This is the best time of year to make some extra cash by selling sweets and other baked goods for the holidays. With busy schedules and so many people not wanting to be in the kitchen, it is the perfect time to strap your apron on and profit from people willing to indulge their sweet tooth over the next few weeks!

There are 13 states (Alabama, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Utah) that allow home-based baking and food processing for low-risk foods.

Here is a good article that explains the Food Cottage Law and licensing.

Here are a few suggestions:

• What you sell must be REALLY GOOD, bread, cookies, pie, etc…
• Master 2 or 3 things and stick with them , or even just 1 thing!
• Pies delivered the day before Thanksgiving is a good selling point.
• Try to target offices where there are a lot of women that work; they
  are usually more likely buy something fresh and homemade.
• Think of family and friends that work in an office that might be able to give you a foot
  in the door.
• Make a flier and let all of your friends, family and neighbors know!
• Word of mouth is your best advertisement!
• Take a bunch of samples on your first visit and get orders.
• Make deliveries on the same day each week.
• Fudge is a great Christmas item.
• Presentation is everything! Be sure to package them nice, it makes a big difference.
• Offer to ship your goods as gifts, package them well and charge a shipping fee.
• Fall and Christmas festivals are a good place to sell, but you will have the expense of your booth.
• Let your children make the sales pitch, perhaps dress them up with an apron or something…be creative!
• Browse Pintrest and Martha Stewart for ideas.

Also posted over at The Legacy of the Home.