How do you start selling cakes from home?

[Mummysharkdoodoodoo]

Hi! I absolutely love baking. And recently got back into it as a way to help my anxiety and depression. Being in the kitchen calms me down and I can’t think of a better way.

I’m thinking I should maybe start selling my cupcakes. I haven’t really worked with fondant icing before but butter cream I bloody love. How do you even make into into a small business? I have a friend who sells brownies every week, she posts what flavours they are and then gives them out. I’m thinking about doing this? I don’t feel comfortable asking her how she started. Are my cakes even good enough?

Any advice please!

You will need to talk to your local council about getting your kitchen registered. This will then be subject to an inspection by Environmental Health (to make sure that you’re not going to poison people basically).

You will need public liability insurance (in case someone gets ill and tries to blame your cakes).

You’ll need to think of a business name and check that nobody in your area has the same name, or similar. You’ll need to register as self employed with HMRC and you’ll need to check out the prices of your local competitors. Please don’t undercut them just to undercut them. Charge your worth, it isn’t fair on anyone to lowball your pricing just to get orders. All it means is that you’ll end up stupid busy and making no money.

I’m part of a cake making Facebook group, if you want to PM me I can get you added and everyone in there can offer loads more advice :) your cakes are lovely by the way :)

I don't sell food but have another kind of small business and a lot of friends have food/cake businesses.

You will need to have your kitchen inspected and certified for food hygiene - contact your local council.

If you sell cupcakes, you will need to think about logistics - will you deliver orders to customers, sell at a local market etc.? (Do note if you have customers coming to your home to collect, your home insurance might not allow this!)

Work out your costs and prices to see if it would be profitable. Don't forget to include the cost of packaging, electricity/gas, etc.

Social media is a good way to reach local customers - start a Facebook page. Maybe get friends to post recommendations if possible to spread the word. A friend of mine who has a cake business started by selling at some local markets/fairs and got local customers that way and managed to build up her business, started getting orders for celebration cakes etc.

Once you start selling you need to register for self assessment tax so keep all receipts and invoices.