Where Do I Start? Need To Generate Income
Business By crispyscupcake Updated 26 Feb 2007 , 3:16pm by crispyscupcake
I make cupcakes. How can I generate some quick business?
Take samples to everyone you know. You'd be amazed how well that works!
I started with the people in my church and at my hubby's job. I also have a couple of people at my "day job" selling insurance. Some are customers who come in for for the free goodies that I keep here. You would be surprised how many people will comment on the free goodies and ask where in the world out here did I find these. You should see the looks on their faces when I say I did it.
How many should I take to these places? I don't know alot of people so I don't really know where to start! 
Make a batch of mini cupcakes and bring them around. Where are you going to bring them??
Take them to everyone you know. If you are married, send them to work with your husband. If you have kids, send them to school, afterschool programs, whatever they are involved in. I told my daughter's friend's mothers so they would know for birthday parties. Take them everywhere you go!!!
Good luck!!
You could start with a local bookstore... offer to give away mini cupcakes at a book signing, only if you can give out business cards. Make sure they look and taste great! You could also do a display case that they set out for you with some business cards.
Funny, you reminded me of a character named Deena in "What About Brian" television show every Monday night, starring Barry Watson, formerly "7th Heaven" hunk actor.
Deena just separated from her hubby and she started her own cupcake business. She showed us how she started her own cupcake business: give free samples to her friends and their co-workers/neighbors. Word of mouths spread.
For all of these cupcakes you're taking around, also make sure to take around some cute business cards. You can print those bad boys up on your computer and get the word out. If you have kids, take the business cards to soccer, baseball, wherever. If you don't have kids, go to the sports fields anyway and just hand out cards. Ballet studios, gymnastics places - anywhere the wee ones gather and a mom is stuck for an hour.
That is exactly how I have built my business. It takes time, but once the ball gets rolling, it's crazy! I took sample cakes and/or cupcakes to every local doctor and dentist office; bank; hospital; school; gymnastics businesses; everywhere. Anywhere that may host kids' parties; etc. Take lots of business cards, fliers and other information. You'll be dumbstruck at just how quickly word of mouth will sell your business for you! Good luck!!!
Oh, don't forget about banks, too! They seem to have birthday parties monthly. You'll generate lots of regular, monthly business with them.
Surfergina...haha...that's what I feel like although I've been divorced for over 2 yrs and I'm a fulltime college student with a child...and more broke than broke!
If you are familiar with Paula Deen, from food network tv....her story should give you some inspiration, she started out with $200.00 while raising 2 sons and a non supportive husband (soon after divorced). She made up bagged lunches ( The Bag Lady) and she and her boys took them around to the office buildings ect. to sell. Well, just look at her now..super successful. I wish you luck hun. 
You could start with a local bookstore... offer to give away mini cupcakes at a book signing, only if you can give out business cards. Make sure they look and taste great! You could also do a display case that they set out for you with some business cards.
That's a good idea, but you have to watch it because many places require (and rightly so) that you be licensed before coming into a "partnership" type arrangement like that. If state walked in, both you and the bookstore could get in big trouble. 
So if you're dropping off mini cupcakes at businesses (or sending them off at your spouse's work), do you wrap each one individually so they don't dry out? Or do you give them a bunch in a closable container? Or do you just throw them in a gallon ziploc bag (wouldn't look too good for a first impression)?
I don't have any mini cupcake holders so...I do however have the regular sized cupcake containers (disposable)...There's no bookstores for me to do this but there are plenty of banks, doctor's/dentists, etc. I'm not married, I do have a boyfriend but I don't know how much business would actually be generated out of there as none of them have small children and there's only 20 or so in the office. I have a child but there are only 13 students in his class...I'm not involved in very much b/c of school and being too broke to do much else.
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