Cakes and Treats

J.,
Are you in the Allentown area? If you are try calling Mr. Dan Bosket at ###-###-#### he knows all about start up businesses. He is with the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley and that is his area of expertise.

Hey J.,
When I started Oh Fudge Enterprise. I did little bit of brain storming, sit down right down a bunch of names you like for the name of your business, then google, find what you like and what is avail. then sit down and write down what kind of cakes,treats you like and want then google prices,
I market mine a bit low, because Im just starting out. as you go on you can add more and up your prices.
Write down what you want to make with in how many months.
The fun part is the testing lol!

hope this helped a bit :)
thanks,
A.
http://oh-fudgeenterprise.food.officelive.com

I have a friend who had her own baking business and she wanted to sell her equipment to go back to nursing school. She had a booth at the Central Market in York 2 days a week and she also sold to some local convenience stores & gas stations. I've emailed her to see if she still has the equipment and maybe she could tell you more about the biz. I'll get back to you.

Congratulations on making the decision to become a business owner. Sounds like a "SWEET" idea! :-D
First off before you make any plans for your business you should check with your zoning office to see what types of business that you can operate from your home.
Then I would contact your local SBA (small business association)they usually have Retired people who offer free advice and may even be able to give you more information of Small business loans to get started etc. They will help you as far as setting up a business plan, where to go to get the necessary permits etc.
There are good books out there that you can purchase for more information about home business, check out Amazon... RESEARCH is key... Once you get a business plan in order check out the local competition to compare pricing and the like.
I wish you much success .... God Bless!

You definitely need to check with your health dept, zoning, etc. My mom had a friend that did catering and she had to do all of the cooking in a health department approved kitchen at a nearby church. On the other hand, my family used to buy cakes from a woman who made them all in her home--even wedding cakes. So be sure to do your research before you jump in!

Hi J.,

I own my own interior design business and I can give you lots of tips, etc. for the process of starting your own business. There are lots of things that pertain to all businesses, but some things that pertain to only the food industry. Here are some resources to get you started:

SCORE: Look them up under score.org online or through the small business administration. SCORE stands for Service Core of Retired Executives. They are an all volunteer organization of retired business people who give free advice and one-and-one counseling for people trying to start a business or who are in the start-up stages of a business. They also teach workshops. If you sign up for a counselor, they will assign you one who has some experience in your type of business and can tell you all of the things you need to do to get started. Great resource for the right price, FREE!!

YWCA: If you have a YWCA in your area, they usually have an office of small business development. They will have workshops and all kinds of resources available to take advantage of.

College or University: if you have one in your area, they will also probably have an office of small business development. I have found the small business development office at the University of Delaware to be most helpful! They have quality workshops taught by either business owners in your area or professors. Its a great resource.

Local Chamber of Commerce: Our chamber of commerce has monthly workshops where a professor from a local college or university presents on a topic of interest. They have presented on leadership, marketing, business basics, and all kinds of things. Also the CoC is the place to meet other business owners in your area and get the connections you need to get your name out there.

Start with those resources online and see what they have to offer. If you are starting from scratch, these resources will help you know how to begin by creating a business plan, aquiring a business license, and what requirements are necessary for starting the kind of business you are interested in.

Lastly, don't let ANYONE tell you that it cannot be done. It is a lot of work to own your own business and it isn't for everyone. You will spend more time running and marketing your business than you will baking at first (and maybe forever), you will have to learn all about business laws, taxes, business insurance, bookkeeping, selling your wares, making cold calls, business development, networking, advertising, financial records, etc. and you will feel pulled in all directions sometimes (somewhat like being a mom, a homemaker, a wife, etc. makes you feel :)) But it most certainly CAN be done by anyone who has the drive and tenacity to pursue it.

I am a single mom and the risks are great. I work very hard and some months we barely scrape by financially, but the rewards are even greater! It is extremely rewarding to see your vision and your talents honored and validated by the world, and I think it is a tremendous example to my children of what hard work and creativity can do for their lives.

I hope this helps,
L.

Hi J.,
Start small in your kitchen. Word of mouth and flyers are best advertising in the beginning. Check out other websites of bakeries in your area for competitive pricing. Go on the website for your local government and see what the zoning is on your block.
Start a month or so before a holiday and bake products that go along with that holiday. Consider doing a nitch like all organic, gluten free, or no sugar added baked goods.
Frontier coop is a large wholesaler of organic baking supplies. You can get large quantities of organic flour, sugar, spices, cake and bread mixes,products for children, and other dry goods that you would find in Whole Foods for wholesale prices. Check it out at this link.
http://www.frontiercoop.com/
Hope that helps a bit.
D. L.

Hi...this may sound like a plug...buy my husband is an accountant. He specializes is small business set up. It is in your best interest to consult with an account, and find out what all is involved with a small business. Things have changed, in the last couple of years, with new regulations. I know of many people who have come to him, after the fact, saying they wish they had known all this stuff from the begining. If you are interested, e-mail me @ ____@____.com

Good luck
D.

J.,

One place to start may be with a Small Business Development Center. These are state run and usually found on college campuses. If you do a Google search you should find the one nearest to you. A friend of mine used to work at one in PA. They have counselors who can help you write a business plan, apply for loans, and do lots of other things to help you get started. Best of luck!

M.

J. K,

First, this is a business and you should do a little research about the Department of Health standards in your state. If you plan prepare these items for market in your home kitchen, I believe there are rules that apply such as you cannot have pets, etc. You may be able to do this on your state website. Other than that I would start by making a list of possible customers and also by thinking about what kind of entity your company should be. At this point you would likely be a sole proprietorship but you will need to file with your state if you plan to use a name for your company. You can contact me directly if you have questions regarding this ____@____.com