I'm thinking of selling homemade treats at my job. What do I need to know?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am not a "troll" - i am a teacher! and i was serious. i wans't going to knock on classroom doors in an apron with my tray of goods. i was going to offer them up free in the teachers' lounge and then if someone liked them they could do an order and i would deliver the items to them. i dont' really see how that's all that different from doing mary kay or something and teachers eat each other's food all the time. there is a constant stream of cookies and cakes and other stuff in the lounge that we all eat and no one is kicked out because they offered food without having their kitchen inspected! you all are way over the top.

You can call it what you want but you are not supposed to solicit in a school workplace for many reasons already mentioned here. Offering "free" food in the teacher's lounge is quite different than selling food products for financial gain.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am not a "troll" - i am a teacher! and i was serious. i wans't going to knock on classroom doors in an apron with my tray of goods. i was going to offer them up free in the teachers' lounge and then if someone liked them they could do an order and i would deliver the items to them. i dont' really see how that's all that different from doing mary kay or something and teachers eat each other's food all the time. there is a constant stream of cookies and cakes and other stuff in the lounge that we all eat and no one is kicked out because they offered food without having their kitchen inspected! you all are way over the top.

So a colleague walks into the lounge and eats a cupcake next to a sign that says, "Enjoy! Made these last night. --Larla" How would people know to make an order? Oh, wait, you'd have to tell them. You would have to communicate that you'd be happy to take an order to bake some more cupcakes for a price. THAT is called soliciting.

As for the Mary Kay, that's also a no-no. If colleagues are doing it at school, it's not okay and should be reported. Now if you and a colleague are hanging out after work at the TGIFridays, and Madge says, "Hey Larla, I'm selling some Mary Kay. Do you want to place an order?" that's a different story.

[Anonymous]

I'd assume you were in dire financial straits.

I'd worry you were one step away from panhandling.

I'd think you'd have too much free time to do all this baking and cooking.

I'd judge you as a cheapskate to nickel and dime your coworkers in such unprofessional manner.

I wouldn't eat a thing you brought in because if you are this irrational and socially unaware, what much your kitchen look like? If you think nothing of charging colleagues for cupcakes and stews, perhaps you also think nothing of disinfecting your countertops, washing your hands, storing food at the correct temperature.

What's wrong with you, OP? You aren't very astute and lack common sense. Time to find another career.

[Anonymous]

(I'm not the OP) My coworkers love when I make soups and cupcakes to share at work. They often tell me to quit and open up a bakery, cafe, food truck, etc... I have had a few coworkers offer to pay me to make cupcakes for their children or spouse's birthdays, but it has never worked out due to my flex schedule/days off. Thank goodness!

Enjoy the accolades when your coworkers compliment your cooking skills, but don't try pan-handling soups & cupcakes in the workplace. If you are serious about doing something on the side, look into how to do it health department-wise and maybe start out at the many, many Farmers Markets in the area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am not a "troll" - i am a teacher! and i was serious. i wans't going to knock on classroom doors in an apron with my tray of goods. i was going to offer them up free in the teachers' lounge and then if someone liked them they could do an order and i would deliver the items to them. i dont' really see how that's all that different from doing mary kay or something and teachers eat each other's food all the time. there is a constant stream of cookies and cakes and other stuff in the lounge that we all eat and no one is kicked out because they offered food without having their kitchen inspected! you all are way over the top.

What do you teach, music? It's definitely not English.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:(I'm not the OP) My coworkers love when I make soups and cupcakes to share at work. They often tell me to quit and open up a bakery, cafe, food truck, etc... I have had a few coworkers offer to pay me to make cupcakes for their children or spouse's birthdays, but it has never worked out due to my flex schedule/days off. Thank goodness!

Enjoy the accolades when your coworkers compliment your cooking skills, but don't try pan-handling soups & cupcakes in the workplace. If you are serious about doing something on the side, look into how to do it health department-wise and maybe start out at the many, many Farmers Markets in the area.

This was a classic example we had in entrepreneurship class at business school. Basically there's a huge number of people who have a good cookie recipe, etc. It's making it a business that's difficult, as then you have to scale it, focus on costs, management, operations, etc. Also friends and family will always comment on how great your stuff is (assuming it's decent), but that's not a very neutral sample of will the market really go for it.

Farmer's markets are a good idea and also stark reality. You pay a rental fee, then you have a few hours to move a lot of product. Only good products do well.

OP is better off tutoring or taking a weekend job.

[Anonymous]

The Soup and Stew and Salad thing I would stay far away from.

Too much liability in that type of food.

[Anonymous]

Not a teacher here....the only think I have seen sold are popcorn for boy scouts and girl scout cookies.

[Anonymous]

Based on my experiences as a teacher and tutor, I can't imagine that you could make more money baking, wrapping, and taking treats to school than tutoring.

[Anonymous]

In MD you can't operate a food business out of a home kitchen unless you are on a farm and fall under certain thresholds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:i am not a "troll" - i am a teacher! and i was serious. i wans't going to knock on classroom doors in an apron with my tray of goods. i was going to offer them up free in the teachers' lounge and then if someone liked them they could do an order and i would deliver the items to them. i dont' really see how that's all that different from doing mary kay or something and teachers eat each other's food all the time. there is a constant stream of cookies and cakes and other stuff in the lounge that we all eat and no one is kicked out because they offered food without having their kitchen inspected! you all are way over the top.

What do you teach, music? It's definitely not English.

certified for preschool to grade 8 and ESL!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:HR Bitch here: There's no soliciting in our offices. You could wind up fired if you did this at my company.

this is completely off topic, so my apologies for thread hijacking. if your company has a blanket prohibition against solicitation on company premises, the rule violates the National Labor Relations Act. FYI.

[Anonymous]

Food lawyer here: these are big assumption but assuming that your school doesn't have a policy against soliciting and assuming you don't make your coworkers feel totally awkward again big assumptions...

you would need to have a valid food handlers license, apply and be accepted at a food incubator to use a license commercial kitchen, have insurance, and of you really want to gulf the lily, have your labeling per regs, including nutritional labels.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:i am not a "troll" - i am a teacher! and i was serious. i wans't going to knock on classroom doors in an apron with my tray of goods. i was going to offer them up free in the teachers' lounge and then if someone liked them they could do an order and i would deliver the items to them. i dont' really see how that's all that different from doing mary kay or something and teachers eat each other's food all the time. there is a constant stream of cookies and cakes and other stuff in the lounge that we all eat and no one is kicked out because they offered food without having their kitchen inspected! you all are way over the top.

That is not what your title implies, nor what your first post stated.
I would expect if you decide to go ahead that you might get a couple orders from friends (like buying a tube of lipstick from Mary Kay friend party) but for a long term business that is not going to be profitable

[Anonymous]

Who the fuck would want to buy stew or salad from a co-worker? I wouldn't even want that for free.