My Dh & I Qualified For A Small Business Grant. Suggesti

Business By jo_ann Updated 29 Aug 2006 , 4:39pm by DisneyDreamer

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jo_ann Posted 26 Aug 2006 , 4:19am
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and advice on equipment please.

We have been approved for a $11,000 grant to open a cake decorating business. (Doing the happy dance). Now we need to submit the equipment and supplies we want, what brands, where and cost and they will purchase them for us. icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif . So could all of you please give me advice and any suggestions on what to purchase. PLEASE. And they have set us up with a business consultant to set up the accounting and billing system for free.

19 replies
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spottydog Posted 26 Aug 2006 , 1:24pm
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1st Congrats!!!!!!! wish I had some advise....sorry. But I am so happy for you.I have been trying to fugure out the same (how to get a grant). Your cakes are great!

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CrystalsCakes5 Posted 26 Aug 2006 , 2:10pm
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Could you give us some advice on how to get a grant. What things qualify you to get one and what could not qualify you.

Thanks.

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indydebi Posted 26 Aug 2006 , 6:56pm
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Restaurant Equippers (http://www.equippers.com/tour1.htm) is where I buy a lot of my stuff. You can download their catalog from their website. At the very least it will give you an idea of the cost.

Does your location already have a kitchen in it? I've just started (a few weeks ago) the process of opening my comm'l kitchen in a storefront. It's an empty room that needs converted. The cost to add the plumbing, gas lines, special electrical hookups, trenching thru the concrete for the sewer lines, grease trap, special flooring and wall coverings as required by the health dept, ...... that part alone is in the $35K range. The hood that is required over my stove is $1000 a foot and I need 8 feet of it. So if you haven't found a site yet, look for one that already has a lot of this work already done and you just need to upgrade it......and not start from scratch. In my state, we have to get the health dept involved from the start as they need to approve the floor plan plus determine if (for example) the refrigeration space I've allocated is big enough for my needs, etc.

Super congrats on getting the grant money! That is an awesome accomplishment! Having their experts help you with the accounting side is fabulous, too! Good luck and keep us posted!

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jo_ann Posted 26 Aug 2006 , 7:55pm
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When we applied for this grant they sent us a form to fill out. On it they wanted to know the following things. Your
ordinary living expenses and liabilites
ordinary living income
assets
business expenses & business revenues. (now or in the future)
For the future they want projections
Estimating your business revenues they want to know what you'll be charging for your products.
How many items you expect to sell per day/week
How many items do your competitors sell per day/week.
How will the seasons of the year affect your revenues.
When do you expect your business to break even.
Who will be your customers.
How are you going to advertise
Why will customers come to your business instead of to others
Who will be your competitors
What plans do you have to beat your competition
Do you have an accountant and lawyer
What your product is
Where it's going to be located.
What special equipment or needs do you have to have to start up.
If your leasing a space does it have any special restrictions on the lease.
There is alot more but this gives you an idea of what it entails.
Also have your portfolio ready to show.

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smbegg Posted 26 Aug 2006 , 9:36pm
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Rezzycakes just finished a remodel of a legal kitchen and here is the list she poseted of equipment that she has. She has also posted pictures too in the forum labled "Photos of my Legal Home Kitchen Renovation "

Hope that helps

Stephanie

This is a list of equipment that I have accumulated over time that I now cannot do without!!

Essentials in my kitchen:
Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer
Kitchen Aid Food Processor
Microwave
Large oven that fits full sheet pans
Large garbage Can
Lots of shelving
Large stand mixer (10 Quart)
Chocolate temperer (10 lb)
Chocolate Temperer (1 lb)
Food scale
Hand mixer
Sheet pans
Sheet pan rack
Cake pans (of course)
Much cake decorating equipment (too much to itemize)
Full size freezer (fits full sheet pans)
Full size refrigerator (fits full sheet pans)
Various food storage bins
Plastic bins with drawers
Kake Karousel
Agbay Cake Leveler
Floor Air conditioning Unit (windows cannot fit a conventional style)
Hooks for brooms & mops
Wall cabinets

Required Items: 3 Compartment sink, Hand sink, Hair nets, sanitizer for sinks, sanitizer tester, Fridge and freezer thermometers, Food service gloves, Fire extinguisher, smoke/co2 detector

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CrystalsCakes5 Posted 26 Aug 2006 , 10:41pm
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jo-ann and smbegg,

Thanks for all the great info.

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confectionaryperfection Posted 26 Aug 2006 , 10:52pm
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where do you get the forms fro the grants?/

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korkyo Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 7:12pm
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I'd like to know where you got the grant info from also. I diden't think they existed.
Thanks

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jo_ann Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 9:05pm
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First thing I did was google small business grants. You'd be suprised what kind of help is out there. I'll let you know you'll have to do alot of research to find one that suits your needs. It's worth it in the long run though.

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playingwithsugar Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 9:13pm
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Congratulations!

You want to check with your local code enforcement/health departments. Here where I live in PA, you cannot use a home-sized KitchenAid mixer, you have to go with the bigger mixers that have guards on them. If you plan to have a stove, find out if you need a vented hood - that's 10 grand alone!

Theresa icon_smile.gif

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kdhoffert Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 9:43pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tmriga

Congratulations!

You want to check with your local code enforcement/health departments. Here where I live in PA, you cannot use a home-sized KitchenAid mixer, you have to go with the bigger mixers that have guards on them. If you plan to have a stove, find out if you need a vented hood - that's 10 grand alone!

Theresa icon_smile.gif


What part of PA are you in? Do you do cakes out of your home or do you have an actual business? Do you know law wise stuff about doing cakes out of your home. My husband just put in for a transfer back to PA. We should be moving there in the next few months. I looked at the chamber of commerce, PA power port, and PA open for business, and I couldn't find anything. I know here in Indiana, at least where I live I passed everything for zoning and what not, but I didn't past health inspection because they said you're not allowed to do cakes within 500 feet of your living space, so I've just been doing stuff for family and friends until I can expand on that.

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korkyo Posted 27 Aug 2006 , 10:29pm
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I did some searching and there is tons on programs for sale out there. Did you purchase a program to get you started or did you find other avenues to apply for a grant? I'm so close to being done $10,000.00 and I would be open in a week! (It's hard to be patient sometimes.) icon_razz.gif
Any suggestions or links are greatly appreciated.

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SweetConfectionsChef Posted 28 Aug 2006 , 2:29am
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I am so happy that you received such a nice sized grant! I've been reading through the posts and I must say....$10k should be enough to build a kitchen! I have a licensed kitchen and store front and I spent much less getting started than $10K!! PM me if you would like to talk about how I did it. icon_wink.gif

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all4cake Posted 28 Aug 2006 , 2:41am
post #15 of 20

jo-ann, I have no suggestions or advice. I just wanted to congratulate you and your dh on the grant.

CONGRATULATIONS!

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kdhoffert Posted 28 Aug 2006 , 2:52am
post #16 of 20
Quote:
Originally Posted by SweetConfectionsChef

I am so happy that you received such a nice sized grant! I've been reading through the posts and I must say....$10k should be enough to build a kitchen! I have a licensed kitchen and store front and I spent much less getting started than $10K!! PM me if you would like to talk about how I did it. icon_wink.gif




I'd be very interested in knowing how you did it.

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heavenscent Posted 28 Aug 2006 , 6:11pm
post #17 of 20

Just wanted to say congrats & best wishes on your venture

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GarfieldOne Posted 29 Aug 2006 , 2:36am
post #18 of 20

Congrats!!!
I only have 3 suggestions for equipent...

Convection oven...
30qt mixer at the smallest. Then a kitchen aid for really small jobs..
2 Door Refrig...

That covers the very basic required items.... and their expensive...

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jo_ann Posted 29 Aug 2006 , 3:30am
post #19 of 20

Thanks everyone.
Like I said, you need to research grants online and locally for your area. I did not pay any fees to apply for this grant. I already own a 6 pt professional and am looking at the 30 qt mixer and large 2 door refigerator and separate upright freezer and convection oven. I am looking at the double ovens. I could have used both the large mixer and double oven yesterday.

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DisneyDreamer Posted 29 Aug 2006 , 4:39pm
post #20 of 20

Get a blast chiller i swear by them i use it all the time for cakes they are GREAT!!! icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif and as for other equipment (i cant say where i work but we test industrial kitchen equipment) of course a Hobart mixer, and i personally LOVE blodgett icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif

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