I have recently begun to more seriously consider opening up my own shop. Unfortunately working out of my home is completely out of the question in California, so I have been looking at various commercial equipment so I can grasp the sort of capital I will need to start up. I am dreaming of a small-scale bakery, most profits will come from orders, wedding cakes, etc. A friend of mine is interested in a partnership, in which case a small seating area would needed and a small assortment of drinks.
I'm really unsure about the quality and type of equipment I will need to start up something like this, and I was hoping you all could shed some light on the subject. What size oven(s)/refrigerator/freezer/mixer(s) do you use? What brand? How/ from whom did you get your equipment? I would appreciate any help I can get on this! Thanks in advance!

Some of the things to consider when setting up a shop. How much space will you have. It doesn't take long to run out of space. Consider what you are going to sell. Just cakes, just cookies, candy, weddings only, catering etc...Location.. Location...Location. Who do you want to reach? Based on these suggestions, you of course need an oven. I prefer gas...but I have both. My gas oven is a conventional commercial Vulcan. It has 8 top burners. If you go any commercial brand make sure it will work for baking, some are for roasting and you will not get the same results. My other over is convection. I use it mostly for my cookies. The gas oven is for my cakes. A good mixer. Kitchen Aid makes a good 6 quart stand mixer. You may want a larger mixer, Hobart makes them in 20 quart and larger if you need it. Sometimes on the larger mixer you can find them at restaurant auctions, or maybe catch a restaurant going out of business. As with anything commercial its not cheap. A fridge that will fit large pans if you need to chill something. A large freezer to fit the 24x18 pans. You want a good variety of cake pans round and square, although you could bake a full sheet cake and cut it for the squares to start out with. I would't get into all the specialty stuff right away, unless you have alot of money. Make sure you have some good suppliers lined up. Alot of the things like flour and sugar you can get at Sams. Keep your inventory low, remember there are shelf life on product. You need a prep table, better to have stainless although you could go with a butcher block type. Depending on your area, you may need a 3-Compartment sink for your dishes. A
mop sink , and a hand sink. If you do a retail business you will probably have to have restrooms. You will need some type of shelving, they have 4 and 5 shelf units in stainless at Sams.It is best to check with your health department for specifics, like the type floor, lighting, etc. The fire dept may require a certain extinquishing system.And again checking with your state you may have to be food service licensed as well as a license for your shop. You will also need a tax number so you can buy from wholesalers and of course pay your taxes. I could probably go on and on, but perhaps this will help some. Good Luck.

Make sure you take a look at this thread, Rezzy posted some pics and great info about the equipment she uses:

http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-34235.html
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I'm just starting the process now and I'm working with a kitchen designer who is also a chef and owns his own restaurants, so he is really in tune with what a kitchen needs. In one meeting, I heard so many insights from him that you just wouldn't think of unless you'd already been there. He told me the 3 things an owner always wishes he had more of is frig/freezer space and storage space, so be sure you factor lots of that in. I also do catering and I had planned a 6-burner stove. he told me I needed a 12 burner. I tried to compromise with 8, but he said, "You will grow your business and you will be sorry you don't have 12 burners!" Don't plan for your current level or even your projected level of business .... plan space for your "oh my god can you imagine if I got THIS big!" level of business.