How to Open a Bakery in Kentucky
If your friends rave about your pastries and bakery goods, you might think opening a bakery is a good idea. A delicious product however is just the start to opening and operating a successful bakery in the state of Kentucky. To get your doors open for business, you’ll need to secure the necessary financing, select the perfect location and get the right licenses and permits to operate your bakery in the state of Kentucky.
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Instructions
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Get the necessary funding. Most bakeries need funding to open their doors. Contact the Kentucky district office of the Small Business Administration. They can help you determine which banks and credit unions in your area offer small business loans.
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Select the right bakery location. Location is one of the most important decisions you’ll make about opening your Kentucky bakery. Bakeries have an opportunity to generate a large amount of business through foot traffic. Think about high-traffic areas in your area. Set up next to a college or pick a location near a busy business district where workers take pastry and coffee breaks. Or set up shop next to a high-traffic shopping complex. The more traffic in the area the better chance people will stop, taste your products and spread the word.
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Get the right licenses and permits. You’ll need a business license before you open the doors to your bakery. Kentucky has a one-stop business-licensing program, where you can apply for all necessary licenses through the Kentucky Secretary of state’s website (see Resources).
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Contact the health inspector. Bakeries in the state of Kentucky need to pass a health inspection. Once your bakery is ready to open, contact the Kentucky health department. Schedule a time for an inspector to visit your establishment. She’ll examine your bakery and give you a certificate verifying that you passed the health inspection. Depending on your county’s rules, you might need to post this in a visible location.
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Attract customers. Once your bakery is ready to open, drive traffic to your business. Place a “grand opening” sign outside of your bakery. Give away free pastries to your first 50 customers. Offer samples of your most delicious menu items. And offer coupons for customers to come back another time. This will allow customers to learn how great your products are and spread the word about your bakery.
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Tips & Warnings
Don’t forget to market to local businesses. These professionals order bakery items for meetings and other special events. Getting on their vendor list can quickly add revenue to your pocket.
When determining how much money you need to borrow to open your bakery, don’t forget the cost of renovating the space to accommodate your bakery and cooking and baking supplies.
References
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