What to do, what to do, what to do...
I was hoping to get some input from the wonderful people on here about a dilemma I'm running into.
It is my understanding that in Wisconsin you may not have a bakery or cakery in your home. Period. Restaurants will not let their customers bring in items that were baked either in the customer's home or anyone else's home. It is a health code violation and an insurance risk the restaurants are not willing to take. This equals no wedding business for me basically. And no large orders.
I had a line on a commercial kitchen at a spa that was also a catering company, but the owner is having health issues and has put the business up for sale. She has said I could move my stuff in and work from there for a % of each cake, but I don't want to get settled someplace only to discover the new owners aren't willing to work with me; or they end up closing the doors completely and I'm out on the street starting over again.
I'm a one-person operation and don't have the volume or the capacity to crank out the kind of volume it would take to cover the expense of either purchasing a storefront, or paying a monthly rent/utilities/etc. on my own space. I live in a small town. I can't charge $100 for a 9" cake, no matter HOW beautiful it is. I really wouldn't have any customers then.
I guess I'm just frustrated and venting.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Eileen S on
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So I'm encouraged. My father-in-law put me in touch with a local businessman with connections all over town. We spoke on the phone and he seemed luke warm to my idea; he said he knew a few other people in the area doing what I'm doing "under the radar" and making a modest income at it. I asked him to take a look at my Facebook page and he said "Sure." But I didn't really think he would. Today I got a message from him, the title of which was "WOW!!" He said he's going out of town next week, but he was so impressed that he's already made a few phone calls to people to try and help me out!!!!! Oh please please please, if you could all say a little prayer to your own personal God, that would be greatly appreciated!!!
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Permalink Reply by Pam Carlisle on
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In answer to your question, my children are grown. My husband is very supportive and a darn good dishwasher and maintenance man when I need him. You will not only put alot of time into your business like you would with any new business that you would start up, but everything that you make and then some will go back into the business for several years so be sure that you can do without a paycheck for awhile and don't go into this with your head itno a cloud. You'll realize the difference between a hobby baker and running a legitimate business pretty quick. You know those friends and clients who you've been giving or selling a wonderful tasting great cake for a next to nothing price will not pay the real worth of what it costs when it becomes your livelyhood. And you will resent spending all your time for little or no pay. You will have to build up a whole new clientele. I'm sorry if this sounds harsh, just the way it is and certainly was for me. If you try and compete with the grocery stores and other home bakers you will fail so the key to success...you need to have a nitch that the public can't get from them. Spend some time making a great website to showcase your talent, if you build it they will come. (Some humer in an otherwise serious subject). Seriouisly you will lose some money if you are not committed and do your research first. Pam (Jeremiah 29-11)
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Permalink Reply by Diana Viera on
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Eileen ~ that is good news! I will not only keep my fingers crossed but toss in a prayer to the "Bakery" Gods! (I don't know if there is ever such a God but I add him to my prayers every night.) I really hope his person comes thru for you. Please keep us in touch:D
Pam ~ the one thing I did not do was start low on the charging. I am charging people as if they were going to pay someone who owns their own shop. That advice I took from two of my instructors because they loved my work so much. Surprisingly enough, people are paying for it. So we'll see. I am happy that you did post your comment for us as it is a realistic look into the future. Even though I started with the "decorating" portion of my baking in January, I am finally seeing the profits coming my way.
By the way ladies, have any of you signed up with the Chamber of Commerce in your town? I heard it was a good idea for someone who is starting out and looking for connections. It is a good place to test your cakes on people in your community who are also hoping to create some type of business and you will know what is happing in your town at the same time. I believe that they will also help you with ideas of where and how to start out. I haven't as of yet. I was told that it costs $200 per year, here where I live. Not bad I don't think.
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Diana, I don't mean to sound discouraging because if you truly have a passion and talent for this business, you will find a way to make it work and hopefully legally so you can take your business to that wedding/specialty cake level. I probably have 1 or 2 people walk into my shop every month wanting info on how to start their own cake business. They do a few cakes for family and friends and make a few dollars off it and think that they are making a profit. It takes more than a few dollars to maintain a shop and build your business. Just the voice of experience coming out. Enough said.
In our town we have the Chamber of Commerce and A Downtown Merchants Asscociation. I chose to go with the Merchants Assoc. They are a great group of business owners like myself who work hard at promoting business to our area. We just added a website last year. Unfortunately our Chamber isn't as business friendly as you would think. I have made some good connections with our local Bridal dress shop and Children's consignment shop thru it. They both hand out my cards and recommend me to their clients. Pam
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Eileen, I wish you the best of luck in your decision and will keep you in my prayers. I've been on vacation this week with my visiting 8 year old grandson and he has really kept me hopping. I'm not sure at my age that I could successfully run my business and take care of him also, Ha! They sure keep you going! Pam
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Permalink Reply by Wes & Jaci on
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So from what i am reading , the only way to sell your own cakes is to open rent a building and open up a place, to put your cake decorating supplies in and bake cakes there you cant do it at your home ? I live in montana, and i knowi am a beginner but i do want to get good enought to sell my cakes, and succeeed int his cake decoraitng
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Jaci - it varies by state. You can look up your local regulations. You can't legally operate a bakery out of a residence in Wisconsin. You can use a house if you bring the kitchen up to health standards and nobody is offcially living at that home, and it is zoned for business.
Wes & Jaci said:So from what i am reading , the only way to sell your own cakes is to open rent a building and open up a place, to put your cake decorating supplies in and bake cakes there you cant do it at your home ? I live in montana, and i knowi am a beginner but i do want to get good enought to sell my cakes, and succeeed int his cake decoraitng
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