I've recently quit my decorating job from a small local bakery and I've gone rogue. I want to go into business for myself, and have been reading a lot of these threads for info on how to start. I feel like I can't pull the trigger on starting anything until I come up with a name for work! Someone suggested using the "Rogue" but I was wondering for small home businesses, how is using the word "Bakery" in a name? I've gone through a list of combinations: Rogue Bakery, Rogue Cakery, Rogue Cakes, Rogue Sweets, Sweet Rogue Cakes, Rogue Pastries....
How do you decide??
idk-- rogue keeps you attached to your former activity and reminds me of cowboys or politics -- i think you need a clean break -- it's common to bake from home -- just my thought on that --
one other thought-- what street do you live on? your name could deliver two important pieces of information like 'baking on main' or 'main street bakery' something like that
If you're still in WV, you may want to check on the Cottage Food Laws in your area first. Last I remember, WV's CFLs were very restrictive. We don't want you going TOO rogue!
To answer your question(s), I built a commercial kitchen on to my house, so I am still considered a "home business". I decided to leave bakery out of my name because I didn't want to encourage walk-in traffic. I still have the occasional visitor just stopping by to see what I have on hand, but for the most part, it has worked out well. I try to pepper all my materials with "By appointment only cake boutique".
As far as "rogue" goes, I don't love it, but it doesn't offend me either. I think you could use the term to set yourself apart from other bakeries, if that's what you intend to do (offer cakes or items other bakeries don't -- sculpted cakes, cake pops, etc.)
Whatever you decide, best of luck to you!!
Thanks for the tips! I'm actually working on renting some space from a commercial kitchen in town (a bar with an up to code kitchen that doesn't use it except for special occasions), but I am working from home in the mean time. I liked the name Rogue because first the suggestion about having "Gone Rogue", but without a huge background on myself, I'm a giant nerd with a gamer "past". I've played "rogue" style characters for years, and even the name Shaele comes from that gaming history. It really feels ME.
I want to really get my ball rolling on an LLC, website, Facebook page, but feel stuck in the process until I figure this out.
i get you --
i have been happy to read books on my kindle where i just highlight the word and get instantaneous dictionary or wiki or foreign translation-- it's amazing to clear up the definition on so many words -- so i just went & looked up the definition of rogue to think some more on your idea--
honestly i was shocked at the dictionary definition -- i had to go looking for this because i think this is how you mean it -- even in the IT way it's not till the 4th definition that gets it to the game world --
Quote:
In general, a rogue is someone who strays from the accepted path, is mischievous, or is a cheat. In information technology, the term has several usages.
1) A rogue Internet service provider ( ISP ) is one that knowingly originates spam (unsolicited mass e-mail).
2) A rogue Web site is one that subverts a legitimate Web site by appearing to replace it.
3) In programming, rogue code is another term for code that constitutes a virus .
4) Rogue is the name of an animated computer game written in UNIX. It is a dungeons-and-dragons game that has given rise to numerous variations that are popular among young people.
so yes you need to have a real good balancing word to link this all back to baking and sweet goodness -- you might want to consider the word rogue to use in your tagline somehow -- because while it's you -- when you open a business you need to determine how everything impacts who your target audience is -- not just who you are but how to attract peeps to what you want to sell them--
and yes best of the best to you-- there's a big learning curve ahead so be ready
I get it. There are 3 bakeries in our greater area and they all have the cutesy names with "sweet" and "confections", "sassy", etc. I AM straying from the regularly accepted path but I would hope that someone would choose to value work that I do and not be so literal. Rogues are all about lurking in shadows, and disguise. I thought incorporating a mask and a mustache into a logo would be cute!
AI like Rogue Cakery. If I was looking for a cake maker I would think you excel/ specialise in unusual, different, more adventurous designs. But I know what rogue means - the original meaning anyway. I didn't know about the gaming meaning and for some the word rogue has negative connotations so it might put them off.
ok i'm getting something in on the wire here-- so this is brainstorming-- nothing right or wrong just tossing out things that might spark another idea --
i was just thinking about a pirate cake in another thread so didn't captain hook always twirl the end of his mustache?
the end of a mustache getting singed by the oven door opening popping out a tier cake --
a mask on someone with a chefs hat on -- or pull off the mask and reveal the chefs hat --
a logo of a moustache that morphs into a tier cake --
someone lurking in an alley peering through a window seeing all kinds of goodies --
and the opposite where someone from inside is looking out into the shadow outside --
baking rogue
rogue baking
rogue street baking
rogues bake
rogue bakes
cake pan alley (use rogue in the tagline?)
for me!
If you find you will be legal and are looking at naming your business, inspiration can come from the type of product you will be selling or the market you are looking to sell to. Sit down and brainstorm the names that appeal to you. Once you have narrowed it down to a couple of selections, take those names and envision it on your website, your business cards, your labels, and anything else you plan to use. Your name is your brand. Think of your potential customers in relation to your name. When you introduce the business to them, will the name convey what you wish? When you complete your business plan, does your name work with where you have planned for your business in the future?
HTH! 
"roguecoco"....a play on roccoco that gorgeous elegant architecture? Perhaps with aforementioned script wound sinuously around a tall cake? Just musing here about sinuous script, I'm so easily distracted.
Add an "a" in there at the end... "RogueCocoa" and it's even more appropriate! ;-)
"Rogue Street Cakes" has a nice ring to it, but be prepared to explain to everyone you speak to "No, actually we're located on {Elm Street}." Almost 10 years in business and I still have people calling asking for "Dee". I explain to them that I'm Jenniffer the owner; there is no "Dee" and sometimes they'll still say "No, last time I called Dee helped me." SMH!
I love roguecoco-- it's been working its charm on me -- now there's roguecocoa -- omg too many great ideas-- use them for some cake designs at least!
Aroguecoconut and you could serve roguecococola
I'm not really a fan of using the word Rogue, for two main reasons: everyone will ask why that is the name, and you'll have to launch in to a tangential explanation that it is not really related to cake. Seems like a hassle to me - might get old fast.
Second reason - if you read it really quick, you might see Rouge instead of Rogue. May miss some customers who aren't getting it right. You need to make it EASY for people to find you. :)
Just my two cents.
Liz
I have no idea how old other posters are, but I wonder if liking rogue is a generational thing. I too think of "out of the box" rather than a negative connotation when I hear rogue. I think it's perfect for a custom cakery. To me, a rogue baker would make me think they do things other than the standard cakes you typically find in grocery stores and corner bakeries.
I would personally stay away from Rogue Street, because as someone else said I think many will think that's a hint at your location. I'm also not a fan of blending two words together like roguecocoa. Too many letters together is going to get misspellings and people won't visually remember it easily.
I personally like Rogue Sweets, especially if you plan to offer items other than cakes.
I have no idea how old other posters are, but I wonder if liking rogue is a generational thing. I too think of "out of the box" rather than a negative connotation when I hear rogue. I think it's perfect for a custom cakery. To me, a rogue baker would make me think they do things other than the standard cakes you typically find in grocery stores and corner bakeries.
I would personally stay away from Rogue Street, because as someone else said I think many will think that's a hint at your location. I'm also not a fan of blending two words together like roguecocoa. Too many letters together is going to get misspellings and people won't visually remember it easily.
I personally like Rogue Sweets, especially if you plan to offer items other than cakes.
oh hell, i'm old-- i only balked at the word 'rogue' when i looked up the definition -- and i think it's important to be who you are realizing it's ok to change later on -- you're pretty much supposed to change...for the better hopefully --
'going/being rogue' is kind of a badge of honor -- like 'coloring outside the lines' and 'runs with scissors' clearly a time and place for everything --
rogue street works if it's worked into the whole design-- like a street sign for the outside of the building or for the logo or if she was indeed located on rogue street 
in fact rogue street sweets has a nice tongue twisty alliteration to it
Ha! I actually really like Rogue Bake House! Custom cakes you won't find anywhere else! :)
So I asked a few friends, giving them the suggestions that were generated in this thread and had feedback on both sides. A couple think that I should play more to the "family-oriented" business and stay away from the Rogue name. But after I gave them some ideas on what I'd actually like to do, they came back around. As silly as this may seem, there isn't a place in town you can get any "adult themed" bakery items. That doesn't necessarily mean X-rated (although I'd have no problem with that). For the past few years I've done specialty cookies on Valentine's day with naughty phrases and have been well received and popular! While I know being able to do anything the customer asks for is part of cake decorating, I really like the idea of being able to offer things that the small number of bakeries in the area don't.
And I freakin' LOVE Rogue Bake House. I'm going to take it back to my "inner circle" and see what they think. We had actually almost settled on Rogue Alley Cakes (to avoid the street confusion, and the logo could be a cat with a mustache and a tiny cake at it's feet). I'll let you know what we decide!!
Awell hmm -- be careful that you are ok with the possibility of losing the children's market altogether -- because typically children get more special bday cakes/celebrations than adults -- so you need more population to pull from -- which I'm not saying its not doable I'm saying have a careful market study done to track all this out for you in advance
lots of 'family' bakeries do adult themes quietly
Not in my area. The bakery I worked for refused, it was the only thing I was allowed to do "on the side" without a conflict of interest. The other two in our area do not either, as I have heard from their staff. I'm not saying that I want to ONLY do adult themes, but ideas as simple as boozy cupcakes and alcohol infused desserts are appealing to me. I want to be able to do the things that interest me most and make me happy.
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