Start a Cake Business

    

(256). Start a Cake Business

Cakes are a treat that people enjoy for special occasions like weddings, birthdays and holidays around the world. Cake businesses are not only a fun business for anyone that loves baking, but they are also a potentially profitable business. Like any new business, starting the business is challenging and has its obstacles, but the rewards of owning a personal business outweigh the challenges of getting started.

If you are a gifted cake baker and decorator and you would love to share your creations with others, consider starting a cake business. People need cakes for a wide variety of occasions, including weddings, anniversaries, birthday parties and more. You can make good money if you are talented, plus you can work from home. 

Instructions

Gather the necessary supplies. You probably already have an oven, a mixer and some of the basic baking tools. However, you will need to purchase some specialty cake decorating tools, too. Get plenty of baking pans in a variety of shapes and sizes, as well as icing flutes and spatulas.

Invest in a cake decorating class if you want to hone your skills. Many community colleges, cooking schools and even grocery stores offer affordable classes. A class is a great way to brush up on old techniques and learn new ones.

Practice, practice, practice. Test various cake and frosting recipes until you find the best. Try out different frosting techniques until you have mastered them all. Even after you have launched your business, keep practicing so your skills remain fresh and you continue to grow.

Spread the word. One of the best ways to advertise your new business is word-of-mouth. Tell your friends and family. Once you have provided cakes for a couple of events, those people will refer others to you. Print up some business cards with your contact information so you can give them to your customers and they can pass them on to others.

Start a website with pictures of your work and pricing information. If a customer is interested in your service but wants to see some examples of your work, you can simply refer them to your website. Of course, if they want a taste sample, you will have to actually bake them something.

Send out press releases about your new business, making sure that you specify what makes your business special and different from the rest. The more newsworthy your release (e.g. did you create a very unique cake), the greater your chances of getting picked up by the editors. Start by creating better cakes, if not the best, compared to other local bakeries and your competitors in your area. Your cakes should be tastier, yummier and better designed than your local bakery. Having the best cakes in town is a terrific marketing arsenal for your business, as it will incite more people to talk about your products and recommend your cakes to others.

Advertise your business. You can advertise in your local Valpak or other money-saving coupons vehicles offering discounts to buyers. You may want to advertise more aggressively during important seasons of the year, such as the wedding season and graduation in May and June.

Seek out partner distributors in your area. Expand your marketplace by finding partners who will sell your cake products for you. Approach local coffee shops, and local bookstores operating coffee shops, and check if they would be willing to offer your cakes to their patrons. Don’t be afraid to talk to them; the worst they can say is “No.”

Network with local wedding planners and ensure that you provide their wedding cake requirements (or at least you are one of the vendors they will recommend to their clients). Weddings can provide a steady stream of business for you.

In the same vein as above, network with event and party planners to ensure that you will be included in their list of vendors. You want your cake to be in every party – from birthdays to corporate festivities -- in your locality.

Make your business more visible in the community by sponsoring local events or church activities, or offering free sample products. Be present in fundraising activities (schools have this, non profits, etc) offering your products for free. Exposure in the community can help create buzz for your business, and word of mouth can go along way in helping get the word out about your business.

Tap the Web. Create a website that showcases your products, then promote it or advertise in local online directories. Think of your website as your online brochure where customers and potential clients can see your expertise in cake decorating and new varieties you offer.


Send out direct mail including postcards. There are several targeted markets that you can tap in your area. One of them are newborn announcements where friends and relatives can celebrate the occasion with a cake. Parents with graduating children can also be an important market for whom you could send out postcards suggesting to reserve their graduation cakes now.

 HOW TO SUPPLY CAKE

 

Cake supply shops are a type of specialty retail business that focuses on offering customers cake pans, decorations, flavorings, colorings and ingredients. Many medium and large cities across the nation can support the growth of more than one cake supply shop, but those who live in smaller towns can start this type of business via the Internet. If you have a passion for baking or cake decorating, and are looking to become an entrepreneur, starting a cake supply business may be the perfect venture.

1. Target a niche for your cake supply business. For instance, you can focus on selling professional-grade supplies, organic cake ingredients, gluten-free or vegan supplies. Alternatively, you can simply commit to offering a wider, better quality selection of supplies than can be found in local grocery stores.

2. Obtain the permits necessary in your state to operate a retail business, which may include a fictitious name certificate, resale permit or Employer Identification Number. If you plan to manufacture any of the supplies you sell, you may also need a food enterprise license from your state's health department.

3. Pick venues to sell your cake supplies. Options include an e-commerce store, brick-and-mortar storefront or renting a space in an existing complementary business, such as a bakery. Though starting online is cheapest, you will have to consider how you'll bring traffic to your website and how to effectively ship your merchandise.

4. Offer incentives for customers to shop with you, instead of visiting a competing cake supply store or supermarket. For example, you can offer cake-decorating classes, sell finished cakes in addition to supplies and provide customers with free recipes they can use.

5. Promote your cake supply business. Launch a website and blog, open social-networking accounts or place coupons and fliers in complementary businesses, such as craft-supply stores and culinary-arts schools.

 

How to make Chocolate Cake

I am going to show you how to make a simple delicious chocolate cake. This cake serves around 10 people.

Ingredients

1 stick of butter

1 cup of sugar

3 ounces of chopped chocolate (unsweetened)

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 1/4 cups of milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 teaspoons baking power

1/2 teaspoon of salt

1/2 teaspoon of baking powder

Cook time: 30 minutes @ 350 degrees

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. Grease two 9" cake pans. Cut some wax paper to fit in the bottom of each pan. Lightly grease the wax paper and sprinkle flour on the pan. Turn upside down to remove excess flour.

First you want to melt your 3 ounces of chocolate. You can melt it in a small sauce pan on top of your stove on low heat. Stir every so often until melted. Now you want to use a mixer and beat your butter. While beating the butter add your sugar. Separate your egg yolks and whites. Add the yolks, chocolate and vanilla. Mix until it has a smooth consistency and no longer.

In a separate bowl you want to mix your flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Now you want to add a little to your chocolate mix. You want to take turns adding a little flour, then a little milk. Keep adding a little of each until they are gone.

Now you want to beat your egg whites until they form stiff peaks. Now fold them by hand and place in the batter. Gently mix the batter by hand and put it in your pans. Cook for 30 minutes and do the toothpick test to see if it's done.

Cake Recipes

Chocolate Cake Recipe
Yellow Cake Recipe
Carrot Cake Recipe
Pound Cake Recipe
Banana Cake Recipe
Fruit Cake Recipe
Coffee Cake Recipe
Vanilla Cake Recipe
Sponge Cake Recipe
Devil's Food Cake Recipe