Has anyone here quit their full time job to do cakes and have you regretted your decision or found that it was a great business move?

I only DREAM of doing that!!! I can't afford to quit now, I work in the medical field and make too much money, plus it's a secure job right now in an uncertain world, but that doesn't stop me from dreaming about it though

Yeah, I second that....for a while I dreamed of turning a serious, addictive hobby into a full-time business and quitting my full-time job - - but its really just a dream fantasy for me. I work full time and make pretty decent money, even if I am bored out of my mind, but its comfy cuz I've been here for so long, and it has benefits as well. I would have to kill myself working nite and day to replace my salary and benefits working at baking and decorating. And that would take all the fun out of it - I don't want to be a bakery, I just want to enjoy creating. I have tons of respect for everyone who is in it fulltime, because it is really labor-intensive, and costly, and hard to make a profit....now, if I were independently wealthy and didn't have to worry about income, I would quit my day job in a flash and create in my kitchen to my heart's content!!!

I second ruthi! I would have to do a TON of business in the cake world to bring in the same amount of income I currently make with my FT job. Now....if I win the lotto or inherit a huge amount of money, well, I would quit in a heartbeat and do cakes all the time!

My other thought is that I do not want to have to make cakes to make a living, I think that would stress me out beyond what I could handle....

I did it 25 years ago. Sheesh! It's a little scary realizing just how long ago that was! I was just working in a grocery store bakery, so not a whole lot of money there. I recently had my 2nd child, had moved and my hubby was starting his own lucrative business. Child care was eating up what little I was making, so hubby decided that it was time to quit.

I've never regretted it! I had 18 great years of an in-home business. Five years ago I had to close up shop due to hand/arm issues. Two years previous to that I had somewhat down-sized and had taken a "real" job with insurance. It was ok, but I often grumbled about the fact that I could make in one weekend what I earned in two weeks at that job! So now here I am in an office job. Not my thing, but the pay is ok, I have little or no stress, and I have insurance to cover all my latest surgeries.

In today's economy, I doubt that I would have been able to take that first step towards running a business. I am so thankful for those years of being able to do what I love while staying home raising my 3 kids.

I did. I miss the 'cushion' of benefits and that is it. I don't make the money I did when I worked for someone else but with that money came a lot of compromising and lack of appreciation and out and out USING by those in positions above me. So, the negative things I gave up made up for the positive things I gave up (yes, that's the way I meant to say it).

I just did!! My last day is this Saturday. I do however, have a hubby that can support us soooo the money I make from my cakes is just to put back into my business. My goal is to open a shop in 2 years (when my daughter goes to school full time) I have a legal kitchen in my home and it works out great.
I also live in Canada so benefits are not as important to me as most things are covered. My husbands job cover all meds and dental.

I think you need to look at all your options and do what is best for you. I didn't want to look back and think I spent all this time away from my daughter at a job I didn't like.

I did several years ago... but then decided to take a work from home telephonic job as well (I'm a registered nurse). At first the orders were slow so I thought I could do both...and I did, for 2 years. The business grew very quickly and steadily and I soon found myself running crazy. I tried to find some trustworthy help, but it's not an easy thing to do. I finally gave up and just closed the shop because the pace was taking a toll on my health. I certainly miss it (and the income), but I succeeded and lived out my dream

I am now taking that exact route. Next week, for the first time in 30 years, my inhome daycare will close. I am very fortunate that we don't have to rely on my income, our home will be paid for in the next year, and we have no children at home anymore. I have had an in home licensed cake business for a couple of years now, but this year it has really taken off - so the timing is right. Being in Ohio, I have the luxury of not having to have a seperate kitchen, we remodeled my kitchen here two years ago to facilitate my cake business. I will be able to work when I want, and take off when I want. I am SO EXCITED!! At the age of 50, I will finally be doing what I love, and not have to worry about making enough to cover the overhead of a storefront. I am truely blessed to be able to do finally do this! It will be strange not having any children here during the day - but I am sure I will get over it!!

I dream about it often but have had some interesting experiences lately that tell me it may not be for me. I make it a point to go visit new bakeries and cupcake shops that look like something I would be interested in doing. I always buy something because I believe in supporting small local businesses and I envy these people for their courage and commitment.

That said the last two places I visited I was chatting with the owners (working the front counter) and mentioned having a bakery is a dream of mine but I'm afraid turning my passion into a business worries me because I don't want to resent it.

The first lady told me to seriously think about it. The business end of what she does (rent, paperwork, taxes , advertising) takes up so much of her time that she had to hire a cake decorated and she rarely decorates any more. That made me very said.

The other one is a little cupcake shop in our very high end mall by our house ...same story but she owns a cake shop and this new cupcake shop. She's had the cake shop for over a year and said she cringes every time she even thinks about having to decorate a cake.

I love this so much, I would hate to feel that way about it.

On a side note, last I read Bronwen Webber does not own her bakery..she is just head chef/decorator. I really think I might be more interested in being a decorated for someone else who has to do the books and deal with MOB etc and still get to do what I love. Just my 2 cents.

That is my dream. I work full time and started doing cake decorating a couple of years ago for family and friends. I am working on getting a home baking license, I too am in Ohio. If all works out maybe in a few years I can quit my full time job and do cakes full time. Loucinda you are my idol

I'm heading down this route! It sounds crazy and untimely with the economy to quit such a high-paying comfortable job that was steady, but you only live once! I'm lucky to have a husband who is supportive of this venture and I'm really floored that I'm loving everything that's going into creating a business from the legal/accounting side to creating the products themselves! Let's hope it stays that way!!

I am so glad I came across this thread! I have a licensed kitchen at my home, but I just do cakes as more of "side job" or money making hobby. I am a registered nurse and I have a great job with alot of flexibility and low stress (hard to come by in nursing profession). A year ago, I was ready to give it all up and do cakes full time. But after booking up every weekend with cakes (and trying to work my other full time job, with two small kids and a husband) I quickly (maybe not so quickly) learned that it just isn't worth it. I would have to bake a whole lot of cakes to equal my nursing salary and when I did the math, there is no way I could do it and still have a family life. It still cracks me up when people tell me, "why don't you just quit your job". They just have no idea how labor instensive and stressful cakes can be. I love it, it is my passion, but I do notice that when I take on too much, I get very stressed and burnt out. At least now, when I get to that point, I have the freedom to slack off on cakes because it's just my "play money" anyway.....and that's always fun to have.

I did this...but not with cake...with dog grooming. I loved it so much that I thought I would never get tired of it. Well, I have a successful pet grooming salon now, and I hate grooming dogs now. Now that its my actual "job" and no longer a hobby, its lost some of its charm. Combine that with the responsibilities of overhead, long hours and and having to be in charge all the time, I regret doing it.

I had already told my boss I'd be leaving at the end of the year to open my shop. So when he had to reduce headcount, he selected me because I was leaving anyway. (Hey! I got unemployment out of the deal!)

So I did leave my full time job to open the shop. Had the best time of my life until my arthritis in my neck forced the hard decision to close.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

I dont want to hijack the thread so I'll keep this super short but oh Indy, I can relate with you! Arthritis in the neck completely sucks! I hate it so much and its so painful. Quick FYI: a orthopedic pillow has been a godsend to me.

I work outside the home 40 hrs per week. However I have my own cake business from my home. I'm also from OH. I wasn't really planning on having my own business. But everyone kept telling me I need to take my kids' birthday cakes to the next level. So one thing lead to another, and now I've been making professional cakes for customers since April of this year. I would love to quit my full time position. But like most of you I have a nice paying job, and benefits. And I do enjoy my daytime job. But I long to have those days when my kids are at school during the day, and I can make/decorate the cakes during the day. Currently I make the cakes on Thurs/Fri evenings. <Most of mine are Saturday pickups.>

I'm a firm believer that if it's meant to be, it will happen. Good Luck to all of you whom are considering this venture.

I didn't leave a job, because I was at home with kids as I gradually decided I wanted to do cakes, but I would say to anyone thinking about it to be truly honest with themselves about the time, work and costs involved. I think I had rose-tinted glasses when I imagined running my cake business - I think many of us do.

I have three kids aged 9, 13 and 14, and there is NO DOUBT that they have been impacted by me working in my basement kitchen late nights, early mornings, away for weekend deliveries etc etc. I am still not making any money, which is very disheartening. In fact have just decided to put cakes away for a while as I was offered the chance to cater a small school lunch program. I know that this will be hard work, but there's no way it can be as stressful as delivering a wedding cake and worrying it's not right. Also I will be free on weekends and school vacations. I can always pick up again when my family doesn't need me so much...

I definitely think that those who truly succeed are able to do it because they are business people first and foremost.

Well I guess in this post I'm the oddball . I've never done anything else. I graduated from culinary arts many moons ago, got married and opened a baker with a great friend. After having the baker for 20yrs we sold it and retired. Now I just do cakes for fun. I can't seem to give it up. There is always something catching my eye, and I think hmmmmm what if I took that design and added this or that. Most times I see something and think omg that will make a great cake, then run home to do.

I know I posed this question to Indydebi but to anyone who did this full time how long did it take you to actually begin to make a profit?

It has taken me almost 5 years. I am finally to the point where I am making money, and all of my equipment is paid for.

I've been pondering this lately as well. I'm just starting my new business and I'm lucky to have the opportunity to do so. I see alot of the same concerns I had when reading this forum, but the way I see it is Duff started his company out of his apartment and is now extremely successful as are other top decorators out there. They deal with the business side, but they still seem to be heavily involved in the cake process as well. Businesses are started every day and some fail and some succeed. Since I started my business I have had ALOT of work! People are so interested and excited when they find out I do cakes-I get asked for my card everywhere-the doctors office, the UPS station...I think the bigger question is are you business minded?

I'd advise anybody contemplating this to think long and hard and to seek independent professional business advise - rarely do people admit to 'failed' businesses - they will blame anything but mostly the truth is that they 'failed' to do adequate research and believed a lot of inaccurate information .... its like ... you have to believe EVERYTHING that you read on the internet! right? you do don't you??? hahaha

I've read a few people's bio's where they tout a whole swag of credentials, success stories and shout out to all that will listen how fantastic their lives are................. then you find out that all is not as it seems!

Yes, I quite my job almost two years ago to do cakes from my home. I worked in a bank for the last 15years. I have only gotten busier since. in the next week or so I will be opening my own shop. It has been a long time getting the shop ready and the equipment I need. but its about to open.
It is a dream come true. I have an Angel investor. He had the faith that I could make it happen. (He is a complete stranger).I did not have the funds on my own. Remember put your faith in the man upstairs. If its ment to happen things will come your way.