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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To start a home baking / cupcake business?

59 replies

skittletittle · 23/07/2018 15:49

On maternity , we've now decided I don't need to/don't want to go back to work right away. Would love to start a home baking business, but not sure if I'm being delusional.

Assuming the cakes are decent enough.. what pros and cons can you see? Has anyone done this themselves and have any positive or negative advice?

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NonaGrey · 23/07/2018 16:26

I think you are going to find it hard to run a business, as a business, while caring full time for your child.

If you are selling a baked product, even if you just consider it a hobby, you need to be licenced and inspected by the council, properly insured and have the relevant hygiene certificates. You’ll also need to be up to date regarding laws about reproducing branded copyright images (eg Disney characters.) You’ll need to set up as a sole trader and keep accounts too.

Are you really prepared to give up all your free time, evenings and weekends to be baking cupcakes without even earning any money for it?

RedSkyLastNight · 23/07/2018 16:28

Is there really a market for this in your area? it seems like every other person is making cupcakes these days.

BottleOfJameson · 23/07/2018 16:32

My friend does this for fun and has found that she actually doesn't make much money at all as the costs are so huge, some customers are also a right PIA and some are lovely and grateful for all of the hard work. So if you love baking and want something to keep your CV going by all means try it but don't expect huge profits!

skittletittle · 23/07/2018 16:34

Elfride that sounds like a lovely idea! I might look into whether there's any charities near me who could benefit from the cakes instead.

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lurkingfromhome · 23/07/2018 16:35

I think you need to think about whether this is a hobby or a business, because if you're on the fence about it (don't need to make money / just a bit of fun / stop you from getting bored / just want to cover costs etc) then you're not going to run a serious business and will end up taking no benefit from it at all either as one thing or the other. It would be very easy to end up tired, out of pocket and hating baking.

All the enjoyable bits of baking are enjoyable BECAUSE it's a hobby, not because you have to get up at the crack of dawn, turn out 72 cupcakes before breakfast then spend the afternoon on marketing/health & safety/tax/going to the cash and carry/all the other tedious bits. Then do it all over again the next day and the next. Which is what running a business actually is.

RedPandaMama · 23/07/2018 16:36

My mum has her own business making cakes. She spends between 12 and 60 hours a week making her cakes. She made £3k profit last year. She makes everything from cupcakes to wedding cakes - will attach a pic to show they are good. She charges £1.50-£2 a cupcake depending on what they are, between £35 and £80 for an occasion cake, and anything from £150-£400 for a wedding cake. We're in the north west. People just won't pay more than that where we live.

Her cakes are amazing but people just don't realise what goes into it. For example, somebody comes in and asks for a 'simple' wedding cake - 3 tiers, plain white iced, 3 fondant flowers, one on each tier. Just the mixing baking takes 4 hours. Left to cool, then buttercream, jam and icing takes 2 hours. Each fondant flower takes over an hour to make. Then must be attached to the cake and usually is painted, that could take 2 hours. Then more icing is dyed the correct colour, rolled and cut into letters e.g. 'Elizabeth and James', then attached to the cake. That's another hour at least.

I've seen her spend 5 days on a cake that, once ingredients, electricity and gas etc are taken out of the equation, plus petrol for delivery, she might only make £150 on. She'd be better working a minimum wage job. Which she now does as it just isn't a sustainable business.

I really don't want to put you off, but I think you'd have to be really good and very efficient and live in an area where people can afford to pay more, in order to do it. Good luck to you.

RedPandaMama · 23/07/2018 16:38

These are kids cakes she's done recently, just as an example.

To start a home baking / cupcake business?
To start a home baking / cupcake business?
To start a home baking / cupcake business?
RedPandaMama · 23/07/2018 16:39

And some different ones.

To start a home baking / cupcake business?
To start a home baking / cupcake business?
To start a home baking / cupcake business?
RedPandaMama · 23/07/2018 16:41

Sorry for all my posts. I did want to say though, positives of having a business from home - and the main reasons she started it in the first place - doing something you love and getting paid for it, work your own hours, charge your own rates, take holidays whenever you want to, get to work in your own house and could literally wear pyjamas every day if you wanted to. It'd be hard to do with a baby though, I think. My mum started when we were in school.

Happyhippy45 · 23/07/2018 16:47

Phone the council and ask your environmental health what you want to do and they'll tell you what you need. Well they should. Ours was very helpful.
We started off our food business 9 years ago by renting out a certified kitchen in a local church one day a week. Certified as in it had a separate sink for hand washing and no smoking signs pretty much. It was just a regular church kitchen really. No stainless steel counter and the like. EHO was very happy with our operation.
We lived in a rented house so couldn't make the necessary adjustments to our kitchen at home. We know of someone else who did make adjustments to their own home and it didn't seem overly expensive or complicated. They were makIng full meals so probably had to do a bit more.
We now rent our own kitchen. Which saves on all the lugging equipment back and forth! plus it has all nice and shiny stainless steel stuff
It's totally doable. You just need to think about what you can do and what people want to buy!
Good luck

15star · 23/07/2018 16:53

I've noticed a trend locally for tray bakes either brownies with sweets/cookies baked in tray bake cake with frosting and sweets. Also simple names sponges with buttercream frosting and a simple topping - piped with a few sweets or fruit on top. Thee would probably be less time consuming. One person only puts them up for sale on Friday and they get snapped up!
The only thing is I'm not sure how you would have time to bake cakes with a baby! Some days I don't even get the basics done with my 6 month old around and it was a lot worse when he was smaller

15star · 23/07/2018 16:54

Sorry for all the errors..should be simple naked cake

fc301 · 23/07/2018 16:58

I'm really sorry to sound negative but if you think you will have time for this with a newborn i think you're dreaming.

skittletittle · 23/07/2018 16:59

Wow RedPanda your mum's cakes are lovely! Very talented. Thanks guys, i think I'm gonna continue baking for a hobby for a while and weigh everything up to see whether it's worth doing. Would hate to turn it into a business and start resenting that lovely cake smell! Grin

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skittletittle · 23/07/2018 17:00

Fc301, no need to be rude, I have a baby (obviously) and I know how much time he takes up in my day.

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ChikiTIKI · 23/07/2018 17:06

I would agree with the idea to do biscuits or something that keeps longer and requires less work.

I've thought about doing this too but decided for me, I would be better off making something like soaps. Much bigger mark up, make batches when you want. Store them for as long as you like. Lots of opportunity to be creative. Can sell online etc. Build up a stock and sell at events etc.... Just an idea! Might be work workable around your family?

Something you can sell at craft fairs etc appealed to me because I think I would enjoy making the items a lot more than packing up and selling them/ dealing with people etc. So selling lots on one day would be easier for me.

Good luck! Hope you enjoy whatever you decide to do.

skittletittle · 23/07/2018 17:11

Chiki thanks for your reply.. very good call with the craft items rather than perishable items.. I suppose I could then work at a slower rate and not worry about not meeting orders on time etc.

So much to be thinking about...!

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PennyLaneIsInMyHeart · 23/07/2018 17:12

I love those cakes Panda!

Outedsochanged · 23/07/2018 17:19

I love baking and regularly get told I should sell them. I reply that I have a job that pays all awful lot more than cakes would! My solution is that I make them as birthday presents for some close friends kids. They are always so grateful and I get to play around with my hobby more often than just doing my kids cakes.

fc301 · 23/07/2018 17:23

I stand corrected

fc301 · 23/07/2018 17:24

I don't think I was rude though. You did ask for opinions...

ChikiTIKI · 23/07/2018 17:29

Have a look on Etsy for ideas :)

I make craft things and list them on there. I only list what I've made. No make to order stuff. A lot less pressure that way.

skittletittle · 23/07/2018 17:31

Fc301, and that's fine - I do and have appreciated all the opinions I've been given. Even the negative ones. There's just no need to say someone's 'dreaming' when their considering starting a new venture. I'll accept it if it's not viable, that's why I'm out asking for people's opinions, but I don't think it's a silly enough idea for it to be classed as dreaming.

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fc301 · 23/07/2018 17:32

Ok. I apologise. Nowhere in your PPs do you mention you already have your baby.
Good luck.

skittletittle · 23/07/2018 17:35

Thank you - sorry for any of my miscommunications

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