How to Start a Cake Decorating Business From Home

So you have perfected the art of baking and are wondering if you are ready to turn your hobby into a cake decorating business from the comfort of your home. The first step is determining if this is something you are practically up for; you don’t want to bite off more than you can chew, so to speak. 

This article aims to give you highly unique, informative, and actionable information about the benefits of turning cake decorating into a business, how to turn your kitchen space into a baking station, and how to start the business. 

How do you know if you’re up for the cake decorating business? Here are some things to consider: 

• Do you have great baking skills?
• Do you know anything about running a business?
• Do you have the right baking equipment?
• Do you have the gumption it takes to be an entrepreneur? 

Whether or not you answered yes to all these questions, there are ways to prepare for success. To pursue your dream of owning a cake business, you’ll need an outline of what you can expect, the steps you should take, and how to follow through on the process. 

Why become a cake decorator? 

It may seem like a lofty idea at first, but what if you actually did become a professional cake decorator from your own kitchen? If you’re seriously considering taking on this new baking enterprise, let’s walk through the pros of starting your own cake decorating business from home. 

Here are some great aspects of starting your own cake business:

• Flexibility — You can set your own hours for both doing the cake decorating work as well as your hours of operation. 
• Working from home — This one is pretty self-explanatory; who wouldn’t prefer to do their baking with their own oven? (Especially in a newly remodeled kitchen.)
• Scalable — Your cake business can grow according to your ambitions and resources. You may want to start small and keep it that way, or you may want to hire employees and start a franchise. Will you open a section of your home for customers to come and sample your products? This is a great way to build up a community, not to mention a regular clientele. 
• Local community — Having your own local cake decorating business is a fantastic way to establish yourself in the local community. Whether you are new in town or have been there for years, a local cake shop is a sure way to draw in the neighbors. 
• Rewarding work — Cake decorating is a form of art, and many people who do this find it to be a fulfilling way to let their creativity flourish. Plus, the community aspect mentioned above adds to the rewarding nature of this work. 
• Quick build time — If you already have a flair for baking, you probably have some great recipes and cake decorating designs up your sleeve. Put these skills to good use right away and start posting on social media. It won’t take long for people to start showing interest. Later on, you can consider creating your own website and marketing strategy. 
• Control of workload — As the cake business is scalable, you can decide how much work you can take on. Some people choose to simply do appointment-based creations, while others aim to take on more volume. If the latter is your goal, once you have a bit of momentum, you can hire staff to outsource your workload. Working on a budget? Consider hiring interns or chef school students who want some extra hands-on experience. 
• Being your own boss — When you’re the one to create and establish the business, you’ll continue to be in charge even as it grows. This freedom gives you the opportunity to take risks, learn responsibility, and make decisions based on your morale. 

Remodeling your kitchen into a baking station

Naturally, the next thing to consider is your kitchen. If you’re going to start a cake decorating business, you’ll have to do some kitchen remodeling to adapt the space to your mission. 

Create the perfect kitchen space by designating your area for baking and cake decorating. The logistics of the space you choose are important because this is where you’ll be spending most of your time, and you’ll want it to be conducive to a good workflow. 

• Is there an island in your kitchen where you can work from?
• Does your kitchen have a window? Natural light is great for cake decorating.
• In lieu of a window, make sure you have solid lighting. A good overhead kitchen works great too. 
• Adapt the rest of your kitchen to store your equipment, dishes, ingredients, and packaging. Make sure everything is functional — jars and containers should be labeled and accessible, your bakeware organized, and all your decorating items on hand. You may want to consider having open shelves for easier cleaning and access. Consider consulting with home remodeling contractors that specialize in kitchen remodeling to optimize your kitchen space for your business needs, such as adding additional storage solutions or modifying the layout.
• If it’s within your means, install a large, deep sink. This is a game-changer in the kitchen and will make it easier to wash everything, such as big bowls, food that needs to be rinsed, and your hands when they inevitably get covered in frosting.
• Acquiring professional kitchen equipment isn’t cheap, but it’s a good investment since it’s designed to stand up to ongoing use. Even for those on a low overhead budget, you can make do with what you have at the beginning. As you scale, you may want to consider investing in some professional baking equipment. This can be done piece by piece, but once it’s possible, having pro products will really elevate your product. You can also save money by purchasing only the baking equipment that you’ll use. No need to get all the latest gadgets. 
• Maintenance is an often overlooked aspect of starting your own cake business, but you don’t want to dismiss the fact that your equipment may need to be worked on or replaced. This may be something small like a mixer, or something of significant impact, like the oven or kitchen plumbing.  
• Air ventilation is another thing to consider. Since your oven will be going so often, you’ll want to make sure the heat can escape the kitchen. If you have a window or ceiling fan, this will help with air circulation while you’re baking.
• Take all kitchen safety into consideration. You should have a fire suppression system, proper signage, equipment guards, and a safe place for your knives (including not putting them in the sink, especially with soapy water).

For more ideas on setting up your kitchen, check out this article on how to create the ultimate home baking station. Consider hiring a handyman if you need help.

With a kitchen appliance home warranty, you can have peace of mind knowing that if any of your covered appliances break down due to normal wear and tear, the cost of repairs or replacements will be covered. This can help you avoid the potentially high cost of repairing or replacing a major kitchen appliance out of pocket.

How to open your cake decorating business 

As you get ready to open your cake decorating business, it’s time to choose your niche or basic concept. To stand out in the market, it’s a good idea to have a unique specialty. It doesn’t have to be outrageous, but something that you’re really good at and want to be known for. 

Here are some ideas for brainstorming:

• Fondant 
• Buttercream 
• Gluten-free
• Vegan
• Cupcakes 
• Cake Pops
• Birthdays 
• Themed (animals, cultural, using chiefly one color)

Next, you’ll need to work out the logistics of how you’ll run your business. Here’s a curated list to give you a roadmap to get started:

• Do your research to get an understanding of how the cake decorating industry works.
• Create a business plan that includes everything from business registration and taxes, to budgeting and expenses, to marketing and employees. 
• Get a license. Depending on your state, you may have to register your business and/or get approval for selling packaged food. 
• Do a product photoshoot to promote your cakes. Get in the habit of posting them regularly on social media. 
• Join a cake decorating association to make it legitimate, get some extra support, and build your network.
• Assist at events to promote your business according to your niche – wedding fairs, vegan fairs, cultural shows, etc.
• Gain client testimonials by asking your customers to leave a note about your product. 
• Price your cakes properly and competitively. Shop around other cake businesses in your area to get a feel for the going rate. 
• Market your business by putting together a social media marketing strategy or hiring someone to do it. Consider having your own website, creating an email marketing campaign, and encouraging promos for word-of-mouth marketing. 
• Having a good online presence for your brand is crucial regardless of whether you’re starting a new business or currently have one. Making a plan to increase your online presence may seem overwhelming if you’re a small business owner with no experience in online marketing. Utilizing inbound marketing, you must develop and refine your small business marketing strategy to attract new customers and expand your organization.
• Creating an SEO-optimized website and listing your new bakery with Google and other directories are other chances you may further investigate to boost awareness and visibility for your small business. Your NAP (Name, Address, Phone number) must be consistent throughout internet directories and data aggregators to improve your rating in search engines. Google My Business is a wonderful place to start, or you might consider hiring an SEO agency with experience working with small businesses. As for the first one, you can use Google My Business software to organize your work and manage your business more productively.

When you’re starting your own business, there will be challenges and ups and downs. Remember that this business was born out of a hobby you love, so if you persevere and plan carefully, success is possible. Passion matters. It could be what sets you apart from the others in the cake business. 

You’re off to a great start with the right baking equipment, niche, and business plan.