Friday 23 November 2012

Starting a business in the cake world!

                       So you finally found your passion and you’re ready to start a business in cake decorating?
                             Well congratulations!! You are one of the lucky ones that succeeded in finding what they love doing in life!  To be honest it has only been about a year and a half that I officially started Gâteaux Duchesse but I would like to share with you what I have learnt up to now.
                       First of all, take your time to get to know the cake business. Knowing how to make beautiful cakes and starting a cake business are two entirely different things.  Now you know that I always have faith in you and your cake talent (I always tell my students that with a good teacher and patience, anything is possible!), but I just want you to think about a few details before signing any contract and taking out loans.
                I totally understand the excitement of wanting to rent a space, buy inventory and start your cake business! You can’t wait to show what you can do and share it with the public! However, where is this money going to come from? Have you thought of all the costs associated with opening your shop, such as:
                                                                -Rent
                                                                -Publicity (business cards, web site, pamphlets, advertising, etc…)
                                                                -Electricity
                                                                -Outside signs
                                                                -Equipment
                                                                -And this is only the beginning!

                When I started Gâteaux Duchesse, I had no clue how much everything could add up so quickly. It’s a business sector that fluctuates a lot. Therefore, it is important to make sure you have a monetary cushion you can fall back on.  It’s for this reason that my husband and I have both kept our full time jobs for the moment. You have to remember that life doesn’t stop. You still have personal expenses like mortgage, gas, groceries, etc… Not only do you need patience when making cakes, but you also need to have patience for the growth of your business. Don’t try to do, buy, and/or rent everything at once. Take one step at a time!
                Listen to those who are in the business…they have lived it, and they know! The next time you see a successful business; tell yourself that a lot of time and preparation went into it all.
                There are always other possibilities if you don’t want to incur all of these costs. You can become the exclusive provider for an already established business or even become partners with another baker. Anything is possible! You just have to think things through before realizing your dream!
                Everyday day I learn something new about the cake business, it’s absolutely fascinating! Sometimes you will make good decisions and sometimes you won’t. The important thing is to learn from your mistakes and move on. It won’t be the first time and it certainly won’t be the last!

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