How much money can you realistically make in this business? I am a Realtor now and I'm making a pretty good salary, but I love cakes! Everyone tells me that I should get into this business, but I'm worried about the finances. Thanks.

It's just not one of those questions that someone can answer for you.....depends on your location and skill, really. If you offer an excellent tasting product w/ a unique look then you can definitely make money but you have to consider all the startup costs. If you are going to be legal then you need to find and rent kitchen space, advertise, permit fees, of course...also, do you have all the baking equipment already? If you do, that makes it a whole lot easier.

At least with your current job ( I hope : ) you can schedule your own hours so you could do both and then see if the cake is making as much as or more then the realtor salary. I am at a complete standstill since I can't find a location to get licensed but if I could, I have all these ideas for advertising and products. I was too scared even to hand out holiday flyers because I wasn't licensed so that is the first hurdle. I wish you the best of luck!

Thank you CakeDiva. There certainly is a lot to consider. I've sold a few cakes in the past here and there to friends, but nothing to brag about.

truthfully...i do ok, but i'll not get rich doing this....

there are only so many hours in the day...

plus it can be pretty grueling on saturday...not being able to sit for 10 hours...plus the stress of back to back orders all day....ya gotta love it, or you'll wanna quit.

why not just do it on the side...that way no overhead...and you can keep your job.....

i guess being a realtor...you busy day is saturday too, huh?

I just started my business in Feb and now have all the equipment I need and its all paid for I am finally seeing a little money come in but its the everyday supplies that get ya. Always having to buy cake mixes boards boxes etc. I am busier than I ever thought I would be it just took off once the word got out. I haven't spent any money on advertising.

I'm taking the leap and I am going to start baking and pastry school. I know that there is not a lot of money in this but it's something that I really enjoy doing. I make decent money now in my current job ( I work in an office), but I don't feel rewarded or even satisfied. I figure it like this, I'm not getting rich working where I'm at right now, I don't even enjoy being there and most likely I won't get rich doing cakes either, but if I can feel a sense of satisfaction and enjoyment then I'd rather take the chance. Besides if it doesn't work out I will always have office skills right

Thanks for the responses. I probably will just do it on the side. Littlecakes, I am usually busy on Saturdays as well. Especially now that it's getting dark quicker, I'm scheduling more people on the weekends than the evenings. I don't think I can let my full time job go, but it'd be nice to do cakes on the side, if nothing else, just to keep my hobby going.