I found out I’m quite good at baking

[Shellbell]

Hi there so about 2 months ago I offered to make my nieces birthday cake, she wanted a masha and the bear cake which I made! I’m quite arty so loved the decorating part, anyway she posted a few photos on Facebook and well... I have people messaging me asking to make all sorts of cakes and even wedding cakes I work full time but bake on my days off. I have to say I really love it and spend hours decorating them. I have a problem pricing them though, because I enjoy it, I feel bad charging but it’s a lot of work. Has anyone any similar experiences and how did you over come it ??? All help is really appreciated, here’s a few cakes I’ve made would love to know what you all think

 

[Norcalbaker59]

It’s great that you discovered the wonders and creative joys of baking.

Regarding your hobby as a business the first thing you need to do is check with your state regarding cottage food laws. Nearly every state has legislation regulating the sell of food from a home kitchen.

Most states require basic food safety training and licensing. All regulate the type of products that can be produced and sold to the public from a home kitchen. There’s also regulations on how/where home kitchen food can be sold.

Counties may have additional regulations.

It all comes down to food safety.

In the state of California, officials conducted a sting operation to arrest unlicensed food vendors using Facebook. County officials placed food orders from people advertising on Facebook. When the order was delivered and money exchanged, the vendor was arrested. Of the 20 some people arrested, all but one accepted a plea bargain in which they paid fines and agreed to probation.

Insofar as pricing, You have to look at your costs and the market in your area. Look at the website of other event cake pastry chefs and bakeries in your area. Most have a gallery and pricing information. That will give you an idea of the quality expected by consumers in your area and prices in that market. Will also give you an idea of trends and what consumers expect in so far as ingredients.

Prices vary dramatically by area and pastry chef. Event cakes are priced per serving. Depending on the area, it can start as low as $1.50 per serving. Where I live prices start at $8 per serving from most bakers and bakeries. But cake prices here can also skyrocket into the thousands of dollars. Perfect Endings can demand $25 per serving and up based on the pastry chef’s international reputation. So you have to figure out your target customer, where your skill sets are compared to the competition, local market demands, and local market prices.

 

[Shellbell]

Thank you so much for your reply. Can’t believe people got arrested for selling what the made!!! I’m in Ireland and it’s a case of if you do well you then register as a business, pay your taxes then your fine. I am going to do a good safety course very soon actually. They will come and look at my kitchen to make sure it is up to standards. Thanks again

 

[Jean S.]

Your cakes are really good! Lots of talent and vision on your part.

I love Eire. A long time ago (25 years) I used to go to Loughrea for horse back riding. I had a wonderful time, the town was quaint and welcoming. I tried fox hunting, scared me to no end with the Galway Blazers. But the kids of the owner of these rides kept me safe. But oh my, an adventure for sure. The little hotel we stayed at was fabulous. The bartender Martin, pinned me with a little Irish flag after my 1st fox hunt stating I had become Irish (which I still have to this day and cherish it). I loved all the staff there, and all the people in town. Great memories to have. Riding through the hills, jumping the walls, lunching with the folks who owned the land but let us ride on it......sigh I love your country!

Please note I don't agree with killing foxes, but this was 30 years ago, it was more the adventure of the ride, I never ever saw the fox, I was too busy trying to stay up with all of them, they ride insanely!

 

[Norcalbaker59]

Thank you so much for your reply. Can’t believe people got arrested for selling what the made!!! I’m in Ireland and it’s a case of if you do well you then register as a business, pay your taxes then your fine. I am going to do a good safety course very soon actually. They will come and look at my kitchen to make sure it is up to standards. Thanks again

Yes, the cottage food industry in California was pretty shocked about the arrests. While we understand the food safety concerns, nobody wants to make someone ill with food poisoning, but putting people on probation seemed a bit excessive.

Most can understand the fine as a way to discourage unlicensed production of food. But putting people on probation implies they are criminals that need to be monitored. They’re cooks and bakers, not drug dealers.

 

[-Daniel-]

Your cakes look brill!

If you're serious about selling cakes as a business, even a small one, I'd suggest checking out She Who Bakes. She has an E-book with some advice: http://shewhobakes.co.uk/how-to-start-a-cake-business-from-home-e-book/

I occasionally receive requests to make cakes, but I now refuse them. I find it's too difficult calculating what a cake is worth (ingredients + time + electricity/gas etc.) and I feel like when I can't taste a cake myself I'm nervous to let other people try it and judge it.