I Have A Question....about Starting A Business
Business By twinsline7 Updated 21 Dec 2006 , 6:23am by TiffTurtle
...honestly, I hate cakes and can't wait to get out of the business....its been fun, but its not my passion. Actually the thought of having to do any more cakes makes me wanna cry....ok..now you guys know the awful truth
How did this happen?
I have always enjoyed cooking and baking. I was 13 when I worked my first food job, fliping burgers at a private resort at the pool. Over the years I did fast food, full service, got into management, training and etc...Self taught on decorating, had alot of kids and thought it would save money to do their cakes.... Opened up a restaurant, and incorporated by baking, pies, cakes and etc... Worked on my degree, ran a business, raised my kids, and just kept going. Decided that I prefered the bakery aspect, so I opened a bakery, now in its 7 th year at this location. Lots of hard work, no sleep.... but I am a workalcoholic.... kids are all grown, got grandkids, and greatgrandkids, and still work... work... work..., but when all said and done... I enjoy working for me... if I screw up.. I have no one to blame but myself. I started with some used equipment, small loan, paid off the loan, and rebuilt a new location and paid cash for it. My overrhead is very small now, so I can afford to charge reasonable prices. If I do caterings, I have a pool of people I use and pay them contract labor. I keep things simple. I did not get a degree in the culinary arts, I buckled down and taught myself , I would say that I could stand up to the "CHEFS" because of the desire to do so. I do have all the food handling training. I suppose if I wanted to be rich, I could advertise more, hire a bunch of help and no doubt could make alot more money, but then I would have to deal with employees on a full time basis, more taxes, and more headaches. Since I am a control freak, I like having to deal with just myself. If I get in a jam I have plenty of guaranteed backups that I can count on. I like the "KISS" method.
Hear that? that was me falling down after reading cupcakes p ost!
So what I am hearing...it is more about perseverance and the ability to take a risk and put yourself out there than money. Of course money is important, but without the passion, the ability to overcome and surmount the mountain of perceived/real obstacles, the money won't help. You can throw money at a business all day, but the people make it successful.
I am glad this was started. I dream of opening a store front, forgive me..I obsess about opening a store front. But my DH has a low risk tolerance. So we are going the commercial kitchen way for a while. But I just KNOW that I could make it work. Someday I will be in Southern Living, You just wait! 
And, here is a poem I picked up a guidance couselor conference I went to to help ou our last school..I think it may speak to us....
Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions.
Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character,
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.
So what I am hearing...it is more about perseverance and the ability to take a risk and put yourself out there than money. Of course money is important, but without the passion, the ability to overcome and surmount the mountain of perceived/real obstacles, the money won't help. You can throw money at a business all day, but the people make it successful.
I am glad this was started. I dream of opening a store front, forgive me..I obsess about opening a store front. But my DH has a low risk tolerance. So we are going the commercial kitchen way for a while. But I just KNOW that I could make it work. Someday I will be in Southern Living, You just wait!
And, here is a poem I picked up a guidance couselor conference I went to to help ou our last school..I think it may speak to us....
Be careful of your thoughts, for your thoughts become your words.
Be careful of your words, for your words become your actions.
Be careful of your actions, for your actions become your habits.
Be careful of your habits, for your habits become your character,
Be careful of your character, for your character becomes your destiny.
cookie,
"it is more about perseverance and the ability to take a risk and put yourself out there than money. Of course money is important, but without the passion, the ability to overcome and surmount the mountain of perceived/real obstacles, the money won't help. You can throw money at a business all day, but the people make it successful."
You are so right in your asessment. It's like the Mel Gibson movie..."if you build it they will come". If you have the passion and the stick to itness...and of course the money it takes to hang in there...you cannot help but make it.
without having goals, is like doing a road trip without a destination. You end up driving around till you run out of gas.
If your goal is to be in Southern Living every step you make will lead you closer to your goal.
I know that one of my goals was to be on our local channel 7 by the time I was opened 6 months!...I beat my goal by 4 weeks! I had to push them back because I felt I wasn't ready to blow up! lol being on that show would put me on the Miami Scene!!
and you HAVE to spend a little money to make money. I know there are a LOT of free programs to build a web site...I didn't pay a lot for mine, but I paid...Maybe it's not as great as some that cost thousands but it was the best I could do with what I had..lol
because of the types of cakes I do, everyone was afraid to rent me a storefront...it took me OVER A YEAR to find a spot, landlord that would take a chance on me...and it took me about 3 months to convince him!
and I think he upped my rent so high because he thought I would eventually turn tale and run...instead, I find ways to make more money!
Going commercial kitchen may be the way to begin your business! Good for you that you're making your money on the up and up...but make sure that you talk up your need to find a place as you NEVER know who is listening!
I want to say thank you to the ones who posted on here...this post has been very helpful to me. I will be starting the process of getting my lic. in Jan and we will be converting my the den in my moms house into a shop...im very excited about this and at the same time it scares the crap outta me...but this is what i want...i have dreamed about this for years and after reading how some of you did this it makes me ever so more confident that i can and will make this shop a success. Congrats to yall for doing what you do and i just hope that one day i be even half as good at this as yall are!
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