Looks like I'm moving forward w/my business but have hit a dilemma of sorts. I'm not required to notify my neighbors that I will be conducting a business out of my home. When I tell people what I'm doing I'm constantly getting the question: "So what do your neighbors think?" or "How do your neighbors feel about that??" Not sure what to say b/c I have no idea!!! Guess I'm more like....'why would they care??!!

There really shouldn't be too much of a change for my neighborhood b/c I can't have customers or employees or anything like that.

But I'm getting the question so much........I figure I should find out. I don't know many of my neighbors and was wondering what is the best way to let them know what I'm doing, so they aren't surprised when I start construction or open for busniness. I don't know about going door to door or putting 'flyers' in the mailboxes.

Any suggestions??
Thanks,
Christine

How about baking something like cookies and going over one house a day and taking the cookies and saying hi im your neighbor from across the street or where ever and i just wanted to talk to you a little and see what your thoughts were on this subject. people never turn down sweets unless they are diabetic. then i dont know what to tell you. hope this helps or at least gives you some ideas.

Delivering samples might be a great way to get more orders too!

i dont know if i would ask each neighbor what they think....you are always going to meet that one neg. person who makes you angry with thier rude comment. i would just take them some samples and just say, hi my name is .... i'm your nieghbor at.... i just made you some cookies and wanted to say hi. .....your welcome, i am going to open a shop eventually and would love to show you some of the stuff i can do. if they want more info they can ask.

i think asking everyone there thoughts or comments on your business is opening a door, for the one person to say, "why wasnt i asked about this" then you would say, "because i dont have to ask for your persmission" then your visit would be on neg. terms. maybe i'm wrong, but i wouldnt ask opinions or comments, with that you'll get concerns....ect.
let us know what you decide, and every one else, give input if you disagree.

good luck
melody

It sounds like a good idea to inform your neighbors. Bringing some baked treats, mini cakes, cookies, etc., would be nice. But you stated that you can't have any customers or employees. I don't quite understand. Is business being conducted by phone, email, etc., and then all baked items delivered by you? Are you going to be putting up a sign which would definitely get their attention or is this just a separate kitchen? Is it just a bakery or will you have a little shop with other items to purchase? (This would mean more cars parked on your street, depending on your set up., etc.)

I don't think your neighbors would need to know unless you're going to display a sign. If so, then I say plan a meet 'n greet day for yourself to go visit. Be prepared in case someone brings up the possibility of neighborhood disruption with heavier traffic on your street, parking (do you have driveway), etc. (Not trying to be give you a hard time but you never know what to expect especially if you're just now going to meet your neighbors.) I hope this helps. Anyway, I wish you the best luck with your business!!

I have to agree with melodyscakes. Asking for opinions is likely to draw out a grinch somewhere along the line. Delivering samples &/or a flyer would be a great way to drum up a little business and let them know what's going on without sounding like you are asking for their permission (since you don't need it!)
I guess when customers ask what your neighbors think, I'd probably just say "Well, I haven't heard much from them about it, I don't know my neighbors that well." I'm sure your customers are just being polite making conversation, and really could care less what your neighbors really think. LOL

I would suggest if you are going to tell the neighbors..do it after you open. I wouldn't think that you need to inform them when you start construction. Then when its all done maybe you can send a flyer out for an open house or something like that. I say this, because once you start informing people whats going on you may have unwelcomed company or "helpful" suggestions. I probably sound like the biggest pessimist, but I know from experience that sometimes neighbors can be a pain in the butt.

Oh by the way I forgot to add Congratulations and Good Luck on your new business!!

me too, i forgot to add, congrats on your new business!!!!
have fun with it and good luck!
melody

You know, if it were me, I would just leave well enough alone. It is one thing if you are already acquainted with your neighbors, but if you only know them well enough to nod hello and goodbye as you are leaving the house, then I don't see how that it would even concern them. I think you will find that you wouldn't get much business from neighbors anyway - unless you already knew them. And when they are at a party where you have made the cake or cookies or whatever, and they find out you made them, they will be pleasantly surprised. But people can be kind of funny - sometimes getting jealous or just rude about someone else's success. You might find sudden unexpected visits from the health department or get phone calls regarding zoning. If they see construction going on - well, most people aren't going to ask about it, but you could always just say you are needing a bigger kitchen - and expound on that if you feel that you want to at that point. I guess I am pretty skeptical sometimes about people. I have met an awful lot of rude ones that mess things up for the good people - like us : )

Anyway - I am so happy to hear about your new business and wish you every success!

i think that your neighbors will be delighted to know that they have a talented cake artist right on there own street. They will be thrilled not having to order from the grocery store. Send them some samples as a way to meet your neighbors and drum up some business at the same time. IMHO.... I don't think anyone will even notice if you decide not to tell them, and won't be bothered if you do. Good luck with your business!

I wouldn't tell the neighbours, because they might think that you are asking permission from them.

What will you do if they tell you that they hate the idea?

HOWEVER, I also agree that you might get more orders.....

This is a tough one! Hmmmm. Tricky.

Good luck with your decision.

I think the fact that people you tell about opening the business ask what the neighbors think is a good indicator that they feel the neighbors would have an issue with you. I agree with the post (sorry can;t look back to see who) about if you don't know them...then you probably don't need to stir up discussion.

Good luck to you though...I hope everyone there is happy for you. What an accomplishment.

I say wait until you're open. If you don't know them, you should really care less..and I agree that it will make it seem like you're asking their permission! I know it probably doesn't seem like a big deal, but you're likely to be mad with your neighborhood if you don't get the reaction you'd like. Nothing worse than a opening a business and being excited, only to see the neighbors peering out their windows in anger that you opened it even though they said they didn't want it there, know what I mean? That may sound harsh, but that's not my intention. I know from past experiences completely unrelated to cake decorating, that this can put a downer on something YOUR excited about. As long as you and your customers (the most important thing) are happy, that's all that matters IMHO. CONGRATS!

Hope this helps!

Robyn

The only thing that will really concern the neighbors is the construction noise-hopefully you can keep that to a minimum. And possible traffic. If you don't have a Storefront, you should not have a sign.

Putting up a sign would be a concern for them-relating to their perception of the property values.

One more tidbit, it is illegal to put flyers in mailboxes. Many people (me and most of my friends) HATE door hangers and junk on the porch.

A nice baked item with a business card should be a welcome gift.

From personal experience, construction is always more complicated, more expensive, and takes longer than you hope. Have patience.

Best of luck on your business.

Ok.... i just noticed the construction part. What are you building? are you making a kitchen in a garage or something? for all they know you are just remodeling huh?

Congrats on your new adventure

.....I'm with the ones that say leave it alone. Get your business up and started and then casually let your neighbors know that you have started a business. If you make an issue of it beforehand, then there is bound to be one of "those" neighbors that will try and make it difficult for you!!

Best of luck to you!

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. We are meeting w/our contractor this week to discuss either converting the garage or going w/a completely seperate building next to the house. Consturuction will take place in the late morning or early afternoon.....so most of my neighbors aren't home.

And to clairfy a few things....I can't have customers or employees at the house...so no traffic concerns. I can't post signs or even put my address on any business related stuff. I will have to deliver all my stuff and conduct business through internet or phone. I've started talking w/a cafe I go to all the time about possibly using their cafe as my meeting location and advertising there. With all the stuff I can't do at my house I didn't see my business affecting the neighbors much at all and that is why I hadn't even thought about talking to my neighbors...but like I said...I get the questions so much...thought I needed to check.


I just couldn't decide to either do nothing and let them figure it out on their own, let them know before and deal w/possible objections and possibly delay the process even further, or wait until I open and then let them know. Either way...I think I'm going to have at least one upset neighbor....just b/c that is the way people are.

I may just wait until after I open.......I really don't want any more obstacles in getting the business started & proceeding w/construction!!! i'm having a hard enough time as it is!!!!!!

Thanks,
Christine

around here, neighbors of home based businesses are automatically polled when a licence is applied for, afaik, and from other people's experience.

If you don't have anything that will affect them (signs, visitors, shoppers, huge trucks, etc), I wouldn't worry about it...I haven't read all the posts, but I'd vote for just getting on with it....as some have said, there will ALWAYS be someone who wants to grumble, and it may as well be to the polling person and not you. If you are following code for your reno or addition, there's nothing that can be done, anyhow.....and if they object to the business, they will need a valid reason, afaik, for the licencers to care.