I have been thinking lately that I am years away from being able to open a full cake shop, but I really want the "presence" of a storefront. I wondered if I can't just rent an small office and set up to meet with customers, have them pick up orders, etc.

I don't like strangers coming to my home, some do but I'd rather deliver so they don't have to come to my house. Last week I ran myself silly meeting people and delivering cakes. I charge delivery fees, but most don't want to pay that when they can come and get it themselves. I won't force customers to pay for delivery if they'd rather pick up.

My main reason is that I live in a small town with a very quaint downtown area full of small businesses and I really want to have a storefront there for exposure. Our city really stresses "shop local business" so people will not drive 40 miles to the nearest big city.

My idea is a small office, with a window display and a consultation area and open by appointment only. By the way, rental space here is very reasonably priced, so I think the boost in business would make up for the costs invovled.

Anyone else do this, or have any ideas or opinions????

I did just that exact thing. I am licensed to bake from home, and I was needing to expand some. So my DH & I found this space right on main street, and I rented it. It is just large enough to have a small office space for my computer in the back and a little bit of work space if needed. I also have a HUGE display window, it is wonderful. I have a consult space on one side of the room and a desk with a laptop so we can browse the internet. It has more than paid for itself in advertising dollars. My rent is very reasonable and I couldn't get the results I am with print advertising. Exposure is everything. I have actually have gotten so busy, that I needed to cut down the hours I physically spent there during the week, so I can do the baking for the orders that keep coming in. I am only open M,T,W, from 10-2 and other hours by appointment. I have to totally say that it has helped me, I would look into doing it if I were you. I also have to say that my baking is done at least 4 miles from the village, (so no real exposure here) but the studio on main street in the bigger town (15 minutes from my house) is a wonderful investment.

Mommicakes, your set up sounds exactly like what I want to do. I am glad it is working out for you! That really gives me a boost

Anyone else out there have an opinion or see any cons to this?

Don't I wish! Mommicakes it sounds like you have my deam set up. I think it's a great idea and will really add to your overall professional look. That is my ultimate goal, a very small big front window office. Yup, thats what I'm gonna call it my big window office/studio. If the rent is cheap and you can do it. I say go for it! Ah...((sighs wistfully))...one day...

that's what I do as well (I rent from a separate kitchen). I think it has helped w/ bookings as it has a different image from a home baker. It's also nice to have everything set up in one place, w/ some separation from home.

Thanks LaBellaFlor! I am still sighing wistfully myself everytime I drive thru our downtown.
I want to really sit down and work out a plan so I wanted some opinions, see what others thought about the idea.

I agree CakeForte, I want to appear more professional. My area is full of homebakers who aren't legal, so I think this will separate me from them.

Just show pics. when you get it all set up!

DH wants to take some pictures of my studio from the road and post on my website, and I will post here too to show you all what my set up looks like.

But I have to wait for it NOT to be Raining!!!

Hey Becky: here is the photo of the outside of my studio. Today the sun was out and we were able to get a decent picture.

It isn't that big of a space, but it is right on the corner of Main Street & Center Street.

Directly across the street (where we were standing to take the pic) is a STOP SIGN, so you can't help but to see my studio and wait for traffic.

Thay have to stop in fromt of your shop?1 How lucky is that?

Yeah, not very nice is it???? I just cringe when the cars actually take the corner by the building. I have seen a few close turns. I have to be careful not to put anything to dramatic in the window. I don't want a crash in the middle of town. lol.

Your display is so pretty! Sounds like you have a great spot!

I'd be flattered if I were you and someone wrecked because they were distracted by the window display Assuming they were okay, and so was my window

I may be able to make it happen sooner than I thought. I ran the idea by my sister... she is a photographer and we may share a space for both of our businesses and share the expenses. Lots to work out first though!

Thank you Becky! I was very nervous at first, but now, I know it was the right thing to do!!

I hope that you and your sister can do it!!! It would be such a wonderful thing. Especially if your sister is a photog. you may even be able to work off of each other, and offer package deals.

I would look into it seriously, what could it hurt? I wish you super luck. If not right now, then, I am sure that something will just drop in your lap. We walked right into this one. The right time will come.

Keep me posted, and if you need to bounce ideas around, pm me & I'll try to help.

Donna

Thanks for the encouragement ladies, I appreciate it!

We are going to do some shopping around and see what we can find.. I will keep you posted for sure!

This is a brilliant idea!! Would anyone mind telling me how much they pay for their rent? Sorry, am I too nosey? just wondering how much money is not too much that is a great investment for the business.

Supakiki,

I found a spot here for $650 per month, there are others for around $550-$600 too. For just me I may not be ready to take on quite that much, but I am going to share space with my sister and split the rent/utilities, that makes a big difference!

So am I understanding this correctly: You will have a legalized kitchen at your home yet the office and consultant part of it will be in a small store front? If this is correct, I love it and it is a brillant idea.

Wow,this is an old thread...I share space with four other wedding pros who also work from home. I use the office for consults only, and pay $95 a month. Totally worth it.

Mommicakes,

I am actually getting ready to do this very thing, and I wondered if you could answer a couple questions? When I started 5 years ago, Michigan did not have the Cottage Foods Law, and so I used the kitchen at my church, which was health inspected every two years, and I have a business license. Last year Michigan passed the Cottage Foods Law, and now I want to just do it from home. I have always wanted a shop, and just last week one kind of fell into my lap. It does not have room for the baking, and I don't want to have to deal with setting all that up and permits and inspections and whatnot. So I am going to be doing just what you are doing. I wondered if you have to have insurance? And also, so you have any pics of the inside? What do you do there while you're open the few hours a week? Do you sell anything on the spot, like cupcakes or cake pops or anything like that? Did you have to have a business license to open that? And have you had to have any permits or anything from the city? Any advice you could give would be great, because we are planning to be opening in two weeks. Thanks!

Thank you, that helps so much! I'm hoping to be open by the end of next week (well, my next consult is Wednesday, so hoping to be able to do that there). My 5 year old is in all day kindergarten, so that helps me out with the amount of time I have available, but I do have my two year old all day. I don't think I will be open to walk in business at all either, at least at first. I did end up getting insurance because the landlord required it in the lease. Can't wait to see what it will do for my business, I really hope it's worth it!