I am relatively new to cake decorating, but have really fallen in love with it. I haven't done that many cakes (none for anyone but myself), but have been reading and observing obsessively. So now I have a dilemma before me. I love the idea of someday opening my own bakery (like so many I am sure) but I have no idea where to start. I have a great career right now in design, but I am stuck in front of a computer most days, when what I really want to be is covered in flour working on a cake for 12 hours... insane right?

So I guess my question is what do I do? Is a cake decorating career even feesible? I have so many ideas ( journal-full already) and so little experience. Quite honestly I am hesitant to take any cake decorating courses b/c I want to create my own 'unique cakes' but then I think if I did this as a business it would probably mostly be made up of people who would want me to do traditional cakes right? Also, I have a family, and it isn't really realistic for me to switch careers into something that will require a lot more of my time with less pay.

So I try and talk myself out of it, but I just am so drawn to it, and I don't even have a sweet tooth!! So I guess my question would be, where do you start? Culinary school? Cakes for friends and see what happens? A job at a bakery? Sometimes I just think I should forget about it, but then I see such talent on here, and it inspires me to know that people acutally make a living doing this.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I am really void of any kind of mentor, or feedback from anyone who knows what I am talking about. and TIA, you truly all are so great! I LOVE this site!

I too have dreamed, literally, of having my own bakery. I'd love to see some responses on this. Good luck with your endeavor!

Missy

well for one thing it's great you don't have a sweet tooth!

i know that different ones here have come down different paths to own our own place.

i never went to any school...i did have an art background andworked at 5 different bakeries to see how things are done.

theres an investment....for the equipment....so start saving.

it really must be a passion...because the hours are long at times and the work can be hard.

but at the end of the day theres nothing i'd rather do.

Well, Ideas have to start someplace, and the classes are a good place to start because not only is cake an art form, you have to know how to support your structures also.

There is a big of engineering involved! and it's hard to work with any artistic medium if you don't know how it's going to react.

Wishing you luck...

also...experimenting on friends, families and coworkers is a great place to start!

i've been decorating cakes for 15 years now. started when i was 17!
i've worked at 7 different bakeries from california, oregon and michigan.
if your thinking of doing this as a career, work at a bakery first to see how the business works
holidays are always hard work and very long hours. after work your to tired to spend much quailty time with family and friends.
and you can say goodbye to your weekends. mostly saturday. everyone has parties on saturday.....i'm always at work doing thier cakes and cookies!
but....i'm still decorating and still loving it!
so you have to adjust to a different life. oh yah most of the bakeries i've worked at i start a 4am or before!!!!!
this is just my opinion.....i'm sure some will differ!!!!!
like i said before i still love doing cakes!!!!!

I do not have a business, but I know when I spend 8 hours on one cake I dont want to do anything, but go to bed! I do love the work though.

One thing to look at is...does your state allow a home based bakery??

I agree with getting some sort of instruction on how to support the structure, learn about how to work with different mediums.....however....I signed up for a wilton class..don't do it! That style is so old fashioned and the piped flowers and things are not unique. Anyone's grandma can do that. I like unique, fun, creative cakes!! Use your design background to work with textures and patterns, colors things like that.

I would love to have a business, but florida dosent allow it and I have 3 little ones that expect me to be there at the honor roll assembly. A bakery would not work for me untill my kids are older.

figure out what is most important to you...kids..family..career...good thing about a bakery is that you can leave..be with the family, then go back to work in the middle of the night if you wanted to..........
it's a hard one.....

I started from a long road. I started by taking every class I could - even flying to other states to take some great classes. I have been teaching cake decorating for 9 years, and still do. I went to a French culinary school after much reseach as that is the direction I wanted to go. I then took my degree and worked a few years in two very high end bakeries, with a very simuliar style as I wanted for my bakery. I worked really hard researching the demographics in my area - as I am the ONLY bakery....Yeah!!! And we bought a building that we are in the midst of remodeling and almost finished. We officially open our doors Jan. but have passed inspection in July - as I didn't want to miss the holiday rush. I can advise by saying - do lots of research and try it out on someone elses dime before you make such a huge investment, both financially and in your time.

thanks for the advice everyone. i suppose i have a long path ahead of me, and i will just see how it progresses. i guess i am a little impatient b/c my passion for this is so strong right now i might be jumping the gun a bit.

tracy702: i think you are right when you say " do lots of research and try it out on someone elses dime before you make such a huge investment, both financially and in your time." that is what i have been trying to do.

for those of you who are working/have worked in a bakery, what kind of skills do you need to even get hired? unfortunately they don't really have any true bakeries where i live, and i don't see myself giving up my day job to go work in the kroger bakery. hurumpf..... i guess i just need more time to figure this all out.

First, I started out by taking Wilton classes at Michael's - all three courses. Then I applied for a job as a cake decorator at one of the major grocer chain and got it. Worked there in less than half a year because I want to move to NC from FL.

Then I'm working on my home based bakery and start from there. I have not yet work full-time yet, as I'm working as US Postal Mail Lady I'm not ready to leave my good paying job yet as I want to save $$$ for bakery equipment and other cost. It may take a few years, but it's going to be worth it because this way I don't have to worry about carry a loan and pay back.

I've thought about going to culinary school, but they're too pricey, unfortunately. That's why I applied for a job at the grocery and get a "free" education and of course, get paid.

RisqueBusiness - not a problem

I also want to start my own cake business. It's hard because I'm really afraid of quitting my full time job, even though I hate it. Im in my third wilton course also ,and Im' still in college..one year left though!! I'm hoping to gain a lot of experience this year, and next year when Ibuy a house, I can start a home business. I would like to work in a bakery first though. If I were you I'd take any experience, even if it is at a supermarket. You might learn a lot there!

I wish I could quit my job to bake full time but I know for a fact that baking won't pay me over six figures per year especially knowing that my clients always want a deal.

So I'll continue to work full time go home and bake part-time then be tired the next day but happy knowing I fulfilled my passion for baking.

Like many others I also would love to baking full time, but at the mo money wont' allow me.
I think the best bet would be to start practicing on cakes for your family or friends, say when they have a birthday or celebration comin up. It will give you a chance to practice on techniques and different ideas and learn from your mistakes.
Your friends will love being given a cake and wont' notice any flaws like you will. This could also give you a bit of business cos someone may see a cake you've done and want you to do one for them! Then you charge an amount to cover your costs initially and a bit more. Gradually you will get better and better.
There is an initial cost (a fair bit)! when you first start with all the equipment you will need, even for the basic stuff.
Just practice and practice. Take photos of all the cakes you do and put in an album. As your cakes get better, get rid of all the 'first' cakes and replace them with your better ones.
It will take a while but you will get there if you are determined and have a real passion, as when you have been decorating all day your passion will carry you through!
cheers Jan

[quote="katycc] Also, I thought about taking the wilton classes to learn techniques, but am too caught up in things like sugar art, and non-traditional techniques to be motivated to do that, even though I know I should. I realize that all kinds of experiences are good, but with limited time and resources,

I have just been doing things kind of haphazardly.

I suppose that is exactly why I love this site so much though... you can be haphazard and talk/learn about anything you happen to be interested in at the time. [/quote]

Doing things Haphazardly is not doing them well at all!!! I know you know that... And just because you are caught up in things like sugar art and non-traditional techniques to be motivated to do a Wilton class..doesn't mean they are NOT a good basis.

Even the most non -traditional artists start someplace...and they to give free rein to their talent, must understand the basic and classical techniques. CC is not a substitute for that, as sometimes we can't come to your rescue the moment you need help and post, and a lot of times people are here looking for answer to THEIR questions themselves.

I'm not trying to discourage you..in your artistic quest...but I am a traditionalist. I could not even imagine attemping to do something that I had no basic understanding off and expected other people to pull my chestnuts out of the fire when I hit a wall. Especially something as important as this.

I know cake is not a matter of life an death...but you ruin someone's wedding cake or don't give them the right birthday cake....they can surely make your life misearble!!!