Thinking About Selling A Bakery
Business By mypastrychef Updated 28 Apr 2007 , 11:22am by littlecake
Selling... I am really thinking about it!!!
We have worked hard the past 12 years to have a good reputation and build this little empire. But, there must be something else for me to do. I am fantasizing about a wedding chapel.
And surely there is someone out there more talented to take care of my growing business and great customer base. And even wholesale accounts.
Do you think I should look for help so I don't have to be here every week?
Or should I sell it and let someone else have a poke at their dream.
Our sales are very good and we turn away business everyweek. But I am afraid to hire someone and maybe I am afraid to push to the next step.
I am afraid to sell also.
Anyone know where I am going with this. Maybe I need hugs. I need fingers snapped so I make the right decision.
Any thoughts, regrets?
mpc
www.mypastrychef.com
Before you toss it 'away', hire a helper and see where it goes. It took a long time to get where you are. Unless you really hate what you are doing, with help you can do it a bit less.
Nothing lost in postponing a final decision. I'll bet there are many willing decorators out there who want the chance to see what it would be like, and hone their skills.
good luck.
Well snap, snap! Take a month off! You are good at what you do so why quit now! Do some competition work, that always makes me more hungry!
((((((((HUGS))))))))!!!!!!!
Thanks for the HUG!
I have done competetion work and that just freaks me out, I need to reduce stress and still have to make a living. I use to love the living on the edge feeling! OH wait I just had my 44 birthday today 4/24, maybe that is why I want to slow down. Oh no maybe I am depressed!! I don't have time to be depressed.
When I looked at the May weddings scheduled it was near $14k just for wedding cakes. Do you know how hard 2 people are going to have to work to fill those orders. AAAAhhhhhh!
thanks again for the (((((((((((hug))))))))))))))))
mpc
Before you toss it 'away', hire a helper and see where it goes. It took a long time to get where you are. Unless you really hate what you are doing, with help you can do it a bit less.
Nothing lost in postponing a final decision. I'll bet there are many willing decorators out there who want the chance to see what it would be like, and hone their skills.
good luck.
Good idea, but they don't seem to be jumping out of the woodwork.
mpc
I wish you were in Oregon.
Do you have any community colleges nearby? Some have food service programs.
A high school near me also has a 'culinary arts program' that allows students to do part time learning work.
a temp service?- they do all the payroll stuff for you.
Just a couple of options.
I wish you were in Oregon.
Do you have any community colleges nearby? Some have food service programs.
A high school near me also has a 'culinary arts program' that allows students to do part time learning work.
a temp service?- they do all the payroll stuff for you.
Just a couple of options.
I knew you were smart!!
Oh yes, there are 2 culinary colleges!
One asked if I would use an intern , but that was about 5 years ago and we weren't this busy back then. So maybe she still thinks I am turned off to the idea. Guess I should call the school and see how they operate.
Thanks
mpc
aww... you're just prob. overworked & tired. I would suggest to hire help so that you can have certain days off, that way it won't seem like all you do is work. /hope you feel better =)
I have 2 days off but they really are time to recover from the week and to run errands. Thank you for the kind words. 
mpc
I completely understand what you are saying mpc!! I've got that little "bug" in the back of my head also! It really is a lot of work! And if you're like me just hiring someone is out of the question! I've had several "assistants" and either they don't cut it or move on. I'm nailed to the wall this week (3 catering jobs, 2 baby shower cakes, 2 birthday cakes, & the last weekend of a HUGE festival in town) because this last assistant decided to call in....for the entire week! 
I don't know what to say except I completely understand and sending you a hug from TX!
Oh, mypastrychef, I'm so sorry you're down right now.
Your amazing work and business smarts have created such a successful business. Personally, I'm one of your admirers! I can imagine how hard you've been working for the last 12 years (I'm only in my first year, and whew!!!!!). Sounds like you've been ALL WORK for too long. I think now, or very soon, you need to GET AWAY FROM THE SHOP. Stay in town, leave town, whatever it takes for you to find some peace and happiness. You need to feel FREE from all of the stress of owning your own business. Then, when you return, if that passion to decorate and create comes back alive, you'll be able to think more clearly.
Best of luck. Sending more hugs your way!! Hang in there 
- Melissa
(((This is why we need to start organizing CAKE CENTRAL RETREATS in some gorgeous & sunny location!!!!))))
Thank you
I called one of the local culinary deals today, my husband knows the chefs over there. And the chef said he knows he has a couple of girls who'd definitely want to intern. So lets see how that goes.
I'm still thinking about selling. I have never worked anywhere longer than 2 yrs and here I am going on 12 years.
Calgone... Take ME away (remember that old commercial) 
mpc
I'm in Biloxi, MS and I've had my eye on you since I joined CC. I just opened a business here in March doing wholesale desserts and I rent use of a commercial kitchen. It's picking up and I'm already starting to plan out what my next step is. I would love to have a shop of my own someday. Though, with wholesale orders I can already see that it's a big committment. I'm already thinking about having help when/if I make a move. I would hate to see you end the career that you built when so many don't make it. But I also understand why you might want to. Someone suggested that when you start getting too many orders, to raise the prices. So, since you're burnt out, but still need to make a living, I'd suggest raising your prices and taking fewer orders. Maybe just do wedding cakes and drop the wholesale accounts, but raise prices on the wedding cakes to compensate. Or hire help to do the baking or cleaning or washing dishes or whichever is your most dreaded task and you can focus on just the decorating. (or vice versa.) I'd definitely think long on it (maybe while taking a vacation) before making a decision.
I totally understand where you are coming from!
(1) I get restless too... who wants to keep doing the same thing over and over again. I sometimes think of quitting my good paying job to do something else (I really love data.....) but it would be dumb to give up my salary and benefits (which are 2nd to none) when I have a family
(2) Some people think I should switch from doing cakes as a hobby to full time... then it wouldn't be fun. 1 - 2 cakes a month vs. full time cakes would burn me out totally against cakes.
So... make sure you have a plan for compensating the money on your wedding chapel. Wouldn't you like to make the cakes for your weddings? Then you'll need a kitchen......... I'd advertise (craigs list, sign in the window, word of mouth) that you are looking for a partial buy out or renter of your space. Then you can still use it, but less often.
Have you thought of having a one stop wedding place? Maybe buying/renting a cool old victorian home and then brides can get ready there and take pictures. Then in each room could be different aspects of wedding planning. Then have a caterer, photographer, tables and linens person, etc... rent out a room so brides can just come and sign up for everything they need. My friend and I talked about this. Her husband is a pro photographer, I do cakes, I know wedding planners... between our friends we have a whole wedding industry 
Thought it would be fun to pool resources.
But before you give up everything you've worked so hard for, rely on the principals of economics. Supply and Demand - charge more/work less. Your work is BEAUTIFUL!!! It isn't like they aren't worth it! Increase 50% - 100% (just keep raising them until your work load is more manageable). Decide which hours you want to work, make a calendar and fill it, once it is booked, too bad. You would be a very exclusive provider and people will probably be lining up just because you are so exclusive Then with all your free time you created make extra money by renting out the kitchen and work on your new business.
I will be praying for you! Don't make rash decisions, and remember sometimes the Lord works slowly, but he does reveal his plan to us in good timing.
Hi, I have always wanted a cake shop. I can't find no where to get a loan to get it started. Since it would be a perfect job for myself since I am deaf. Its so hard to find a job where you can't answer the phone or talk on the phone. I love making cakes. I am so crazy about it. Do you or anyone know more about government grants if they would loan me some money to get my business started? Its so frustrated and it has been almost four and half years now since I am unemployed. I know this is what I really want to do is be a baker. I love it.
I hope someone can tell me something.
Thank you,
pinklady1356
alicegop
Thanks for the thoughts, I will say I probably have thought of just about everything you mentioned.
Last night I raised prices... I just raised prices in October, six months ago.
Some of the more time consuming designs I went up $30-$50! my customers (which I love) don't care they are still ordering! I have told I don't know how many people we are booked. One lady changed her son's party to the following week because we were booked on the weekend she wanted. (I love these people.)
Six months ago I was charging $2.00 a serving for wedding cakes now most are $2.75 to $3.00 a serving. Of course my supplies and ingredients went up.
I have thought about the whole wedding mall thing. But once you get into this business you meet so many people that are just trying to make a living and I wouldn't want to hamper any back atcha' referrals from everyone.
Definitely pray!!
pinklady1356
I know if you hire someone deaf you get tax breaks. You should check with the SBA.
Can you hear at all? Can you use a telephone? I once sold real estate and I had a client who was deaf and he used some kind of relay machine to talk to me. I helped him get a house but it was a very time consuming process. I would think it'd be hard to take phone orders with people being so busy these days. Maybe you could take all orders by email only?
There has to be someway for you to get going with your dream! Sorry I don't know how to help.
Thanks
mpc
I can't hear at all on the phone. I have someone that would work for me and take phone calls for me. Its my dream.
I LOVE CHANGE!
have you heard anything about the building you were looking at?
I LOVE CHANGE!
have you heard anything about the building you were looking at?
Everyday I have a new business idea!
But no one liked the building soooo, after praying about it.
A girl out of the blue came in to pick up a cake for the company she works for and she said her friend wants a cake shop sooo bad... well I told her mine is FOR SALE!! The friend called today for info and price and etc. So who knows. Iwould have to stay to train her. But I also think change is good.
Littlecake... Where have you been hiding?
mpc
learnin' the coffee biz.
yeah, i been cheatin on ya'll at another board.
there are alot of peeps that were cake decorators who added coffee to thier shops.
i gotta do something before my arm falls off....
today i got almost 20 orders and a wedding cake with a dragon wrapped around it.
i never did a dragon wedding cake before...but they brought me pics...
i better go....time to make the donuts...i mean cakes.....
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