Hi guys,

I was wanting to know if any of you have any advice for starting a new cake business any tips or advice would be great.

thanks guys,

Linda

Start with a business plan, including an analysis of your target market, local economic conditions, competitors, startup costs, required overhead, product mix, target distribution channels, and pricing structures. Some states allow commercial baking from home, which will help with overhead, but most states require a licensed and inspected commercial kitchen, which you can build yourself (sometimes on your own property) or rent.

If you don't have a background in business (or plan to take business classes to acquire that background), I recommend partnering with or hiring someone who does.

reading this awesome book is a great start

http://www.amazon.com/dp/1453891277/?tag=cakecentral-20

good luck and happy decorating!

Please do not think I am trying to discourage you, but the first thing you need to know is how much competition you have in your area.

Theresa

Business plan definitely. The exercise of putting this together will give you all the numbers, demographics, competition info, etc., that you need. If you subscribe to CC magazine, I did an article on business plans. You can also contact your local SBDC and SCORE groups who provide free and low cost classes on how to do this.

Another book I really like is The e-Myth by Michael Gerber. It kinds shows you that running a cake business and liking to decorate cakes is NOT the same thing and why. It's common sense but sometimes it just needs to be said.

I think the best thing you can do is go work in a bakery for six months. Intern if you have to at first. Negotiate with them that you will intern for a month and if they like what you, er, bring to the table, you will continue to work for them for X dollars.

You really cannot know what it is like until you have spent that long in the bakery. Seriously. It will be the best lessons and it will let you know if this is what you want to do without having to invest your money. Keep your head down and keep quiet as much as possible to just soak up every bit of knowledge you can. You will never get this stuff in a book. I read a bunch of them and they did not prepare me for what I learned on my own feet in my own bakery.

Trust me on this...I wish I had.