So you think you wanna start a cake business.......

When we each decide to embark in the direction of a cake business we all seek guidance. I too seek advice on specific issues as my business grows and needed some pointers when I started out. Luckily there are two really fantastic online resources. Before I started doing anything I read the business of cake articles by Earlene Moore (Who is AMAZING, I still aspire to do some of the things she does someday!) and her business of cake articles are a WEALTH of information, in my opinion you should read every drop of information she gives.... here is her website: http://www.earlenescakes.com/Index2.html
these are the articles:
part 1:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business01.htm
part 2:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business02.htm
part 3:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business03.htm
part 4:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business04.htm
part 5:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business05.htm
she skipped #6 who knows why.
part 7:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business07.htm
part 8:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business08.htm
part 9"
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business09.htm
part 10:
http://www.earlenescakes.com/business10.htm

I gave each link for a reason. I can not emphasize enough how informative these articles are.
this is a quote from her website

"As of 2005 we took a sabatical away from the custom order cakes. As a matter of trying to cut down on some of the stress in my life something had to go. Sorry but for right now doing the cakes is the choice.

Maintaining the web site, shopping cart, writing articles for magazines, teaching classes and etc is enough to keep me busy and with less stress.

I hope you enjoy the photos and how to articles and new designs will be added occasionally as inspiration comes."

So as you can see she is not really doing cakes as a business anymore, she is doing cake classes and cake decorating product sales. Which is one reason she can take the time to give out so much information. Whereas those of us trying to pay the bills and make cakes can't.

STOP, go back did you read her articles??? If not GO READ THEM! Seriously! They are filled with everything you need to think about and know before continuing forward. I am thankful she took the time and effort to write all this and offer it for FREE to everyone. It's a great gift to all the aspiring cake decorators dreaming of a business. It helped me think over some details when I started down this path. And her cakes??? WOW. If those aren't inspiration I don't know what is.

Now on to my next favorite place www.cakecentral.com I am addicted to it and find answers to my questions through the very talented cake decorating community @ cakecentral. It too is a wealth of information which will help you as you move into a more serious phase with your business venture.

If you have read Earlene's articles and are going to move forward seriously consider getting the cakeboss software which will help you figure out where to set your prices and help you keep track of everything. You need to realize what your expenses and how many labor hours you are spending on the order are vs. what you are charging. It is... after all - a business! If someone offered you a job for 2.00 an hour, no medical insurance, no paid vacation, no retirement plan would you take it? What would you expect a potential employer to pay you for it to be worth it to you to accept the job offered? Whatever that answer is - is the minimum you should be paying yourself, charge accordingly for your cakes.

Glad the storm is over. It is odd but nicely warm outside now

sure glad Camille pointed out a rainbow to me the other day otherwise I'd be praying for Noah to sail up and save me!

time to order KING CAKES, alligator bread and all those great cajun favorites!!! Mardi Gras is just around the corner.

making white chocolate lemon curd, raspberry couli and European vanilla cake as well as some pink and yellow sugar roses

Lazy January

Here it is again.....January, the month the whole world goes on a diet. There are still birthdays (thank god!) though and we have had some interesting special orders this month. A "Fruit Basket Cake" which I never heard of before but am told is wildly popular in California. The cake consists of a buttermilk layer cake, pastry cream with layers of strawberries and bananas all iced in whipped cream. I have to say it inspired me with an idea for the future - I definitely want to come up with a banana pudding cake which would be divine for a summer bbq!

End of this week I have a vanilla European pound cake which will be layered with white chocolate lemon curd and fresh raspberry, one of my favorites! This will be decorated with yellow buttercream pink stripes and handmade sugar flowers. Lovely and delicious.

Meanwhile during the sleepy month of dieting I got to hear amazing stories from my mother in laws childhood today. She grew up in British Guyana and is Indian, never mind a good book I could listen to the spectacular stories of her youth for hours while sipping hot tea wrapped up in a warm sweater. I am trying to talk her into starting a blog as many people would enjoy them.

mmmmm costco has the BEST coffee! I had totally run out. The Don Pablo coffee they sell is my favorite!

making a "fruit basket cake" buttermilk cake with layers of pudding, strawberries and bananas iced in whipped cream.