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Last Updated on May 22, 2023
Do people rave about your sourdough? Are your special, homemade pastries famous for miles?
If there is a market for your sweet treats or savory delights, you might want to consider starting a home baking business to earn some extra cash.
But before you begin, here’s everything you need to know about running a successful bakery from your home.
Create a Business Plan
If you’re serious about getting your baking business off the ground, you will need to create a detailed business plan. In your business plan, you should detail how you will manage your time, inventory, and finances.
You should also decide how you will market and sell your products, and you’ll need to start looking for a courier company in your area that can guarantee a same day turnaround on delivery.
Your business plan will serve as a guide that you can refer back to when you begin to scale your business, so the more detailed it is, the better.
Know the Legal Requirements
When it comes to food service, failing to become familiar with the laws and regulations in your area is a recipe for disaster. If you don’t adhere to the legal requirements, you could incur huge fines.
Check your local government and state health department before you proceed with your business – you may need a permit or license to sell food from your home.
Get Business Insurance
It is crucial to have a business insurance policy to safeguard you against unforeseen circumstances. Getting business insurance before you even begin to sell will ensure that you’re protected from accidents and fires in the kitchen or angry customers claiming to have gotten ill from your food.
Not only will insurance offer financial protection, but it will also give you peace of mind.
Register an LLC
Although your new business venture may have started as a hobby to earn a bit of spare cash, doing things by the book right from the beginning will safeguard you against losing your home in a lawsuit if anything should go wrong.
Registering your company as an LLC (limited liability company) is the safest option because an LLC is structured in a way that offers the owner protection against liability. If an LLC accumulates debt, debtors cannot hold the business owner personally responsible.
Check Local Tax Regulations
Before beginning your baking business, you must know what tax you’ll need to pay. While tax sales permits are usually free, you may be required to pay taxes on sales and food items. You can check with local business websites or your state government if you’re not sure which tax laws apply to you.
Put money aside each month so that you are prepared to cover your annual sales tax bill when it’s time to file your business’ tax returns.
Choose Your Niche
While you might want to offer as many baked goods as possible to cover a wider market, it’s always best to limit your offerings when you’re just starting out. Rather focus on one or two items as your specialty and work on making them better than other offerings from your competitors.
Finding a niche will enable your goods to stand out and allow you to differentiate yourself by being a specialist (think vegan cookies and gluten-free cakes). Catering to a niche will also make it easier to build a small but dedicated consumer base.
