I am looking to revamp my business plan and am getting ready to speak to a SBA rep and it has been suggested to me to have a lost of needs: materials, tools, supplies, ingred., etc.., down to the T of what I need.

Just curious, what does any of your list of needs include? Wondering if maybe i'm missing somre really great item or not. What can any of you NOT live without?

Thanks for helping a fellow cookie connoisseur!!

What type of business will you be starting? A bakery or cake studio?

Theresa

I'm thinking that cake studio would mean bakery, but nothing but cakes. Am I thinking about that correctly?

I am a home based business right now, but taking the leap to having a facility outside the home. I would be a cookie/dessert shop, with no storefront. I only would do custom orders or events. I will need a small place for meeting and greeting customers for interviews and tasteings, but I will not sell like a bakery with desserts and cookies on hand. Confused yet? Is there the absolute must have list out there? My brain is just stuck on butter, sugar, milk...ugh. I need to look as professional as I can when I talk to this man and I am in a slump whrn it comes to making a list out. Help!

Ok, here's the way I define them.

Bakery - either full service, or cakes and pastries.

Cake studio - nothing but cakes. This is what I want to have, too.

So, since I have to do a business plan, too, let's put our heads together and see what we can come up with.

Here's what I want -

Double stack full size convection oven $10,000
20 qt (at least) Hobart mixer $1500-2000
stand for mixer $300
extra bowls, beaters, whips $1000
Triple sink $400-800
dishwasher heavy duty - 2 $1000
steel work tables 4
kopykake turntables 2
airbrushes with compressors 2
spray gun for chocolate 2
bags - ateco wunderbags
bags - disposable - kee seal
tips - geez, I already have so many
baking pans - magic line - already have some
ingredient bins - required here
fondant sheeter - 30 inch diameter
computer for running business
sub zero refrigerator/freezer
viking stove
vented hood
display cases, refrigerated
1 year's rent and start up costs

List to be continued

Yes, I know, I am looking at about $50,000. Do you think Warren Buffet would adopt me? I'm available.

Theresa

I am in the purchasing phase for my coffeehouse/bakeshop (Hallowed Grounds- Christian based) Here is a beginning:

A Supportive Husband

Hobart 20 qt mixer with bowl and attachment
KA professional mixer
Counter top convection ovens (2) 1/2 size sheet tray (no special venting needed)
Bins for storage
smoothie mixer
counter tops
utility cart (ss- Sam's)
storage shelf (ss-Sam's)
sheet trays
**ALL RATED NSF**

An attorney
An Insurance man
A Plumber
An electrician
An accountant

Paper goods (cups, napkins, packaging, cake trays...)
Consumables (flour, sugar, butter...)
Cash register or reciept book
quick books

hmmm, I'll keep thinking....

I have a list that includes even my office needs, down to the push pins on my cork board to help keep me sane...lol.

Is it safe to say, just to list everything that I invision in my shop? Do I need to put a $ value to it? Is there anything that I am missing?

Lucky you! We're not allowed to use KA's here. Don't ask me why.

This thread is going to come in really handy for me.

Thanks for posting.

Theresa

dessertdiva, that is exactly what my biz is .... a commercial kitchen with a meeting space for tastings and meeting brides. No storefront, no retail sales. The closest thing to "storefront" is the big picture window with my dummy cakes on display. We plan to add bridal accessories shortly ... toasting glasses, ring bearer pillows, etc.

The above are excellent lists. Add a sheet pan rack for add'l storage and cooling space. List 25 or 30 of the big baking sheets. Yes, put a dollar value on everything! The SBA guy is looking to see how much money you will need. Not just for butter and eggs .... but money to run the business.

Do you have a space selected yet? What is the build out cost? Rent? Utilities? Insurance? List all of this. Include the quotes from your equipment supplier and from your contractor, kitchen designer, electrician, etc.

My equipment was $57K .... build out in the $15-20K range. My biz plan was over 40 pages.

Include your list of suppliers .... who you are buying your big walk-in refrigerator from down to the local post office to buy postage stamps, your utility companies, office supplies, etc. They are looking to see that you have biz accounts open and that you have versatility in your suppliers .... what if you have sole-sourced everything and that supplier shuts down? During Katrina, Sysco was out of sugar for weeks. If Sysco was your only source during that time, you were screwed!!! (I kept telling my Sysco rep, "Then you need to back your trucks up to Sam's Club because they have plenty!" )

I'm saving this one for later!

I started a biz from home - although I do rent out a commercial kitchen.

The things I have purchased to make things easier on me:

WEBSITE! ($2,300)
Bun pan rack - a MUST have for me.
Sheet pans - at least 20 of them.
I bought 2 - 6 QT KA mixers (I plan on getting a 30 qt Hobart as soon as I can afford it), and I already had a 5 QT one.
2 commercial freezers ($500 each from Lowes)
1 used commercial refrigerator ($700, including delivery from eBay)
Wire shelving (Target had a sale - spent $150)
2 - 6 ft. adjustable height tables (Costo purchase - $40 each I think. You can make them taller - saves your back)
Plastic bins (about $100)
Food grade plastic storage containers (Cambro - about $150)
Airbrush/Compressor ($150)
Gels/Airbrush colors ($200)
Cake Pans ($800)
Ingredients (probably spent $1,000)
Cake boards ($150)

That's just the stuff I can think of off the top of my head. I've probably spent about $15,000 in the last 4 months just getting started.

keep them coming cause this is very intersing and helpful .i have this thought in my head i aslo want a cake studio from this great lists i have let me see ,,,,,,,a supportive husband and thats it lol just kidding i have quit a bit small things because of space issues i dont have big big stuff .i made my first move last week and stepped in the bank to asked for a home equity loan .and just 2 days ago got my tax number small steps to a big jump im leaping too but hopefully get there. some one here in texas that can help ......i need help

I cannot offer any advice because I am trying to start out a business out of my home - I just want one client - LOL!!!! If I opened up a shop now - it would last a month - LOL

However, I would like to wish ya'll good luck in your shop openings - because that is my ULTIMATE DREAM!!!!