar by the CCOF https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nox5z_QYQsY that should be of interest to those who are interested in the Cottage Food Laws in the State of California and State of Washington, and those in other states generally.  Full length of the webinar is 1hr 27mins and is dated 4/28/2022.   Note that Federal regulations are also referenced where compliance is required by the Cottage Food Operator for the food product chosen to sell.

This webinar offers those looking/considering to just start operations under Cottage Food Laws (I would definitely recommend watching the whole thing) pertinent details of how to get the cogs in motion.  Cottage Food Laws start at 27:30, State of California Cottage Food Laws start at 32:27, and State of Washington Cottage Food Laws starts at 43:00.

Commonalities with Cottage Food Laws among US States:  Production is only in primary residence kitchen, hand washing sinks available (designated for the Cottage Food operations), not allowed to have carpet in areas of production, countertops have to be easy to clean,  have to have a management plan to restrict kitchen access by pets and children during production, basic requirements for cleaning and sanitation,  approved ingredients sources (56:03)  labeling requirements (59:27), organic considerations  - and labeling (1:01:46), Resource list for those interested in starting a Cottage Food business (1:06:01).

Best to you all in your cookie adventures!

I appreciate you adding current info to this post! Thanks so much!