Hi everyone,

I have a started a small baking business, and I always get rave reviews on my products. I'm now learning to make my business "official" and I'm getting professional help with that. The thing is that md y business counsellor has a well established food business (Chef), and is asking me to train him on baking.

I first was ok with the idea, but the more I thought about it, the more I started to worry, mainly because I would be teaching a chef and creating competition with my own unique products.

What do you guys think?

Cheers!!

A chef that needs training in baking????   obviously a SLOW - learner   -   forget it !!

Boooooo  don't do it.  Find someone to assist you, and support your baking so you can grow your business.  The chef can go to a big established business to get in-house training. Or back to school.

sounds like he wants your recipes?

i would no longer use his services as a counselor either--

Run, don't walk.

Red flags are flying.

Liz

I've worked with many chefs who have no idea what's involved in baking. Seems silly, but they are clueless when it comes to basic baking principles. If I were you, I would offer a Basics of Baking class and use recipes from published cookbooks such as the CIA, or William Sultan's Practical Baking text. If he only wants your recipes, you'll find out soon enough.

AI don't necessarily see a red flag here, if the chef is culinary it's not unusual to have very limited pastry experience.

We offered baking lessons (focused primarily on gluten-free baking) for $70/hour, and we built curriculums around product lines we had no plans of selling in the future, with recipes sourced from publicly available books and web sites.

AUnless they were trained in pastry, most chefs know nothing about baking. Just watch some of those competitive shows, lol, you will see what I mean! Lessons in baking, sure, as far as how things work, and techniques, recipes don't need to be shared. I would certainly ask why he wants lessons, if it's so he can open a cake shop down the street, then no, lol. Chances are he just wants to broaden his skill set. Never hurts to be cautious though, and if it makes you uncomfortable, just say no.

Hi

Thank you all for your advice!

I have a that they want to "swallow my business" especially since I have my privacy contract with the wife, and they know all the details about my business except for my recipes. I could be just paranoid thought!

A

As long as you maintain control over your competitive advantages you shouldn't have a problem, just about everything else can be outsourced.

say they are not really after you--who knows--just put that whole thing aside--

protect yourself, guard your business, get those reasonable boundaries up nice & high & very secure--

trust your gut

Hi wonderful people!!

I have sent out an email Politely declining their offer, because I think,( 99.999999% sure) that they really want training on my recipes, I don't really know what way they go with it my recipes maybe catering? I felt a little intimidated by that and listened  to my gut feeling.

Oh and she didn't handle that very well, I could clearly see that she really hated me when she saw me! That made me feel very bad!

Thank you all for you help and support!!

Glad you listened to your gut - her reaction gives the hint that they did indeed want your recipes, and not general training in baking.  Good for you!

Liz