My husband thinks it is a good idea to open a business... so now I have to start thinking of where to start.

I'll get the info from the health dept and what not. Anyone have any other tips?

I don't have any tips just want to say....It is so awesome that your husband is so supportive!!! And best of luck to you!

If you are looking for equipment try the school system - if they have just built a new school then sometimes they let equipment go for cheap!

Good luck!

The rules are tough in California. You may be able to build a kitchen in your garage, it would be less expensive than trying to open a store front. I don't know if California will require a separate building, or just a separate kitchen. Take a look at my kitchen in my gallery. I was able to use the garage-I had to create a separate entrance.

Also, look at small restaurants/lunch places, that don't do their own pastry work. You might be able to rent space, or trade goods for time in the kitchen.

The advantage to a kitchen 'at home' is the ability to work odd hours.

good luck...a supportive husband is fabulous

Good luck!

Your cakes are beautiful. Its great to have such a supportive husband! so.....that being said....

TIP #1: Make sure it's something YOU want to do because it's a lot of work, not just the cakes but making it into a business and all that goes along with it. If you're doing it because someone else thinks its a good idea.. it may take the joy out of your craft. But if it's something you also want to do...GO FOR IT!!! JMO. The health dept. and/or the dept. of Agriculture and markets is a good place to start. They will provide info to help you make some important decisions.

I would LOVE to hear what you find out or any good websites you find. I also live in California (Placerville), and a bakery is something I can really see myself loving! I have been trying to navigate the state's website and am having a difficult time finding the information I need.

You will also have to contact the IRS for an EIN, and go to code enforcement and zoning in your city/township.

Theresa

In Fresno the only cake supply place is Michaels Crafts, the party store or JoAnn Fabric superstore. To say the least, their selection is VERY LIMITED!

So I want to open a store front to sell cake supplies. I am a full time math teacher and don't want to quit my job so I won't be opening a bakery in the traditional sense. I'm going to build FOUR kitchens and several work stations to allow people to RENT them.

I figure there has to be a ton of people who make cakes as a hobby and who want to sell a FEW cakes a year to support their habit but not enough to pay thousands and tens of thousands to build a totally seperate kitchen, not to mention the insurance and health inspection and business licence... totally not worth it if you are making 5 wedding cakes a year! Not even worth it if you are making 12!!!

So I got to thinking about Mary Kay, Tupperware and Pampered Chef, they hire independent contractors to do business, so I want to do something sort of like that. Hobbiests can run their "business" out of my business! They can be legal and work as much or as little as they want!

I can think of a thousand other uses for the kitchens besides cakes too! I envision being pretty busy at the holidays with people making cakes and cookies and need additional ovens or counter space!

Also I will have supplies for rent so people can come in and make a personal customized cake by 1) bringing in their own cake (they can't sell it, personal use only!) 2) making the cake there or 3) buy a cake blank from me. I'll have filling, frostings and cake blanks available for people. Not to mention professional supplies like a GOOD cake torter, not that junky Wilton one! So there will be a lot of different options for how to utilize my kitchen in conjuction with their own kitchen OR just use my kitchen 100%

I'm meeting with my accountant pretty soon, I'm going to Stanford for a week for an AP Statistics seminar...... boy am I going to be mentally distracted while I am suppose to be learning teaching techniques! so we have plans to meet when I get back. My realtor is looking into a space that I want and I am going to go to a meeting with the Central Valley Business Incubator when I get back, they can help me know what business things I need to consider and help me know where to go!

I need to know a LOT of things! OMGoodness, my mechanic (good friend) pointed out I need to check out how much CURRENT the place I would rent can pull in, he crunched some numbers to figure out minimum voltage...

Anyone who has started a business, how did you get suppliers? I know about SYSCO, but how do I get Wilton and other places to sell me cake circles and stuff for wholesale prices?? Anyone have tips on how to get a business loan? I have $30k that I can use as seed money but I"ll probably need more than that.

Oh, FYI, I have someone to run the store for me since I have a job already!!!!!!!! Someone has to keep teaching math to those high schoolers

THANK YOU THANK YOU for your help and suggestions!!

I was inspired by someone on this site and actually approached one of the deli's that does some baking... I had noticed a couple of months ago that they had a couple of dummy cakes on display and then when I went in again recently they were not there.... soo I asked the owner when I was there about it and he wants me to call him next week to discuss... I am so very excited.. He said they did only a couple of cakes a week which would be great practice also. They have a really great kitchen/bakery area and I am hoping I will be able to use it for my own cakes also... Say a little prayer that it will work out... Thanks for all the support and encouragement on here.....

I was actually thinking about doing this the other day...I would love to learn about this venture. I am thinking I will PM you...as soon as the baby stops nursing...

I don't have a business yet so I hope this doesn't count as advertising. But I went ahead and bought the domain name: www.selfservebaker.com

I want to feel like I am making forward progress and that I am serious. Could I pick a worse time of the year? School starts back in 2 weeks and I have to make math lessons and decorate my classroom... oy! At least I am a seasoned teacher and have a bag of tricks to pull from. But I hate doing the same thing year after year, I try and be more creative than that! So... now I will just have to squeeze the business details in between my teaching job!!!

congrats! That's such a good idea, I wish you were in my area.

Have you done your business plan yet? It helps to put everything down on paper like you are approaching a bank or other investors about your business idea. It will help you to focus as well on what you really would like to do with your business. I am still in the process of writing my plan. Now that I'm in Baking & Pastry school, my ideas seem to be endless on what avenue I could take with my business.
Just a thought.
Leslie

I keep meaning too... I work full time and am pregnant with my 3rd child.... but I wouldn't start without one! The equipment I purchased was such a good deal, even if I decide the business can't be successful I can at least get my money back when I sell it.

Went around looking at the places for lease near my house today, boy most of them are dumps........ cleaning those joints up would probably be my biggest expense! I think I'll ask the landlord for a couple of months of free rent. These places have been vacant for a long time so it isn't like they are out anything........

Still praying about where to go from here and if I should go...