I am a licensed home baker, no other employees, just me. Am I crazy to offer both cakes and cookies? Would it be odd to have a cake business and not do cookies?
Honestly, I don't enjoy making cookies at all. I would much rather make cakes. I have been in business 3 years and have about 8-10 cake orders per week. When people order cookies it seems to throw off my whole schedule. They take so long to make.
I feel like I have enough cake orders that I don't need to offer cookies, too, but I get a lot of orders for cookies and I feel like after 3 years it would be hard to just stop offering them.
Advice? What do you other home bakers offer?
If you don't enjoy making them and it ruins your schedule, then I wouldn't offer them. 8-10 cakes per week for one person is a lot, so thats really good! Also, like you mentioned, if you feel comfortable with all the cake orders you get, you should let it be the way it is :)
As for me, we're only 2 people and its going to remain that way. We offer cakes, cookies, cake pops, cupcakes and chocolate covered oreos.
I offer cookies as well - see my avatar - but they are sooo time consuming I feel like it's hard to get paid what they're worth. If you have that many cake orders by all means let the cookies go. Let a baker who loves making cookies have the business!
If you feel you must offer cookies to your customers, you might consider offering non-decorated versions only. It would take pressure off fancy decorated cookies along with your cakes.
I make cookies for my kids and for gifts for the holiday. That's it.
I find that while I *want* to be super good at sugar cookies, I am not. They always look like my 7 year old did them......which just baffles me as I am a functional cake decorator. I want to like making them, but find that mid project I swear at them more than enjoy them. (And who wants to buy a verbally abused gingerbread man?)
My cookies taste incredible....but look a hot mess with any decoration. Lol.
Short answer is NO...I don't sell them.
Hi 2kats :)
As others have said, if you don't enjoy making them probably best to stick to your thriving cake business. I do have a suggestion if it's possible for you - perhaps there is someone who lives near you who does cookies and if you have a request for cookies you can suggest the client uses them and collaborate on colour schemes/themes together for the client? I have seen a few people who seem to be doing this very successfully by working together for big events - someone does the cake, another cake pops, another cookies etc.
Just a thought :) Also, it can also help you get more business for your cakes if the person doing cookies is likewise suggesting you for any cake enquiries they get :)
Marie
Quote by @mccantsbakes on 8 hours ago
I make cookies for my kids and for gifts for the holiday. That's it.
I find that while I *want* to be super good at sugar cookies, I am not. They always look like my 7 year old did them......which just baffles me as I am a functional cake decorator. I want to like making them, but find that mid project I swear at them more than enjoy them. (And who wants to buy a verbally abused gingerbread man?)
My cookies taste incredible....but look a hot mess with any decoration. Lol.
Short answer is NO...I don't sell them.
These are my thoughts exactly!! I am just OK at cookies and want to scream at them every time I make them. Unfortunately, I live in a small town so there aren't really many other options and no cookie people. My other thought was to really raise my prices and require a minimum order of 4 dozen or something so at least it is worth my time.
agreed -- sell the cakes -- eat the cookies
(big grin)
That's funny, I started only wanting to sell cupcakes, but people started ordering cookies and cakes!!!! Cakes are so much stress, I would rather just do cookies, lol. Although I did have a few really good cakes (avatar, ;) ) but you need to do what your comfort level dictates. I would love to go into business with you. You can do the cakes and I would LOVE to do the cookies lol....Clearly you have a great business going. That's a lot of cakes!!! :)
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