If you enjoy cooking and other aspects of food, then starting a home-based food-related business might be for you. Work from home with your own home cooking business, selling homemade cheese, bread, pastries, or any other goods you can think of. Our guide on starting a meals to go business covers all the essential information to help you decide if this business is a good match for you. Well, Lynda, we at O are big fans of delicious carrot cakes, so on your behalf we called Stephen Hall, whose From Kitchen to Market is a go-to book for any start-up food company, and Regina McRae, owner of dessert company Grandma's Secrets and author of Taking the Cake. Decide the types of food you will offer, how and where you will prepare it and your delivery method. These ideas are low-cost and easy to implement. You can have business tie-ups with retail stores that sell fresh foods. An entrepreneur's story of setting up a food business from home ... Where you base yourself is a vital decision for all small business owners. You can start small, catering events you can manage on your own or with a couple of helpers to see if a catering business is really something you want to pursue. How to start a catering business 6 steps to starting one from home. Before you start your home cooking business, you should create a plan that establishes your business concept and build from there. Cottage food may not be sold online, by mail order, or at wholesale. For the person who enjoys cooking or baking, learning how to start a food business from home is a great way to combine a hobby with a career. Funding: To sell edibles, there might a few extra hoops you need to jump through in starting your business. Starting your own business can be both a terrifying and thrilling venture. For many, a small food business is a result of a lifelong dream, and for others they are fresh entrepreneurial start-ups. Foods that require controlled temperatures to stay safe and edible are not allowed as part of a cottage food business. Home Baking Business. Photo by Fotolia/Draghicich Start your own home cooking business using these helpful guidelines. 15 Best Innovative Small Food Business ideas to Start in 2020. Home-Based Business If you are starting a home-based food business, you will need to understand the regulations of FDA and your state and local health department. If you are an experienced chef and love spending time cooking for others, starting your own catering business at home might be a rewarding venture for you. If you want to start your own baking business, the most obvious choice would be to open a bakery where you can sell a variety of different creations. Under certain conditions, you can operate a small food business out of your home without a permit. So if you are interested in starting a food business, below are some food business ideas to help you start or expand your existing food business.