How to Start My Own Pastry Shop

Do you love to bake? Queen of the cupcake? King of the eclair? Do friends and family members always compliment you when you make them pastries and comment on how you should open your own business? Well, why don't you?

Opening your own pastry shop can be a fun and rewarding way to make money and share your skills with your community. Owning your own business takes a lot of hard work, endurance and financial backing, but can also provide a big pay off.

Things You'll Need

• Location to operate
• Business plan
• Employees
• Marketing materials
• Required permits
• Cooking and baking supplies

Instructions

1. Decide where you want your store located. Or, if you wish to only operate as a catering business decide where you want your operations to be based and what locations you wish to service.

   If you are going to actually have a storefront, where customers can come purchase pastries, you need to find a place that is easy to access and has ample parking. You also need a place that is safe and has neighboring businesses that either complement yours or will draw the same type of clientele. The benefit of "drop-by" customers, who came to your area for another purpose but just decided to 'drop by,' cannot be underestimated, especially in the first few months of opening.

   Examine permitting laws and taxes in multiple locations. It is best to pick a group of places and weigh the pros and cons of each before making a final decision

2. Apply for and receive required permits. Check local regulations for exactly what permits are required. You will need building and business permits, as well as several different food permits. Be aware that you will most likely need to have these permits renewed every year or every other year.

3. Decide what type of inventory you wish to carry. You need to plan your pastry menu. You should start small and expand based on customer need and demand. Decide which pastries are your "signature" items and focus on those to start. Decide if you want to do everything made to order or if you want to have a certain number of products ready for drop-by customers to purchase.

4. Hire employees. Depending on the size of your business, you might not need any employees at first, but if you do, make sure they project the image that you want for your business. Look for people who have knowledge or experience dealing/making baked goods and a passion equal to yours. Employees should be able to offer good customer service and sell your products. All employees will need to obtain a food handlers permit.

5. Market your business. There are many creative ways to market a pastry business without spending a lot of money. Think about bringing free samples around to local businesses or homeowner association meetings. Partner up with a charity or nonprofit and donate 5 percent of your profits one week a month to them. Research the local social groups in your community and send 5 percent of coupons for them to use your catering services for their next meeting.

   Look into the different media outlets available for your use. You can choose from radio, TV, Internet, newspaper and magazines or a combination. It is good to let your potential customers see you in many different formats.

Tips & Warnings

• Your friends and family can be your best marketing weapons. They know how great your pastries are already. Ask them to spread the word to coworkers and associates.

• Don't try to be too big, too fast. Part of what makes your pastries worth selling is their quality. Make sure you don't expand too quickly and sacrifice that quality for quantity.

References

• A listing of types of pastries
• Food Safety Institute of American: good resource for types of permits you and your employees will need as well as other food safety issues
• U.S. Small Business Administraton resources for starting and running a small business