Home-Baked goods for local cafes

Independent cafes, coffee shops, farm stores, delis and small grocers that want locally made baked goods.

Wholesale price per item or per dozen, usually delivered on a weekly schedule. Regular standing orders give steady income.

• Reliable baking at volume
• Consistent quality and portioning
• Pricing and costing recipes
• Basic bookkeeping

• Many states limit cottage food to certain products and some restrict or ban selling to businesses, check your state rules
• Labeling requirements and possible registration or permit with your state or county health department
• Home occupation permit, HOA or lease rules
• General liability and product liability insurance
• Annual sales caps that some states place on cottage food businesses

Startup costs are estimated at typically around $500 to $3,000, and monthly revenue at around $500 to $3,000, depending on how many cafe accounts you supply and what you bake. These are estimates, not guarantees.

Check your state's cottage food rules: many limit products, and some restrict or ban selling to businesses. Also check labeling requirements, possible registration or permits with your health department, home occupation, HOA or lease rules, and any annual sales caps.

Useful skills include reliable baking at volume, consistent quality and portioning, costing recipes and basic bookkeeping. The idea assumes at least about 10 hours a week, and you should check liability and product liability insurance.