It's Time To Face The Music!!!!!!!!
Business By Mnhreams Updated 9 Mar 2007 , 10:06am by PatricesPieces
Every since I was a little girl I have been baking and dreaming of having my own bakery. I am now 35 and a school teacher and I am scared to death of facing my dream. I am scared at failing but I know I am very good at what I do and I enjoy seeing the expressions on people's faces after they have tasted something I have made. I have to open my own place and I know it is a lot of hard work I just need the right direction. I have done alot of research but alot is never enough. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mnhreams
Hi There and Welcome to CC!!!!
It sounds like you have 3 great things going for you which is key to a successful business
1.Determination and Passion
2.You've done and are continuing to do your research.
3.You sound confident in your skills....Now with that being said it is just a matter of finances,finding a place to lease, rent or buy and then finding about about the laws regarding small business and food regulations.Once you find out what you need for opening a business you can get the rest done.Find suppliers,where to buy equipment etc..It is alot of work but if you take it step by step it is achievable
I'm still doing the "research" too, and building a small one in my garage. That way I still have time with the kids and don't have to be away 24/7. My only advice is to watch your advertising- a lot of $ can be wasted easily on the wrong techniques. I get more business by word of mouth and my website (which I made with online classes) than by expensive advertising. the other thing would be to make sure your plan is approved by your health dept before you bother building anything so you don't have to redo it. Oh! And by waranteed used appliances if you can- they are SO much cheaper and work great!
Good Luck!
Donna
Hun, all I can say is, JUMP ON IN!!
But ya know, I'm the same way hun. Sheesh, I want to open my own bakery (cake shoppe).
Next step, make your busisness plan and go look for funding and a place to open up. Have something unique a certain niche that other places don't have.
Like in my bakery, I want to do the high end stuff and stay away from donuts (dang I hate donuts). I want to make things like scones and tortes and cheesecakes, cakes, artisan breads and rolls, most scratch baked, biscuits, specialty cakes like, king's cakes and brioche and other holiday specialty cakes.
I know in my area that's gonna be a hard sell, but, it's a different niche than what anyone else has. Right now, I work at a bakery and they basically sell just donuts with a few wedding cakes and birthday cakes but other than that, that's it.
I want to do sooo much more. I am sure you feel the same way. Now the hard part, sheesh, MONEY!!!
But if you can find a backer or invester who wants to help you with this then go fer it hun, I'm 44 years old so yer still doin fine and yer still young, don't despair, I'm not. LOL
Let's both get our feet wet and jump right into the pool (well nothing like jumping into the deep end to teach ya how to swim now huh?)
I"m in dream mode right now and planning for next year if I would like to jump in and get the financing what I would like to do is have a cupcake shop with occassion cakes and wedding cakes. I would like to have a showcase up front with gourmet cupcakes, decorated cookies and some coffee to serve as a mid afternoon snack or dessert in an area with high traffic there isn't anything here like that just regular bakeries and coffee shops. I'm just going to have to do some research to see if i will work where I live.
It is overwhelming, but not impossible.
There is a book that was suggested to me from my SCORE counselor and I'll pass it on to you.
I have found it to be a life altering journey trough this book. It's by Jack Canfiled, titled The Success Principals. It is not really about business. It's more about personal improvement, motavation, focus etc etc.
I hope you try the book. It really helps.
I'm in the process of working on my business plan for my cupcake and cookie bakery.
I've run into a serious brick wall trying to break down the cost of ingredients for each cupcake (I'm working with a figure of a batch of 100) and then showing the markup for each cupcake vs. the acutal cost.
Did anyone do this with their business plan or am I breaking my brain for naught?
This is my status right now...
1. I have found a spot for my shop. The landlord is willing to wait a month or so for me to get the funding and get open before I start paying rent. She just wants the deposit to hold the space.
2. I am spending all of my free time rewriting my business plan. It has changed slightly since I originally did it, and I want it to work for this particular site. Meanwhile, I'm still running my business, which seems to be growing daily!
3. I am telling EVERYONE what I am doing, so they can keep pressuring me to do this, and to do it right. And right now.
I am probably not as prepared as some, and am still moving forward. I can't predict and plan for everything, so I am hiring a couple of people to do preinspections to make sure I don't miss a thing before opening. I'm getting a commercial inspection done, so I have all facets of the actual building and systems checked out; I'm also getting a preinspection done by the Health Dept., so I don't waste a dime, and have exactly what I need to operate and be up to code, so I can open.
The passion to do this is very important. And read all you can. It keeps you motivated. And talk to everyone about it; don't listen to the folks who say you can't. Listen to the folks who say "good for you!" and "what can I do to help?".
And know it is not going to be easy. But so worth it.
You can only regret it if you don't work toward it.
My niche is custom made cakes and freshly baked goods. I'm keeping it simple right now. In the summer, I will add the chocolates and tourist items (I live in a tourist area).
I say go for it. I teach, also. I opened up last June(2006). I though things would be slow, but it has really skyrocketed! I was fortunate in that I had a separate building (an outdoor kitchen), so I did not have to invest a lot of money. CHeck with your local health dept. They will tell you exactly what you have to have, so you don't have to do any guessing, and you won't spend money on things that aren't necessary. Word of mouth is the best advertising. I've also made deals with local radio station - I baked cake for an open house, they gave me that amount in free advertising! Since you teach, schools are a great place to start. We have monthly meetings where a snack is provided. Now I provide the "snack". Gives me a great way to showcase what I can do, & the orders come pouring in.
Things have gone so well, I am enlarging my building. Got quotes last night!
you should go for it!! ask yourself, whats the worst that can happen?
you could always fall back on teaching if it doesnt work out. or is there anyway during the summer months you could try this before you would quit teaching? or you may have that question in your mind the rest of your life...what if???
Wow! What an inspiring bunch of replies!!! 
I agree w/ all-
1) Take the Leap of Faith.
2) Enlist the help & accontability of others.
3) NO regrets / nothing to lose!!
With each desicion that you will make, simply gather as much information as you can in a reasonable amount of time, then make the decision that will move your business and your life in a positive direction! I never want to look back and say, "If only I had more courage..."
GO FOR IT! 
Every since I was a little girl I have been baking and dreaming of having my own bakery. I am now 35 and a school teacher and I am scared to death of facing my dream. I am scared at failing but I know I am very good at what I do and I enjoy seeing the expressions on people's faces after they have tasted something I have made. I have to open my own place and I know it is a lot of hard work I just need the right direction. I have done alot of research but alot is never enough. Please any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Mnhreams
I'm in exactly the same position -- school teacher and everything! (Except I'm 37 -- 38 this month ahahah). Good luck and go for it if you can!
Sarah
Keep thinking positive and go for it. I turned 40 last year, and i'm in the process of buying my kitchen equipment right now. It's slow going getting everything done, but I keep moving forward. This is going to happen for me....I will make it happen. Keep telling yourself everyday that you will make your dream come true.
Someone once told me, "It's not failing that you are afraid of...it's success. It's easy to fail, but much harder to succeed."
Keep the faith and GO FOR IT!! We are all here to share our dreams.
All my best...
Patrice
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