Advice Needed!!! - Cake business from home

Craig_Charles

OK fair enough, seriously thanks anyway, wasn't trying to cause any drama.

tigerliz

Under current legislation, all food businesses must register their kitchens with the Local Authority unless they operate on a 'casual and limited' basis. Best contact your local authority for a full description on what is covered by 'casual and limited'.

heretolearn_2

It sounds as though your OH(?) has reached the point that a lot of businesses that start up as hobby businesses reach; she is doing enough work that she can't pretend it's not really a business any more, but to turn it into a real business and comply with everything she needs to do, takes money and effort.

She needs to decide how much she wants this and either scale right down again to only making the odd cake for friends/family, or that she is going to take this seriously and do things right. This will normally increase her costs - that's why 'real' businesses services are more expensive. At the moment she has no doubt been gaining business by undercutting the real bakery businesses - can she now compete with them on an equal footing? Are her cakes genuinely professional quality? If they are, then she can charge a professional price for them that will enable her to cover the cost of all insurances etc that are required and join the grown-ups in running a proper business instead of playing at it.

Yes, she may need to make some adaptations to her home - but other people do it all the time so that they can run a real cooking/baking business. Yes, she needs to be registered, but you know that. On the mortgage - she needs to speak to her bank. They are not as inflexible as that and it's quite normal for people to run small businesses from home. There is a world of difference between baking cakes and having them collected now and then, and, say, starting up a car repair yard in your back garden. She shouldn't have to change to a commercial mortgage.

Just doing nothing and continuing as she is, is not a sensible choice to make. she could easily end up in serious trouble.

Isabelle

:bdaycake:Hi everyone

I have just decided to turn my cakemaking obsession into a business and the amount of boxes to tick is daunting. However, if this is going to be a viable business, I have no choice!
So I have registered with the local council, had my kitchen inspected and approved (I have a dog and 4 cats!) and I am looking into public liability insurance (which is why I am on here today).

I know of several other business locally who have not done any of this. It's their choice, personnally I have decided to do things by the book!
I want to sell at markets and wedding fayres, and I plan on approaching local coffee shops and farm shops. I don't think they would even talk to me if I hadn't done everything right.
So, does anyone know anything about PL insurance?

Thanks

:j

chalkie99

Hi Isabelle,

See my post on page 1 of this thread - post #17.

Markets, church halls, etc., will probably expect you to have a Public Liability policy but that won't cover you if little Johnny chokes on a nut or goes down with e-coli :eek:

texranger

Isabelle wrote: »

:bdaycake:Hi everyone

I have just decided to turn my cakemaking obsession into a business and the amount of boxes to tick is daunting. However, if this is going to be a viable business, I have no choice!
So I have registered with the local council, had my kitchen inspected and approved (I have a dog and 4 cats!) and I am looking into public liability insurance (which is why I am on here today).

I know of several other business locally who have not done any of this. It's their choice, personnally I have decided to do things by the book!
I want to sell at markets and wedding fayres, and I plan on approaching local coffee shops and farm shops. I don't think they would even talk to me if I hadn't done everything right.
So, does anyone know anything about PL insurance?

Thanks

:j

try

GM IMBER

they specialise in insurance for those doing markets/fairs

greyteam1959

So I have registered with the local council, had my kitchen inspected and approved (I have a dog and 4 cats!) and I am looking into public liability insurance (which is why I am on here today).

If you were going to supply my business with your cakes & I came to see your product before stocking it in my farm shop I would never never ever even consider it if I saw animals or pets of any sort on the same premises.
Get real........

Isabelle

Mervyn

Are you say that the Environment health inspector didn't know what she was doing?
Do you think I would jeopardise my business buy allowing pets where I cook?

Luckily, not everyone is as narrow-minded...

Thanks for the support everyone else!

Isabelle

Chalky, thanks for the advice, that makes much more sense!
x

greyteam1959

Horrible just horrible....
You are right to seek public liability insurance.
One animal hair in any of your products & you will be in real trouble.
Not narrow minded just giving you the benefit of my 30 years in the food business.
Take it or leave it............