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In these recessionary times, many people are thinking of starting a new business and cake decorating is certainly a popular choice. It is one of those businesses that you can start in a small way, providing you are able to obtain the necessary health certificates and business licensing.
This kind of business can be fun because you are dealing with people who are celebrating, but it can still be hard work and your MUST make sure that you have enough money to make a go of it. As you are dealing with food it is vital that you first undertake training in food handling and the appropriate health and safety rules. You will need to ensure that you have a kitchen that is both clean and well equipped to a professional standard and many countries insist that you hold health certificates and are regularly inspected.
If you have a good business plan, price your cakes to make a profit and are good at time management, this can be a lucrative business. Your main reason for wanting to start a cake decorating business should be that you are getting so many cake orders that you feel you can go into business and make a go of it.
There are certain items you will need to start. You will need a few icing tips (the ones you use most often), a heavy duty mixer, mixing bowls, food colouring, spatulas, the right cake pans, enough room to work without being cramped, and an oven.
You will need to remember that family and friends are customers, and you will need to charge them for the cakes they want you to make. You have expenses and it will cost you to make a cake and you are in the business to make money. You may want to give them a discount, but you will definitely need to charge them for your time and the money you put into making the cake. You will need to check nearby bakeries and stores to find out what they charge for cake decorating.
Set your prices at the same level or just above the bakeries but aim to provide more unique and interesting cakes. As you become more experienced and can produce better cakes you can start to increase your prices and make a better profit.
At first you need to be able to offer any kind of cake, but you might soon be in a position to specialise in wedding, party or celebration cakes.
When you first start you should aim at producing about 10 different types of cakes with various types of decoration and colouring. So for example you can offer:
3 different types of wedding cakes say with different shapes.4 different children's party cakes such as "cartoon", "car", "teddy" and "pirate".3 different celebration cakes such as "golden wedding", "engagement", "retirement" and "birthday".
Once you have made these cakes you should then photograph them and use these photos for your brochure. You can then donate the cakes to raffles and good causes so spreading the word about your business.
While it would be great if the business was all fun, it does require a commitment. Some areas to consider are:
Weekends are usually tied up with baking cakes, as most events are held on the weekendYou will need to plan your cake decorating in advance and keep good records.You are going to need extra storage for all of the equipment you need for your business.You may find expenses for special equipment and classes to improve your art, can run a bit high.You may need a separate kitchen to use for your business because of health requirements. You will definitely need to keep your pets out of the kitchen.
However running a cake decoration business can be great fun so enjoy and good luck!
