Where to Sell Baked Goods: 10 Profitable Places for Home Bakers

From Kitchen Counter to Cash Flow: Smart Ways to Sell Baked Goods and Create a Booming Business.

On a rainy Thursday morning in Seattle, Lindsay Morales stands behind a cozy wooden booth at the Ballard Farmers Market, adjusting her handwritten sign: “Sea Salt Brownies – Small Batch. Big Love.” It’s her third weekend here—and her fifth $1,000 Saturday in a row.

Just a year ago, Lindsay was laid off from a retail job during a round of post-pandemic restructuring. With bills stacking up and confidence waning, she returned to an old comfort: baking. “I started making cookies for friends, and one of them said, ‘You should sell these.’ I laughed. Then I Googled how to do it,” she recalls.

Fast forward to today—Lindsay has a licensed home bakery in Washington state, a 4.9-star Etsy store, and a growing Instagram following that regularly sells out her $30 cookie sampler boxes. “I’m not just baking,” she says. “I’m building a brand, a business, and a life.”

If you’re wondering how and where to start selling your baked goods legally and profitably in the U.S., this guide is for you. We’ve compiled the best places to sell baked goods, plus behind-the-scenes strategies from real bakers like Lindsay, who turned flour into fortune.

1. Farmers’ Markets

Farmers’ markets offer one of the best places to test your products with a ready-made audience that values handmade, fresh, and local food. Most states allow sales of baked goods under Cottage Food Laws, which let home bakers sell at these venues without needing a commercial kitchen.

“The first time someone paid $5 for my scone, I almost cried,” Lindsay recalls. “It wasn’t about the money. It was validation.”

How to Stand Out:

• Create seasonal flavors: Pumpkin spice in fall, citrus in spring.
• Label clearly: Include allergens, and use eco-friendly packaging.
• Offer samples (if allowed): Nothing sells faster than taste.
• Design a great table: Use rustic baskets, chalkboards, and branded labels.

Pro Tip: Start with one market to test demand, then scale to others. Some bakers do multiple markets each weekend and clear $2,000+ in sales.

2. Etsy and Online Marketplaces – Sell Baked Goods from Your Kitchen

Etsy isn’t just for crafts. Its baked goods category has exploded with demand for niche items like decorated cookies, gourmet brownies, and gluten-free treats.

If you can bake it, ship it safely, and photograph it beautifully, you can sell it online.

What You’ll Need:

• State license and Cottage Food Law compliance.
• Knowledge of shipping: insulation, shelf life, USPS/FedEx rates.
• Clear branding: Descriptive product titles, appealing imagery, allergy info.

Example Product Ideas:

• Decorated sugar cookies for birthdays and holidays.
• Brownie gift boxes with handwritten notes.
• Vegan muffins for nationwide delivery.

“Etsy paid my rent during a rough patch,” says Mariah Chen, a Dallas-based home baker who now sells 400 boxes/month. “My bestseller? A triple chocolate cookie with a surprise marshmallow center.”

Read: What Sells on Flea Markets

3. Local Coffee Shops and Cafes

Independent coffee shops are always looking for unique baked goods that pair well with lattes or cold brew. Unlike large chains, they’re more open to local collaborations.

Lindsay pitched her bakery by simply walking in with a free sample box and a printed menu. “Within 48 hours, I had a wholesale deal,” she says.

How to Get Started:

• Make a sample box with pricing tiers.
• Offer exclusive flavors they can’t get elsewhere.
• Ensure consistency in quality and delivery times.
• Provide mini table signage or labels with your brand name.

Bonus Insight: Coffee shop deals usually offer wholesale rates, typically 40–60% of retail. But the consistent volume makes it worthwhile.

4. Instagram and TikTok – Where Baked Goods Go Viral

If you bake beautiful treats, you already have the kind of content that performs well on social media. Visual platforms like Instagram and TikTok can drive traffic to your order forms, DMs, or website.

Strategies That Work:

• Use reels and trending audio.
• Post “process videos” of decorating cookies or frosting cakes.
• Run story polls: “Which cookie should I bake next—PB&J or Snickerdoodle?”
• Offer DM-only flash sales.

“My cinnamon rolls video got 45,000 views overnight,” says Danielle, a Florida-based baker. “I had 83 DMs asking how to order. That’s how my business started.”

Tools to Consider:

• Linktree for order forms.
• Canva for polished content.
• Hashtag strategy (e.g., #seattlebaker, #texascookies).

5. Subscription Boxes

Subscription models offer recurring income and strong brand loyalty. From cookie-of-the-month clubs to seasonal holiday boxes, these services attract gift buyers and snack lovers alike.

What You Can Offer:

• Monthly rotating treats (e.g., “Funky Flavor Friday” cookies).
• Tiered subscriptions: Basic box ($25), Deluxe with merch ($45).
• Gift messages, cards, and referral incentives.

Logistics Tip: Use Shopify or Cratejoy to manage subscriptions, and set a monthly batch limit to avoid burnout.

“We started with 10 subscribers,” says Marcus L., a home baker in Chicago. “Now we have 300, and it covers our rent.”

6. Pop-Ups and Local Markets

Pop-up events at craft fairs, breweries, bookstores, or even yoga studios are excellent for creating visibility and urgency.

Lindsay hosted a “Cookies & Candles” night with a local artisan store in Seattle. In three hours, she sold out her entire stock—$1,500 in revenue, 50 new followers, and three custom cake inquiries.

Best Practices:

• Offer pre-orders online to guarantee sales.
• Make your booth Instagram-worthy.
• Partner with local brands for cross-promotion.

Pop-ups let you charge premium pricing due to the event vibe and exclusivity.

Read: How to Start a Bakery Business from Home

7. Corporate Offices and Co-Working Spaces

Companies often look for catered snacks for meetings, birthdays, or employee appreciation days. Co-working spaces like WeWork or Industrious host frequent events where vendors can showcase products.

How to Land Clients:

• Reach out to office managers with a mini-catalog.
• Offer free samples for first orders.
• Create office bundles: “Friday Donut Box,” “Monday Cookie Box,” etc.
• Some bakers even offer weekly delivery subscriptions for $200–$500/month.

“One real estate office orders 100 cupcakes every other Friday,” says Rachel M., a home baker in Denver. “That one client pays my insurance and rent.”

8. Local Retail & Specialty Grocery Stores

Smaller grocers, farm stores, and organic markets are often eager to stock locally made baked goods. You can sell on consignment or wholesale.

Key Considerations:

• Product labeling compliance (nutrition, weight, date).
• Barcodes and tamper-proof packaging.
• Weekly delivery and invoice tracking.

Start with a local natural food store and pitch limited-run seasonal items like cranberry scones or vegan banana bread.

9. Custom Orders for Events – High Profit, High Impact

Birthday parties, baby showers, weddings, and corporate gifts offer high-margin opportunities. While more time-consuming, custom orders often allow you to charge double or triple your usual price. You can find event listings in your area by searching sites like Eventbrite or local directory sites.

Essentials:

• Tiered pricing menu (e.g., 12 cookies = $48, 24 cookies = $85).
• Booking forms with deposit options.
• Clear terms for cancellation, delivery, and personalization.

“Custom cookie sets for bridal showers bring in my highest profits,” says Jenny from Brooklyn. “And the Instagram exposure is huge.”

You can also partner with event planners or photographers to become their go-to baker.

10. Food Delivery Platforms (in Select Cities)

Some states and cities now allow homemade food delivery under online platforms, or even Uber Eats Local Bites.

These platforms typically onboard home cooks and bakers who meet state licensing requirements. It’s a low-effort way to get discovered.

Just be sure to:

• Research your state’s laws (not all allow delivery of baked goods).
• Ensure proper storage and delivery times.
• Offer popular items (cookies, brownies, bars) with clear pricing.

How to Choose the Right Platform for You

Not all channels are right for everyone. Ask yourself:

Question	Reason
Do you love direct interaction?	Go to farmers’ markets or pop-ups.
Want passive, recurring sales?	Launch a subscription box.
Need to scale fast?	Try wholesale or online.
Great on camera?	Lean into Instagram/TikTok.
Love events and décor?	Focus on custom orders.

Licensing, Legal & Labeling – What U.S. Home Bakers Must Know

Before selling baked goods in the U.S., you must:

✅ Check your state’s Cottage Food Laws
✅ Register your business (often a sole proprietorship or LLC)
✅ Get a food handler’s permit (varies by state)
✅ Label with ingredients, allergens, and production date
✅ Use state-approved delivery or pickup rules

Use forrager.com for up-to-date regulations by state.

What Top-Selling Bakers Do Differently

✅ Focus on storytelling – customers buy why you bake
✅ Invest in branding – from stickers to packaging
✅ Build a loyal email or text list
✅ Offer upsells – “Add a gift box for $5”
✅ Collect feedback – and keep improving

The Future of Home Baking: More Than a Side Hustle

Home baking is no longer just a hobby. In the U.S., it’s becoming a viable path to independence, creativity, and full-time income.

According to the American Bakers Association, artisan baking demand has grown 28% YoY, driven by post-pandemic comfort cravings and support for local businesses.

Platforms like Castiron, Shef, and Instagram Shops are helping bakers monetize faster, safer, and smarter. Meanwhile, more states are expanding Cottage Food laws to include shipping and new food categories.

Final Crumbs: Where Should You Start?

If you’re new to selling baked goods, here’s your starter roadmap:

• Choose one selling channel (farmers’ market, Etsy, or social media).
• Perfect 2–3 core products (like cookies, muffins, or bars).
• Set a 60-day challenge: earn your first $1,000.
• Collect feedback, photos, and testimonials.
• Reinvest in packaging, branding, and new channels.

“I started with $150 in baking supplies,” Lindsay says. “Now I make $5,000 a month and have the freedom I never thought possible. And it all started with a cookie.”

You don’t need a storefront or an MBA. You need a recipe, a little hustle, and the courage to sell that first dozen.

So go ahead—bake it till you make it.