Ok, I've been doing cakes for around 3 1/2 -4 yrs now and I love doing them. I've had alot of friends and family tell me that I should go ahead and venture into my own business, but I am somewhat hesitant that my cakes are not good enough or "professional" enough to spend the time and money to go into starting a business. I know that my abilities have gotten alot better over the years, but I can always look through my cake album and go ughhhhh, that's terrible. Has anyone felt this way while thinking of starting your own business? Or is it just me and that I'm my own worst enemy? What would yall do?

Your cakes are beautiful! There's just so much more involved that goes into a cake business than just decorating. Are you talking about opening a store front business or a home based one? Tx has a great cottage food law. I think you could always try the home business and see how it goes for you! Look into the laws of the cottage food law and see if it's something that interests you! If I lived in TX I would definitely open a home business! Immediately!! I live in SC and we don't have a cottage food law here. I would have to have a completely seperate kitchen from my own home, it can be on my property, and have commercial appliances in it. You should go for it!

Just know that baking and decorating is about 10% of what you do as a biz owner.

My friends and family are telling me the same thing. I tried telling them that I am no a risk taker with my finances and they just don't understand. If I opened a business it would be desserts only. I don't want to make wedding cakes. I do enjoy making dessert cakes, cupcakes, cookies and my cheesecake wrapped strawberries. My husband bought me a book on how to open a coffee business. If I could get by on coffee sandwiches and my dessert items I might be willing to give it a go but not if I have to take a chance on losing my entire savings.

Friends and family do not get the time and investment in to starting your own business.

I think the best question to ask yourself before you jump into it, is how much of your time are you willing to give up for it. Do you work during the day? Are you willing to spend several evenings a week making cakes? Are you willing to give up your Friday nights for cakes? Your Saturdays for cakes and deliveries? Do you want to deal with the general public? How are you going to handle contracts, payments, complaints if they come up? Those are just some of the things to think about before jumping in.

You live in Texas, so do check out the New Cottage Food Law.

For me, I'd rather do cakes when I want to, for a limited amount of people. I deal with family for cakes. My family always pays me on time. My family doesn't try to screw me over or get me to lessen the price. My family understand if I have other things going on and don't have time to do a cake or time to do a real elaborate cake.

I'm actually a stay at home mom and would have time and money to commit to it and would love to do so. I am aware of all the business aspects of it and the paperwork involved. My main worry is that my decorating skills might not be up to parr for me to open up a shop.

Geri, It doesn't matter what anyone else tells you, you need to have confidence in your own decorating abilities.

We do tend to be our own worst critics and will pick apart cakes. Take a step back and look at your cakes from a less personally involved level.

Well when I started my business I had no idea how well i'd do, so I just went ahead did it anways. I have no regrets now. Sure it was easy when I got started but with the help of others its going great now!

You are certainly talented enough, but Leah is correct in that 10% of a cake business is the decorating. Have you analyzed the market in your area, is there a need or is it already saturated? You have the technical skill, and if you know the business management end that only leaves the customer base and their spending habits for your location- that's the next step to investigate before you make your move.

Agree with what everyone has contributed so far You are very talented in your work.. so clean and smooth in your work.. precise in your creations. I would definitely pay a good price for your work and feel I got my monies worth when you rocked up at my door with my cake But yes, Leah is right.. decorating is only a small part of running your own business. The time it takes to answer a quote sometimes can be ridiculous.. let alone book work, stock taking and keeping up with your supplies.. getting a website up and running and constantly updating it.. pricing out orders.. the list goes on and on... BUT I have to say I wouldn't be without my business now.. I LOVE it! I had only been decorating for less than a month (my first cake was a wedding cake and it took off from there!) and decided to go into business the very next month. If you are confident within yourself that you can do it I say go for it. Having said that.. I still have my part time job 2 days per week that helps pay the bills when I have a quiet week. So, as Corrie76 has advised.. do your market research first before jumping into it. I was lucky, as I live in a kind of remote area that attracts a lot of weddings all year round.. AND there was no other serious decorator in business.