First of all, I'm THRILLED to know there's a website like this!

Second, I'm considering starting a side business making special occasion cakes (baby showers, birthday cakes, anniversaries, etc) in addition to my day job in legal marketing. I've made cakes for friends and coworkers and have even been paid for a few of them.

For those of you who've already established your businesses, what did it take to get your endeavor off the ground? Did you just do cakes privately until you built up a client following? What kind of factors should I consider in making my decision? I'm sure the market in my city is very competitive. What do you do to distinguish yourselves from your competitors?

It may not be legal to establish a home-baking business unless you have a commercial kitchen. Many decorators in California take the risk, don't advertise and work mostly for family and friends.

However, you should contact your county health department or more likely the Department of Agriculture about licensing home bakeries, often called domestic bakeries.

I'm in Southern California. The State does not allow home-based food business at all - period. It's a bummer, but they are inflexible.