What do I need to sell food?!

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>You should contact your state agriculture department and ask for the "food" people...literally. Most states have a food and dairy division that specializes in the kind of thing you want to do. You get your kitchen certified by the state food inspector as a "certified kitchen." This means that the state has inspected your kitchen and the kind of food you wish to prepare and approves. You should also check with your agricultural land grant college in your state and see if there is a department of food science and technology. Ask for the agricultural food extension technologist. If you don't have a food science program in your state, you can check with the university or college and see if they have a home economics department, speak then, to a human nutritionist. You want to learn the basics of handling foods safely and sanitarily. Get some basic education first...these are probably the most important steps you can take not only to protect the public but yourself (from liability). Third, check with your county and city and find out their requirements. Most counties that I know of where I live each have a FOOD HANDLERS LICENSE. You have to pass a test after studying a booklet on basic food sanitation and food safety practices. You get your food handlers license. Then, with the certified kitchen certificate from the state and your food handlers license from the county, you can go to your city and get a business license that allows you to open a sanitary (bakery???)...whatever you want to do.

Summary: State Certified Kitchen license...then State Food Science, get some training, or home economics department...then, county food handler's license, take test and pass...then finally, get a business license from your city.

Those are the basic steps to running a small food business.

Of course, all the OTHER things you have to do with any buisness also apply, like taxes, accounting, rent, etc etc....

It depends on where you live. Not just the state. Different counties, cities etc have different laws as well.

In some areas, small home production is allowed when the baked goods are sold at farm stands and similar venues. That's not all areas though.

If there is no exception for small home bakers in your area, then you will need lots of licenses, your kitchen may have to be inspected, etc. As one person mentioned, local commercial vs residential zoning laws may also come into play.

First thing you will need is a minimum 5 million dollar liability insurance policy. You need a business license, a health permit (they will come and go over you house and kitchen with a fine tooth comb), you need to find out what your city's zoning code is concerning businesses run from your home etc.

1.you need food to sell.
2.you need customers.
3.you need to be clean.
4.you gotta wash yo hands cracka!
5.you gotta have a clean kitchen.

IM IN SUMMIT IM SMARTICLES!