I want to sell cupcakes and cakes from my home in England. What do I need to do to make it all legal?

[jorian23]

Hello, I want to start a small cupcake and cake business from my home. I'm awear i would need a health and safety certificate to show my standards of hygiene but I live in rented accommodation so wondering what the rules are about that too. Is it as simple as just speaking with my landlord or would I need written conformation? And also would I need to inform the inlnd revenue? As I believe I'll earn under the £8000 tax free pay bracket, but I was thinking about getting myself a normal part time employed job as well soon because my daughter goes into nursery in septemember and means I'll have a lot more time on my hands to do some hard graft with. I can't throw myself into my cake business just yet, because I'll obviously need to provide for my daughter in a way that's not going to come falling down at my feet if it all goes terribly wrong. But I do want to start small with the idea of getting big by building up my clientele and then moving my business into a shop once I've got enough orders coming in. Im just posting here because I want to make sure I've ticked every box before I start. So any advice would be much appreciated. Thankyou x

[hussein]

You need the permission of your landlord. If he has a mortgage on the property then he needs the permission of his mortgage lender to use the property for commercial purposes. The building insurer needs to be notified and the premium may go up. And yes, you MUST get something in writing from the landlord otherwise he could later claim that you are in breach of contract.
If you want to have customers coming to the property then that takes the whole thing onto a whole new level and there will be issues with the local council regarding trading in a residential area, neighbours can object to the increase in traffic and noise, insurers can object and charge the property as a commercial property.
You also need public liability insurance in your own name - not a legal requirement but sheer stupidity to trade without it.
Yes, you do have to inform HMRC that you are earning money, and you have to keep adequate records - even if your earnings are below the tax threshold you are still legally required to do this.

[vanaken25]

Ask your local council if there is a business start up course available. I went on one recently in Wales
and it explained how to set up everything and how to deal with your finances and taxes etc.
If they cant help you go to your local job center and ask if they have any info
:)

[sebastiano53]

Who would want to buy cakes from your grubby flat after you clean infant dribble or vomit and then don't even wash your hands to make the mixture? Not to mention all the contaminants and small hairs that would get into the product, your idea makes me sick.

[edin]

Why not start a small catering business. Like snadwiches etc. for business meetings. There are lots of small business that don't have catering facilities.

[tate8]

As well as Calas good advice about the Landlord your kitchen will have to be inspected by an Environmental Health Officer from your local Council. You might have to make alterations which could prove difficult in rented accommodation.
You have 3 months and 1 day to register as self employed in the UK but you must keep accounts from day 1. ie: outgoings, income. so you could give it a try first.
You must have a Food Hygiene/Health & Safety certificate and a knowledge of current food regulations. Also Public liability Insurance.
Sorry the food industry is highly regulated here, not as simple as just making cakes and selling them.
UK