Anyone run an at home baking business?

[Katlow]

Does anyone have a home baking business who'd be willing to chat with me and answer some questions? I really want to set up shop in my kitchen and sell my decorated sugar cookies but want to be as above board and hygeinic as possible so just want to know where to start really. I've registered on the councils website but just wanted to know the following:

1. I will be making them on an order to order basis, will my kitchen need to be in tip top condition at all times or just when I'm making an order?

1. What will the hygeine officers visit entail and will I get prior warning?

1. Now I've registered, can I begin advertising my biscuits? Or do I have to wait until I've had an inspection?

1. What kind of things will they be looking for in their inspection, or is there an online course I can do to prepare for this?

Thanks for your help, I'm only looking to bring in q few orders a month so not a massive enterprise, just something to supplement my part time income which I can do in the evening when baby is in bed.

I don't run a baking business, and my advice is not exhaustive, but here's what I do know.

You need at least a basic hygiene certificate level 1, preferably level 2. You can do this online, it's very easy.
You need to learn about food labelling, ingredients must be given along with food allergens in bold.
You need insurance.
Some of the things they are looking at is cleanliness, sink accessibility (if you are doing gluten free or nut free etc they will prefer you to have two sinks to avoid cross contamination), whether pets can enter the kitchen, your paperwork for what you've made, when and the ingredients (when they were purchased, use by dates), food storage and refrigeration, cross contamination of raw ingredients if you will be doing savory items with raw meat for example.

That's about the extent of what I know, but it's a starting point.

Business gateway or your councils equivalent will help immensely good luck!