Business owners, please help!

I would like to open a home based cake business in about 3 years, I figure that that's a realistic amount of time to plan and save some $$.

I currently reside in Hawaii, but plan to return home (California) in a few years and buy a house that has detached space to bake. I would like a storefront business, but feel this is the best option to start off with. I have been on CC trying to educate myself on the good, the bad and the ugly. So far everyone has been a huge help, BUT there is so much information to take in...where do I start?

There's...

Insurance, recipes, codes, marketing, equipment, book-keeping, pricing, employees, contracts, legalities... I could go on and on and on!

I'm a list type of girl and these unorganized thoughts are driving me crazy. I need some sort of guidance to get me going in the right direction. I would greatly appreciate ANY advice you can give.

i'm not sure, but i don't think you can have a home based food biz in california...call the health dept...or check online.

start saving $$$$$.....and i worked at other bakeries for years before i opened my place, you might wanna start there to see what it's like...see if you'll even like doing it professionally........it's not at all like doing a few cakes at home every now and then....it's high stress and a lot of work, making your overhead.

good luck....you can search the archives here and get a lot of info, this question is asked every couple of weeks or more.

No can do in CA
*Maybe* if the property is NOT in a city.....like a county area you might if it is a completely separate building. But then you get into zoning laws beside health dept stuff. Been there done that

I live in California. I have a separate building next to may house, kind of like a detached garage. I have turned it into a commercial kitchen. Fully licensed. It can be done, but you have to be willing to work hard at getting it. I didn't take no for an answer. The health department said it was extremely rare, but it can be done.

I went to the city manager in my town. I am in a town, not in the country.
I kept saying that I wanted to build a bakery. He kept saying "no you want to build a catering kitchen" I kept saying No I don't want to cater, I want to build a bakery. He said again"no you want to build a catering kitchen, one that you will just be cooking out of and no-one will be coming to your property" I finally got it and said OH YEAH! I want to build a catering kitchen! I received a special home occupation permit and a license. Health dept followed and $30,000 dollars later, I had my kitchen. (let me just state though, that I have some extra land on my property. I am not in a housing tract, so although I have neighbors, there were not a lot of people who would object to it) So you do have to make sure that you find just the right piece of property.

I am finding out though, that you really have to work a lot harder at getting your name out. But I don't have to pay rent to anybody It is mine. I am seriously considering finding a SMALL place to use as a commercial showroom. Being at home has allowed me the opportunity to save on expenses enough to look into a showroom.

There is a lot of excellent information at the Small Business Administration web site about starting a business. There are some free on-line classes, and I think every state has a SCORE office with volunteer business owners and execs who will meet with you and answer your questions. They've been a tremendous resource to me and you can use them even if you don't intend to get an SBA loan. That'll give you a start on the business end of it.