How do I start up a cake decorating business (ohio)?

Question

I've always been interested in cake decorating, and I'm pretty good at it. Recently my family, and friends have been telling me I should start a business, any suggestions?

Any suggestions on where to start?

Answer 1

You should research as much as possible to make sure it's a career choice that will work for you. Here are some articles you may want to check out:

10 things you need for a home business (from Microsoft Small Business Center)
http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/startups/home_businesses/10_things_you_need_for_a_home_business.mspx

How to Start a Cake Decorating Business
http://homebusinesscenter.com/how_to_start/cake_decorating.html

Starting a Cake Decorating Business From Home
http://www.justbusinessideas.com/cake_decorating.htm

Wilton has a number of courses available at their school in Darien, Illinois, including a 3-hour class called "Starting Your Own Cake Business - Where to Begin?" If you are thinking you'd like to go ahead, it may be a good idea to take the time to attend this or other courses. That particular course is $25 for registration and $50 for tuition. They had a course on 2/19/07 and don't yet show another for this year, but you could contact them at 800-772-7111, ext. 2888 to find out when it will be offered next.

Local arts and crafts stores, such as Joann Fabrics and Michaels, often offer cake decorating courses as well, but your capabilities may already be beyond what you would learn there.

Amazon also has several books that might be useful as resources for cake ideas and for starting a home-based business. Here are links to a few:

Professional Cake Decorating
http://www.amazon.com/Professional-Cake-Decorating-Toba-Garrett/dp/047170136X/ref=pd_sim_b_1/105-2719010-6326825

Cakes to Dream On: A Master Class in Decorating
http://www.amazon.com/Cakes-Dream-Master-Class-Decorating/dp/0471214620/ref=pd_sim_b_4/105-2719010-6326825

Spectacular Cakes: Special Occasion Cakes for Any Celebration
http://www.amazon.com/SPECTACULAR-CAKES-Special-Occasion-Celebration/dp/0789313618/ref=pd_sim_b_5/105-2719010-6326825

How to Start a Home-Based Catering Business
http://www.amazon.com/How-Start-Home-Based-Catering-Business/dp/0762738782/sr=1-7/qid=1172474840/ref=sr_1_7/105-2719010-6326825?ie=UTF8&s=books

Answer 2

Does that mean you have already been selling cake from home? I would get up a group of customers that way first...so they will come looking for you...and pass the word about you.

So get a catchy name going that you can use in your shop later...test out your prices on these people...it will help you later, but keep in mind when you get a store...then you have rent and overhead....so start slowly.

I saw one cake shop that did a great job selling one type of cake that could be decorated a number of ways for parties....she specialized in just that type of bundt cake....and it was the decorating that made it different...you fit the cake you picked out to the party or shower....would be a good way to keep things simple to get started....maybe just have a few choices that can be changed easily....make them different from other places so they will come looking for you.

Cake decorating is a real art these days. Study the best in the business...you can learn a lot. Just watched a wedding cake contest on Cable and it was awesome what those cake decorators did!

So my advice is start simple, and keep your overhead low any way you can....because it is very expensive to outfit a kitchen, etc. You can also bake from a rented kitchen and have a front where you sell the cakes....a cheaper way to get started and to fit the health department rules.