Musings from an almost CFO in CA: So now what?
OK, so I jumped right in and applied for a permit to become a cottage food organization. I am excited, no denying that. I was even the first person in the county (Sonoma, that is) to apply. The lady in the office says I should be getting my registration permit next week. So now there's a course to take (food handler), business records to be set up, advertising to be done, pricing to be mulled over and decided upon (yeah, that's a tough one!). Maybe even a web site. As I said, I am eager to get started, but this is a solo operation and the details are many. I would appreciate any bits of wisdom, suggestions, stories of your experiences doing this, etc. (No, I don't think I'm going the farmer's market route, just individual sales--I'm a type A who applied for a type A permit, that is, direct sales).
Hoping to hear from you,
Joyful
Cool! Congrats, great to hear! Keep us posted on how it goes.
Go slow. Your goal is to bake bread and one needs not a website to do so. A website and other various related projects are nice but not essential to baking bread. It is much like gardening, if the first year garden is too big you will likely be discouraged and not all that productive. Focus on the bread, the recipes and the baking.
Have fun,
Jeff
Your comments are so welcome. Just feeling interest and support from fellow TFL'ers is a big boost. As to going "slow," I appreciate that very much. I have a base of friends who have enjoyed my breads and have had encouragement to "go pro," but I still have to keep my perspective. I'm a "grannie down the street," as one commenter remarked, and I'm not interested in 3 a.m. awakenings 4 or 5 days a week. But this is what I love to do!
Joyful
still a joyful baker in a year then you will have succeeded by anyone's standard. Bake well and the customers will come and come back - more importantly they will tell others who will also enjoy your baking. I am so happy for you.
Have no fear !
Hi, Joyful Baker. Congratulations on leaping the bar and getting certified. Have been trying to do the same in Marin County, but I cannot locate the correct county office to do this. No information is available. Can you please tell me the office you worked with in Sonoma, and perhaps their phone number? Maybe I can get to the local office that way.
Many thanks for your information.
Isn't TFL great? Thanks to Cottage Foods Sandie for your entrepreneurial help; I will be sure to check in. Looks like each county has its own peculiarities. Jannie, I heard (lecture by Frederick Smith at The Seed Bank in Petaluma about 3 weeks or so ago) that Marin County is pretty liberal (as is S.F. County) in that locals can buy goods made in other counties (we in Sonoma County cannot). Hope you have luck with the Marin Dept. of Environmental Health (I went to the one in Sonoma County). There's bound to be someone in the office who's knowledgeable and helpful.
Thanks dabrownman, for your encouragement; it's so helpful! You are right that the most important thing is to "bake well" and "have no fear." I will keep those words in mind!
Joyful