Better Choice For Business, Workshop Or Bakery?
Business By bocadulcecakes Updated 7 Dec 2013 , 11:41pm by KTCake2000
I have been working from home making cakes since 3 years ago, after I quit my work in a bakery
Now I'm thinking to grow out of home, my mind was always have a workshop where I can bake, decorate and receive my customer, but only making custom cakes.
But now my best friend is proposing opening a small bakery, kind of little cafe, where we can offer my cakes, but also offer desserts, pastry, coffee, etc...
I'm not really secure about that, I'm clear my main business is cakes, she said we can have a better profit offering other things and opening to the public, but would be this a good idea?
what is your opinion??
go with your gut on this--you are much much much richer to have a sweet and good best friend than to get into all the never ending drama of opening a business with her that risks it all when you are not secure in the venture in the first place--
yes a retail store front cafe is a completley different animal than a custom cake place--apples and oranges--
ACan you legally sell homemade baked goods where you live? If so, write one business plan for the workshop and one (with your friend) for the bakery, then compare. If not, you could compare a full partnership with your friend's bakery vs. renting out the bakery's commercial kitchen space for your own separate business.
Quote:
I have been working from home making cakes since 3 years ago, after I quit my work in a bakery
Now I'm thinking to grow out of home, my mind was always have a workshop where I can bake, decorate and receive my customer, but only making custom cakes.
But now my best friend is proposing opening a small bakery, kind of little cafe, where we can offer my cakes, but also offer desserts, pastry, coffee, etc...
I'm not really secure about that, I'm clear my main business is cakes, she said we can have a better profit offering other things and opening to the public, but would be this a good idea?
what is your opinion??
We had a storefront for two years. It is HARD work, LONG hours, and can seriously suck ALL the fun out of cakes. I'm not saying it's not great for some, just that it's not for everyone. It's takes a lot of start up capital, and it takes at least a year or two, usually longer, before you start making money. Every dollar of everything you sell will go straight back into the business to cover overhead for a while. Would you have enough capital to live off of for awhile until the business can pay you a wage?
Does your friend bake or have any business experience, or is she just relying on you for all of that?
Not trying to be a Debbie Downer, but opening a retail bakery is SO much more than just baking desserts and selling them. I wouldn't want anyone to go into it without knowing exactly what you're getting yourself into. Please let me know if I can answer any questions you may have about specific aspects of opening a store.
ADoes your friend want a 60+ hour a week job? Is she willing to put in the time and effort that it takes over and above what you're doing now or does she expect you to add to your own workload while she counts the cash?
another thought for you to ponder--think of all the successful bakery cafes you know of--places that have been around booming for 7-8 years--could count them on one hand with three fingers tied down -- not an easy business--if you are old enough you can however list how many bakeries there used to be--
in fact 'booming' and 'bakery' are not words that pair often or hardly at all in the real world--
franchises seem to do better--
but usually, bakery type places have to serve lunch or something additional to support the baking 'habit' when they are relying on the public to come in and buy on a retail basis--
Quote:
another thought for you to ponder--think of all the successful bakery cafes you know of--places that have been around booming for 7-8 years--could count them on one hand with three fingers tied down -- not an easy business--if you are old enough you can however list how many bakeries there used to be--
in fact 'booming' and 'bakery' are not words that pair often or hardly at all in the real world--
franchises seem to do better--
but usually, bakery type places have to serve lunch or something additional to support the baking 'habit' when they are relying on the public to come in and buy on a retail basis--
Yes. Spot on.
Do not do anything that you are not secure in. What does your friend bring to the table? It sounds like you are the one with the talent. Do not let people persuade you or dictate the course of your life. Do what is comfortable or take risks; but do it on your own terms.
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