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Home baking and cakes
Home baking can be run from domestic premises and promoted or sold online, but food-business registration and food-safety responsibilities apply. Requirements differ between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, so check the rules for the place where you operate. <a href="https://www.gov.uk/guidance/starting-a-food-business" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">GOV.UK</a> <a href="https://www.fsai.ie/business-advice/starting-a-food-business/register" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Food Safety Authority of Ireland</a>
Open the interactive guide (checklist, video, read-aloud) →In plain words
- Choose a few cakes to make.
- Check the food rules where you live.
- Register before you start selling.
- Write down ingredients and allergens.
- Set clear prices, orders and collection times.
- Start small and keep records.
Who it suits
A good fit if you enjoy baking, can work carefully to orders and are willing to plan around food safety, allergens and customer deadlines. The age limit is not stated; this module uses 18 as a cautious starting point, rather than a stated legal minimum.
People pay for cakes that suit a celebration, taste they enjoy or a particular design. Clear choices, reliable timings and careful allergen information help customers decide whether to order from you.
Step by step
- Choose a small menu. Start with a few flavours or types of celebration cake. List the ingredients and equipment for each one, then estimate the time and costs so you can set a sensible price. About 1-2 hours.
- Check which food authority applies. Decide where you will operate and contact the relevant authority before taking orders. In Northern Ireland, contact your local authority; in Ireland, the competent authority depends on the food and activities, so ask the FSAI if you are unsure. GOV.UK Food Safety Authority of Ireland About 1-3 days.
- Check your kitchen and planned work. Write down what you plan to make, where you will store ingredients and how you will prepare orders. If you are in Ireland, discuss your home premises and activities with the registering body. Food Safety Authority of Ireland About 1-2 days.
- Register before you trade. In Northern Ireland, register with the local authority at least 28 days before trading; registration is free. In Ireland, register with the competent authority before operating. Check the process and timing with the relevant authority where you live. GOV.UK Food Safety Authority of Ireland Food Standards Agency About Allow at least 28 days in Northern Ireland; check timing elsewhere.
- Write down food-safety steps. Set out how you will keep your kitchen, ingredients and equipment safe. UK guidance says food businesses must use HACCP procedures or a HACCP-based food-safety management system. Ask your authority what applies to your operation. GOV.UK About 1-3 days.
- Record ingredients and allergens. Create an ingredient and allergen record for every recipe and update it if ingredients change. UK guidance says to give allergen information before an online or phone order is completed and again when the food is delivered. GOV.UK About 30-60 minutes per recipe.
- Set clear order details. Ask customers to confirm size, flavour, decoration, collection or delivery, payment and how much notice they can give. Keep a written record of what each customer chose. About 30-60 minutes to make a form.
- Make a simple menu and photos. Photograph a few examples in good light and show the prices and allergen information clearly. If you sell online, check that customers can see the required information before ordering. GOV.UK About 2-4 hours.
- Start small and track costs. Accept a manageable number of orders while you learn how long each job takes. Record sales and costs, and check the tax rules for your country as your trading income grows. GOV.UK Revenue Commissioners About 10-15 minutes after each order.
Your first 15 minutes
Choose three products, cost their ingredients, and contact your local food authority to check the registration process before taking orders.
The money
Add the cost of ingredients and packaging, then allow for your time and other business costs. Compare prices for similar local cakes, but do not price below what you can afford to make and deliver; review your prices when costs or workload change.
Example only: one week of cake orders brings in £120; ingredients and packaging cost £45, leaving £75 before other costs and tax. In euros, €150 of orders minus €55 of ingredients and packaging leaves €95 before other costs and tax. These are made-up figures, not typical earnings.
The rules
Home baking and online cake sales can be legal in Northern Ireland, the rest of the UK and Ireland. You must follow the food-business rules where you work. Register with the right authority before you start trading. Follow food-safety and allergen rules. Check the tax and other rules that apply to you.
UK and Northern Ireland
- Food-business registration. In Northern Ireland, you must register with the relevant local authority if your food business sells, cooks, stores, handles, prepares or distributes food. This includes a business run from home. Register at least 28 days before trading. Registration is free. The registration steps also cover home businesses in England and Wales. Check the process with your local authority. Scotland's process isn't specified. Food Standards Agency Food Standards Agency GOV.UK
- Food safety and allergens. In the UK, food businesses must use HACCP procedures or a HACCP-based food-safety management system. For online or phone orders, give allergen information before the customer completes the order and again when you deliver the food. GOV.UK
- Tax. The first £1,000 of your UK trading income each year is covered by the trading allowance. This is gross income before expenses. If your income is above the allowance, tell HMRC. If you need to register for Self Assessment, do so by 5 October after the end of the tax year. GOV.UK Tax Help for Hustles GOV.UK
- Advertising. If you publish paid or affiliate promotional content, label it clearly. For example, use “Ad”. Advertising Standards Authority
- Customer data. If you keep customer details, use the ICO self-assessment tool to check whether your business needs to pay a data-protection fee. If you hold details only for your own accounts and transaction records, you are likely to be exempt. This does not apply to information processed by or obtained from credit reference agencies. Information Commissioner's Office
Ireland
- Food-business registration. Register with the competent authority before you start operating a food business. This includes making, storing or selling food from home, or selling home-made cakes directly online. The right authority depends on the food and activities. If you're unsure which authority applies, contact the FSAI. Food Safety Authority of Ireland Food Safety Authority of Ireland
- Food handling and approval. If you're already registered or approved and then start selling online, tell your competent authority. If you plan to handle or process foods of animal origin, check whether you need approval. Approval may not be needed for every home-baking business. Food Safety Authority of Ireland
- Tax. If you're a PAYE worker, register for self-assessment using Form 11 if your taxable non-PAYE income is over €5,000 or your gross non-PAYE income is over €30,000. Below those amounts, declare it on Form 12 through myAccount. If you're self-employed, you pay income tax, PRSI (Class S) and USC through self-assessment. Preliminary tax is due by 31 October. Check your position with Revenue or a tax adviser. OpenAccountants Citizens Information
- Advertising. If you publish commercial promotional content, label it. For example, use “Ad”. Competition and Consumer Protection Commission
Checked against official sources: 22 October 2026. Not yet reviewed by a qualified tax or legal adviser. General guidance, not legal advice. Check the official link beside each point before you start.
Common mistakes
- Taking orders before checking registration requirements and timing.
- Accepting more custom orders than you can safely complete.
- Forgetting to update allergen information when a recipe or ingredient changes.
- Setting prices without counting packaging, time and other costs.
- Leaving collection, delivery, payment or cancellation details unclear.
AI-made demonstration: this module has a 20-second street-chat video in the interactive guide. The presenter and the people in it are computer-generated, not real people.