People love baked goods, and if you make a delicious product, you are sure to receive good business when many people are looking for a second source of income to supplement their earnings. A home business allows you to earn without worrying about space rental costs though you will need to invest in the equipment.
Depending on the type of baking business you choose, you may need to purchase anything from industrial-sized bags of flour to specialty use dispensing nozzles. Choosing the type of baking business you want to do will help you to plan better for the initial costs of starting.
Make sure to budget for marketing and advertising costs as well. This is just as important as having the right equipment as no one will be able to purchase your delicious baked goods if they don’t know about you.
Etsy and Instagram Shops
These sites allow you to create a page where you can sell specialty products to customers on demand. This is a good way for you to be the face of the product and share pictures and videos of the products to pique people’s interests. You can set volume limits to avoid wasting time, money, and baking materials and offer a pick-up or delivery option.
Wholesale Baked Goods
If you prefer not to do business with customers directly, you can send proposals to local bakeries and cafes to suggest a profit-sharing business. You will bake the products, and the bakery or cafe will sell them. You will have to split the proceeds, but it frees you to concentrate on baking without worrying about moving the goods.
Freelance Chef
You can market your services as a freelance baker or pastry chef to hotels and individual clients. People are happy to pay a premium fee for premium services, so make sure you have the skills necessary to provide a product that matches your rate.
This type of work will usually be more seasonal, and you will receive a higher volume of work around holidays. Birthday parties and corporate events will likely be your biggest earning opportunities for the rest of the year.
Specialty Baking
Many people suffer from gluten intolerance or celiac disease but still enjoy baked goods. There are even more people who prefer to eat organic or vegan food.
These people have limited options for baked products and are likely to appreciate a baker who specifically caters to their needs. Advertise your services on social media pages frequented by people with special dietary needs and always be very clear about exactly what goes into your products.
Cake Decorator
If your passion is to create beautiful pieces of art from cakes, you may want to specialize in cake decorating. Weddings are a high earning opportunity to produce some amazing examples of a beautifully decorated cake. Wedding cakes also cost enough that you can take your time to make something truly delightful and memorable for the couple.
Birthday parties, product launch events, and opening ceremony events are also avenues that will be interested in highly decorated cakes. Work with a public relations company so that they can pitch your services to their clients.
Sell Bread
Artisanal bread is very popular, and many people will prefer to spend more on a fresh artisanal loaf than mass-produced bread from a supermarket. Artisanal loaves that are handmade using healthy and fresh products can command a premium price. Offer your bread to individuals, cafes, and hotels.
Fun Cupcakes
Some people do not enjoy one big cake and prefer many pretty cupcakes instead. The cupcake business is on an upward trend, and now is the perfect time to jump on board. Cupcakes are easier to store, distribute, and giveaway after an event than a cake.
Market your products to cafes, individuals planning parties, and promotional events help by businesses in your area.
Make Pies
Pies do not see more popularity than cakes and cookies, but pie enthusiasts will happily pay premium prices for delicious ones. You can choose to specialize in a particular type of fruit or mince pie or offer a range of options.
You can sell out of your home or set up a profit-sharing system with a local cafe. Business is likely to pick up around holidays, so be prepared with special offers and unique holiday-themed flavors or decor.
Whichever type of baking business you choose, always remember to observe health protocols and provide stellar service. In the food industry, it is easy to lose the trust of customers if you do not live up to a certain set of standards.
Only offer services and accept orders that you can deliver. Even if you have to stick to small orders, the quality of the baked goods you deliver will ensure that you earn regular customers. Regular customers who consistently order from you is the mark of your business’s success. Do it for the love of baking as much as the extra income, and you are sure to enjoy running your small business.