Where to Sell Baked Goods: 7 Profitable Places for Home Bakers

You’ve actually picked the perfect time to start. Friendly state regulations, known as “cottage food laws,” have made it easier than ever to start a baking business.

In fact, a study from Colorado State University confirmed these laws have led to a huge boom in new baked goods businesses.

And you don’t need a fancy storefront or a big budget, making it one of the most enjoyable ways to make money with food.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the best places to sell your baked goods (both locally and online), what you’ll need to get started, and some pro tips I have learned when researching starting a baking side hustle.

Can You Legally Sell Baked Goods?

Yes, you can sell baked goods in many states, thanks to cottage food laws.

Most states have Cottage Food Laws. Think of them as the official rulebook that lets you legally make and sell certain foods right from your own home kitchen.

Now, the only catch is that the rules are different in every single state.

For example, in my own state of Missouri, the law lets you sell baked goods from home without a license, as long as you’re selling directly to the customer and include a basic label that says the product was made in a home kitchen. Every state has its own version of the rules, so it’s super important to check the specific laws where you live.

So it’s important to check your state’s law when it comes to selling baked goods.

But don’t worry, there’s a great shortcut. Instead of clicking through a bunch of government websites, your best first stop is this super helpful map from the Farm-to-Consumer Legal Defense Fund:

Click here to see the Cottage Food Laws in your state.

Once you click on your state, you’re just looking for a few key things:

• Sales Cap: The maximum amount of money you can make per year.
• Where You Can Sell: The rules on farmers markets, online sales, deliveries, etc..
• What You Can Sell: A list of approved items, which are usually shelf-stable goodies like cookies and breads that don’t need a fridge.
• Labeling Rules: What you need to put on your packaging, which is typically a simple disclaimer like, “Made in a home kitchen.”

Getting this figured out is the most important step. It’s your official green light to start your baking business with total confidence.

Where to Sell Baked Goods Near Me

Selling locally is a great way to start small and build loyal customers.

Here’s where most bakers start, and where you can too.

1. Farmers Markets

Farmers’ Markets are perfect for building relationships and getting feedback.

The best part is that people come ready to buy!

Pros:

• Built-in foot traffic
• Repeat customers
• Instant cash flow

Cons:

• Booth fees
• Early morning setups
• Weather can be a factor

Pro Tip: Offer samples! Offering brownie bites can easily increase your sales in a single weekend.

2. Local Coffee Shops & Cafés

Reach out to local shop owners and offer to sell your treats wholesale. It’s a win-win. They get fresh, local items, and you get regular sales.

Your pitch doesn’t have to be anything fancy. Just a simple text or email will do.

Something like this:

“Hi, I’m a local home baker. I’d love to offer a few samples. If your customers love them, maybe we could work something out?”

3. Pop-Up Events & Craft Fairs

These are goldmines, especially around holidays.

What sells well:

• Holiday-themed cookies
• Decorated cupcakes
• Mini loaves and bundt cakes

Look for event listings on sites like Eventbrite or your city’s tourism site.

4. Office Buildings & Co-Working Spaces

Don’t underestimate the power of 3 p.m. cravings. Offer pre-orders or set up a weekly delivery system.

Pro tip: Partner with local realtors or photographers for closing gifts and styled shoots.

Where to Sell Baked Goods Online

Selling baked goods online opens the door to more sales, but also more logistics.

Here are the best places to sell baked goods online.

4. Facebook Marketplace & Local Groups

This is one of the easiest ways to start.

I am sure you know, these days you can sell almost anything on Facebook Marketplace and related local Facebook groups.

While baked goods may not be one of the best things to sell on Facebook Marketplace, you can, in fact, sell them on the platform.

Take a few good pictures of your baked goods, write a short description and get it listed.

Make sure to mention:

• Ingredients (for allergy reasons)
• Pick-up or delivery options
• Order deadlines

If you’re not familiar with it, here are some expert tips for selling on Facebook Marketplace to get the most eyeballs on your treats.

5. Your Own Website or Shopify Store

If you want to grow your baked goods business, having your own online store is a great idea.

Making a website used to be really hard and take forever. But now, with sites like Shopify, it’s super simple. Shopify even handles payments for you, so you don’t have to worry about setting that up yourself.

Here’s what you’ll still need to prepare:

• A domain name
• Great product photos (natural light works best)
• Clear product descriptions and pricing
• Shipping or pickup options for your customers

Pro tip: Use Shopify’s built-in tools to make an order form so customers can easily choose delivery or pickup.

6. Etsy (Yes, Even for Food!)

Yes, I’m suggesting you can sell food on Etsy!

Etsy isn’t just for handmade arts and crafts anymore; you can sell almost anything you make, including food.

Etsy lets you sell baked goods as long as you follow your local laws.

Be clear in your listings:

• What’s in it
• When it ships
• How it’s packaged

Pro Tip: Stick with non-perishable items (cookies, brownies) and use vacuum-sealed packaging.

By the way, if you are new to selling on Etsy, we even have a complete guide to making money on Etsy that walks you through setting up your shop for success.

7. Instagram (Bakers Are Blowing Up on Here!)

Instagram is one of the best places to sell baked goods, especially if your stuff looks as good as it tastes.

You don’t need a huge following to get started. Just post clear, mouth-watering photos of your treats, and write simple captions that tell people how to order.

Here’s what to post:

• Behind-the-scenes baking videos
• Close-up shots of your cookies, cakes, and other goodies
• Stories with polls or order reminders
• Customer shout-outs and testimonials

Pro tip: Make a few highlight bubbles like “Menu,” “How to Order,” and “Pickup Info” to make things super easy for new customers.

Want to take it a step further? You can even turn your account into a free store by adding a link in your bio to an order form or using Instagram’s built-in shopping tools if you get approved.

If you’re wondering how to sell baked goods on Instagram, it all starts with great photos, consistency, and engaging with your followers.

Instagram can honestly make or break your success, especially when it comes to baked goods and food in general, since they’re so photo-friendly and eye-catching.

How Do I Price My Baked Goods?

When you make things to sell, be it handmade arts and crafts or, in this case, baked goods, one of the hardest parts is figuring out how to price your stuff.

You can’t just guess or copy prices from the grocery store. Big stores have different costs and pricing structures, so their prices don’t really apply to your baking business.

So, how much should you charge for your baked goods?

Well, here’s an easy way to break it down so you actually make a profit:

1. Add up your costs: This is everything that goes into making one batch. And I mean everything; the flour, the fancy vanilla, the chocolate chips, plus the cost of your boxes, bags, and stickers. Don’t forget the packaging!
2. Pay yourself for your time: Your time is not free! Decide on a fair hourly wage for yourself. If it takes you one hour to mix, bake, and package, add that wage to your costs (use these amazing kitchen hacks to save time and increase your profit!). For example, if you pay yourself $20/hour, add $20 to the total.
3. Price for profit: Now that you have your total cost (ingredients + packaging + your time), you need to add your profit. A super simple rule of thumb for retail pricing is to double your total cost.

So, the simple formula is: (Total Costs + Your Time) x 2 = Your Retail Price.

By pricing your stuff this way, you make sure you’re not just running an expensive hobby; you’re running a real, profitable small business.

What Baked Goods Sell the Best?

Ok, so how do you decide what to bake to begin with?

The easiest way is to look at statistics to find out what kind of baked goods are the most popular.

No, you don’t have to go looking for surveys, charts, and baking companies’ annual sales reports.

I’ve done the work for you!

Here are some of the all-time best-sellers:

• Cookies (chocolate chip, sugar, decorated)
• Brownies and blondies
• Cupcakes with fun toppings
• Banana bread and quick breads
• Muffins (blueberry, chocolate, etc.)
• Cake slices or mini cakes
• Seasonal treats (like pumpkin bars or holiday cookies)
• Rice Krispies treats and snack bars
• Simple fruit pies or hand pies
• Decorated sugar cookies (great for events)

That said, I honestly think the best thing you can sell is whatever you bake best. Start with your “signature” treat, the one that your friends and family always ask for more of, then build your menu from there.

By the way, since cookies are such a popular category, we created a whole guide just on how to sell cookies from home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Can you make money selling baked goods?

Yes, absolutely! There is definitely money to be made. The profit margins on items like cookies and brownies can be very good. The key is to price your goods correctly so you are covering your costs and, most importantly, paying yourself for your time.

Do you need a license to sell baked goods from home?

The answer is: it depends entirely on your state. Some states don’t require any license under their Cottage Food Law, while others might ask you to get a simple permit. You have to check your local rules (use the map I linked above!)

How should I package my baked goods?

Your packaging just needs to keep your treats fresh and look nice. You can find affordable bakery boxes, clear bags, and plastic clamshells online. Make sure to get some custom stickers made with your business name; it makes everything look more professional!

Can I ship my baked goods to other states?

This is a tricky one. A lot of Cottage Food Laws only let you sell within your state. Because the rules get complicated when you cross state lines, the safest and easiest way to start is by focusing on selling to local customers in your community.

How should I take payments from customers?

For in-person sales (like at a market), you’ll want to take both cash and cards. It’s super easy to take card payments now using an app on your phone, like Square or PayPal. If you sell online with Etsy or Shopify, they have all the payment processing built right in for you.

Wrapping It Up: Your First Step Starts Now

Whether you’re selling your first dozen cookies or launching a full-fledged home bakery, knowing the best place to sell your baked goods can make or break your success.

Honestly, the biggest mistake people make is trying to get everything perfect before they even start. Please don’t fall into that trap. Your kitchen doesn’t have to be perfect, and your packaging doesn’t have to be fancy. You just have to start.

Just pick one thing from this list. Maybe your first step is simply posting in your local Facebook group that you’re taking cookie orders this weekend.

Or maybe it’s finally filling out that application for the summer farmers market.

That first small step is what gets the whole thing rolling.

You already have the most important ingredient: the passion and the skill to make amazing things.

You can absolutely turn this into a business you love. The only thing left to figure out is where to sell baked goods.