Cash from Baking??

paulwf

Kelly-Lou wrote: »

Hiya
Well after spending last night reading this thread I am debating if I should go ahead and set up my own cake business????????
I have a love for baking and often adapt recipes for my daughter who has allergies. This is my dilema, do I concentrate on "free from" cakes of do cupcakes???????
I am not sure if I should get the EHO in before I do anything, I wouldn't want to waste any money if I was to get turned down. I think the sink issue would course me a problem, I have a sink and a 1/2, no downstairs loo!? What other things do I need to do??? Washing machine not in use when baking, dog not in kitchen can't remember what else.
Sorry for all the questions but I would love to make a go of this

It's good to have a niche, generally you can charge more and you'll have less competition and greater customer loyalty. The flipside is you'll have to put more effort into working out where to advertise and you'll have to have in depth knowledge about ingredients.

Free from cake companies may cover dairy free, egg free, vegan (with vegan society certification in some cases), nut free, soya free, wheat free, gluten free and sugar free. You may need to offer advice on whether a cake is suitable for a diabetic of if it is kosher for example.

You don't have to handle all this in one kitchen, a small network of bakers specialising in different aspects may be the way to go (especially as it is hard to guarantee nut free if your kitchen also makes cakes with nuts in them). I just think if you only covered one area e.g. gluten free you'll be limiting your market too much.

Kelly-Lou

Hiya thanks for the advice I no what you mean about limiting the market with the free from cakes. I love the idea of selling just cupcakes, but again is that limiting my options?? Not sure what to do?

stephy110288

well cupcakes are so trendy right now, i work in a restaurant an no one brings birthday cakes in anymore its always cupcakes on cake stands.
my sink in my kitchen doesnt have that little half bit i'm a bit worried about that... but we live in an apartment so its all on one floor so not far to the bathroom... just worried because the kitchen and lounge is all in one. does anyone know about the insurance? i'd love to know how much roughly i need to find for that?

Vickisaver

Can I ask where a lot of you are selling your cakes, is it mostly at stalls, or are you doing it online? I am looking at all the things I can bake that I can sell over the internet, but am concerned thta if I posted out cupcakes they would get damaged in transit.

Anyone have any ideas? I'm waiting for the EHO to come over and check my kitchen, and planning on doing my hygeine certificate this week too.

Thanks

stephy110288

Hey, I'm planning to do the markets at the weekends as i'm a student, but i plan to hand out cards/leaflets while i'm there so that maybe i can get orders to be delivered locally. will definitely try to set up a website, but i'm totally clueless about how to go about it... if you look at other cupcake suppliers alot of them do offer postage so it much be possible somehow. if not then you could deliver them yourself locally and charge per mile?

stephy110288

i have environmental health coming wed afternoon! suddenly very scared! he seems really laid back so i'm hoping it will all be ok but worried he'll ask me some scary questions

Vickisaver

Hope you get on OK stephy, let us know what he says

thinkpositive

best of luck Stephy - hope it goes really well for you. x

skintbint_2

stephy110288 wrote: »

i have environmental health coming wed afternoon! suddenly very scared! he seems really laid back so i'm hoping it will all be ok but worried he'll ask me some scary questions

good luck Stephy! the only questions i got were really common sense o you'll be fine

skint x

johanne

did anyone see the cupcakes on this morning today?

£2 each!!! i nearly died.. i was going to try make some for my charity fundraiser party at home and charge 25p each and was worried that was too expensive!! lol