I am wondering how many of you have a storefront. I have been decorating cakes for about 25 years and just recently started really getting into it again. I love to decorate. In my state a commercial kitchen is also required. I live in a small town and there is a small storefront currently for rent for $285 per month. Of course, I have the fear of failure if I go right out and open up a shop but on the other hand I would love to try. It's such a big step. I would love to hear stories...good or bad on this subject. Thanks 
I'd love the same thing!! I got a call from someone recently, telling me about a storefront that had just become available. When I called about it, it was absolutely perfect, until I found out how much......$1250......A MONTH 
!! There's no way I can make that many cakes in a month! So, I'll keep praying! Good luck! 
Ditto! We just looked at a few spaces and they were anywhere between $850-1400 a month! This town hasnt had a bakery in 10 years, but still, there is a Walmart and an HEB that make cakes and I dont think right now I would be able to make enough cakes a month to pay for the rent, let alone the electricity and equipment!!! Keep crossing your fingers!
Missyjo, is that a Napoleon avatar?
... I caught you a delicious bass.....
Every time I go on eBay I see lots of stuff from bakeries closing or remodeling. The only drawback is the shipping can be high. But check it out.
Good Luck!
So, I have started my business plan and now I am rethinking if I could even break even with a storefront. Rent, Insurance, Utilities, Equipment, Supplies, Hidden costs, OMG!
So many things to consider. My town has no bakery though we do have 3 grocery stores with bakeries. We are a town of 11,000 and growing, just this week in our weekly newspaper someone brought up the idea of needing new businesses (she mentioned a bakery for one).
My husband is concerned about not making enough money to cover costs and has suggested putting a kitchen on our property and baking there. The kitchen would actually be a very large finished interior storage shed type. If I grew too big (that would be great) we could still use it for our own use and not be out any money and then I could rent a storefront
Here's my story: My mother decorated cakes when I was growing up and I have followed in her footsteps. I have been decorating cakes for about 25 years now. The only class I have ever taken was Wilton Course one about 20 years ago. I am basically self taught.
Ok, here's my question...Do you think customers will want to see certificates from where I got my learning or do people even care about that?
I just love this and I can't get it out of my head. I do work part-time and need to keep that job till my business takes off. That of course would be easier if I baked at home.
It has been my experience that people are generally not concerned with credentials or evne if you're licensed (around here at least). If your cakes are tasty and fresh, that's good enough for them. I understand your desires. I have been wavering between an space at home or a shop myself. It is not a cheap endeavor or an easy decision. Blessings to you, whatever you decide. 
WOW, with rent that cheap I would say to pursue it! You should definatly consider selling cake supplies and having clases like HollyPJ suggested. This is what I would love to do one day. It's so hard to find cake supplies where I live so I think that is a definate plus! Good Luck!
Consider how many potential customers you will lose, if you teach them how and offer supplies. When your survival depends on selling as many cakes as you can bake, I wouldn't give any of them away-at least for now.
In addition to your rent, what equipment will have to buy; is it already a licensed kitchen?
The low rent is a real bonus, provided you don't have to go to far in debt bringing the space up to meet the health codes.
Is here room for table service? Breakfast treats & coffe could supplement you income, but you can't decorate and work the counter at the same time (helper?)
I heard about a cheap place in a small town, but the heat/light/oven bill was almost $800 a month. check out any history for utilities the building might have.
If you have to keep working part time, consider being open only mornings (early so people can stop by on the way to work) or three days in a row, including at least Saturday. You would still might have to bake on your nights when the shop is closed, but you could keep the regular income.
keep us posted.
I would think about starting out slowly at home and build your business from there. There are tax breaks for a home-based business and your overhead wouldn't be nearly as much. You could also teach classes. Most people who take cake decorating classes are doing it for their family or kids. I don't think that you would be teaching your competition.
Just a thought. . .
Leslie
I agree about not teaching classes. You wouldn't be teaching your potential competition...you'd be teaching potential customers, as JoannB said. We all know how addicting cake decorating can be....you know what I mean? I mean, all of us on here started somewhere, usually for our kids birthdays etc. You'd rather have people buying your cakes than teaching them how to not "need you" for their parties etc. At least until you get going and make a name for yourself.
I would hold off on the supplies and classes and put more effort into marketing and advertising. But then again, I am definitely out of my league here. I just make cakes for family and friends.
Good luck!
even if classes were taught, she'd still have a great customer base...she would be selling products that they couldn't otherwise attain and therefore making the same if not more money....
I agree with teaching classes. I am quite the regular at the store where I learned. Buying supplies there is like a kid going to a candy store.
I say go for it.
I disagree with those who say not to sell supplies and not to have classes. The people who take classes will either take them with you or take the classes somewhere else so why not profit from it. If I were doing the storefront I would contract out for the instructors and take a percentage from each student they have so that way I wouldn't have to deal with payroll, taxes, ect. There's a gal here who sells product, has classes, and she does cakes and candies and she's very well know in the cake decorating industry. There are so few places here that sell cake supplies so I really see a need for it.
It might be nice to provide supplies, however, the inventory investment is huge. Many of the best companies have minimum orders to get wholesale prices, and the shipping will be another expense. My decorating store has to carry many, many items that not all customers need. The inventory requirements are in the hundreds of thousands. It takes two of them to run the store, and they do NOT do any decorating.
All colors, all tips, all pans (included the character pans), sugars, sprinkles, molds for candy and sugar, chocolates, candy melts, not to mention all the pillars/plates/dowels for tiered cakes. Plus all the other items those of us who get hooked on this want/need.
If you offer supplies, you really have to offer a lot of things, or it really won't be worth the trouble and investment.
The profit from classes is almost nothing, if you contract out the teaching. You might sell some supplies, but it won't keep you in business.
Also, doing any sales will prevent you from doing the part you love, and that is decorating. You would have to hire help & the profit goes out the door.
You have all made valid points. I do believe the supply thing would be way too costly and as far as the classes go hiring someone for that would also be a drain on finances.
The more I think into this venture the more discouraged and I hate to say it "realistic" I am becoming on this. I am going to rethink this and give more thought to my husband's idea of a home business. Putting up a kitchen on our property would probably be the most cost saving way to go, I hate to admit that but... I just hate to pass up the location and rent but I guess it is not meant to be, that one came along another will at a better time for me.
Do I sound convinced?? 
well guys I found a website online in queens new york and thought I would go by and buy somethings. When I got there what a disappointment. the outside was all dusty and disgusting looking, the inside was full of Wilton products but it was a small space like two isles and it was hot and crowded inside. they had a downstairs where they had all of the cake boards but on the way down there you had to pass or rather STEP OVER cake pans thrown about onto the floor cause its soooooo small that when people pass by they hit the pans or whatever and it falls on the floor and stay there. I got the idea of trying to open up my own store which would be clean, neat and much bigger but the rent up here in NYC is ridiculous. But its a good idea though. Nothing like a little competition.
SpudCake, I'm sorry you're discouraged about your venture and I hope we didn't do that. I think everyone is just pointing out some things to think about. If anything you could start with selling cakes, desserts, cookies and espresso? I'm in Washington State and we LOVE our espresso here so if it's the same there that might be an option? It just sounds like such a great opportunity!! I would love to do something like that but I'd like to have a business partner so that I wouldn't live, and breath the business and possibly have a break. Also, rent here is about $2000.00 or more a month!
Honestly, if it were me, I'd probably rent the storefront! When you consider how much it would cost you to build the building, and how much time it might take (zoning, permits, etc, etc, etc), it could be many months from now that you can get started, plus the expense would be all up-front.
You would still need all of the same equipment, insurance, utilities, etc, whether you do it at home or in the store, and I would guess that you would get much more pass-by traffic in the storefront location, so that would be free advertising, as long as you have a front window to display things.
People will notice you, they'll mention to friends how nice it is to have a bakery in town, and the same newspaper will surely have a nice article in it about your new bakery, which amounts to a lot of advertising.
And, if the worst happens and it doesn't turn out the way you had hoped, you might end up with a business you can sell to someone else, rather than just an empty storage building next to your house.
Laura.
That's interesting Jojo1. I too encountered something similiar and traveled about an hour and a half to a "well known" place here in where I live. It was at a gals house. Everything was a mess and she had to help me cuz there was no way I could have found anything. Then she was out of some things and that got me thinking on my long road trip home about opening a store that was more organized and user friendly. I thought I could even add a web site so I could ship things. We have 2 stores that I'm aware of in Western Washington that supplies the hard to find cake items like luster dusts, fondant molds ect.
SpudCake,
I think you should GO FOR IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!$285 you cant beat that!
We all have that fear of failure..........but life is all about taking chances!
I have a store front and I do not sell supplies or give classes.
I sell cakes,cheesecakes,pies,cookies,tarts .............anything sweet.(Wedding cakes,specialtycakes)Look at it this way.....if you sell one wedding cake a month that will pay for your rent!
And I dont dont have a big walk in business at all.(Its all made to order)
My key selling point is that everything is made from scratch.
And this business is very seasonal.........well at least for me it is.
June-Sept........SLOW 
Oct-Dec...........CRAZY 
Jan..................OK
Feb-May...........STEADY
Good Luck with your dream!
Speaking of storefronts I have a question.....How does a business get away with "not so great/good looking" items in the window but business is still booming (from what I can see...they have been open for years although whenever I walk by there's never anyone in the store). They were even featured on Sugar Rush because they specialize in cakes done in fondant. The dummies in the window look old and a bit gawdy. I got up closer and saw cracks and very noticeable imperfections that I would be upset about on my wedding cake. Maybe their website is the money maker.
Yes, I would go for it. A good bakery is something EVERY town needs...or maybe I just need? Ha ha. I too hope I didn't discourage you.
Good luck!
Just an update. I have found a licensed kitchen to work from and a storefront that will let me adverstise and also buy some of my cakes. I am so excited yet nervous at the same time. A few details to work out yet. Wish me luck, if all goes well and I build a big enough customer base I may be on my way to my OWN kitchen.
Joanne
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%