Home-Made chocolates sold locally

Market shoppers, gift buyers, holiday and wedding favor customers, and small local shops and cafes.

Price per box, bar or piece, with higher sales around Valentine's Day, Easter and the winter holidays. Custom favors and gift boxes bring higher order values.

• Tempering and working with chocolate
• Recipe testing and consistent quality
• Packaging and basic photography
• Friendly selling at markets

• Cottage food rules vary by state, and some states limit what you can sell, where and how much, so check with your state or county health department
• Labeling rules, including allergen statements for milk, nuts, soy and others
• Home occupation permit, HOA or lease restrictions on running a food business from home
• General liability and product liability insurance, which markets often require
• Selling across state lines or shipping may involve different rules, check before you ship
• Keeping chocolate from melting in summer, especially when shipping

Startup costs are typically estimated at around $800 to $4,000, depending on your equipment, ingredients, packaging and any market fees. Costs vary with how much you scale up your first product range.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $300 to $2,500, depending on where you sell, your product range and your pricing. The estimate assumes roughly 8 hours a week or more.

Cottage food rules vary by state, so check with your state or county health department. Also check labeling and allergen rules, home occupation, HOA or lease limits, insurance, and different rules for shipping or selling across state lines.