Home bakery selling bread and baked goods

Neighbors, local families, coworkers, farmers market shoppers and people ordering for birthdays and small celebrations.

Price per loaf, dozen or cake, paid at pickup, at market stalls or through pre-orders. Custom cakes and weekly bread subscriptions bring higher and steadier sales.

• Baking and recipe consistency
• Basic cake decorating or bread shaping
• Costing and pricing your products
• Customer service and order tracking

• Check whether your state allows cottage food sales and what products, sales caps and labeling it requires
• Check whether your city or county requires a business license or home occupation permit
• Check HOA or lease rules before running a business from home
• Consider general liability and product liability insurance, and be careful with allergen labeling
• Some states restrict items needing refrigeration, such as cream or custard fillings

Startup costs are typically around $500 to $3,000, depending on the equipment, ingredients, packaging, labeling and insurance you need. Since you bake in your own kitchen, these estimates will vary with the products you choose.

Monthly revenue is typically around $400 to $3,000, depending on what you bake, your prices and how many orders you take from neighbors, farmers markets and online. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check whether your state allows cottage food sales and what products, sales caps and labeling it requires. Also check whether your city or county needs a business license or home occupation permit, plus HOA or lease rules and any limits on refrigerated items.