subject: How to Start a Bakery Business [print this page] How to Start a Bakery Business How to Start a Bakery Business
However, simplistic as it sounds, a bakery business is just not about tantalizing aromas or delectable tastes. It requires a similar amount of spadework and planning as the other businesses do, even more at times due to the high level of customer expectation in this field.
When considering how to start a bakery business, there are a number of critical factors one needs to analyze and decide on accordingly.
The business plan
The first and most crucial step is to lay down a concrete business plan for owning a bakery. The most important aspects which your strategy must touch upon include:
1. The physical area you plan to target
2. Nature of composition of your target clientele, including gender, age and food preferences
3. Type of bakery you want to set-up. Options could include a home-based bakery, mobile bakery shop, donut shop, franchise bakery outlet, ethnic bakery, etc.
4. Basic commodities and products you intend to offer
5. Staff required for the bakery and how you intend to train them
6. An outline of cost of products
7. Outline of production costs
8. Basic strategy for marketing
9. Basic infrastructure you might require
10. Source and amount of basic capital you intend to invest
Get a license
To operate a commercial establishment such as a bakery, you will need to have a license and be certified by the state in which you are operating. Lookout for associations and bodies relevant to the bakery business and ensure that you have the required memberships and affiliations from the same.
Get the equipment
Whether you are pondering over how to run a small bakery or planning to establish a bigger unit, the equipment you use can determine the success of your venture to a great extent.
The most important equipment that you will require, at least for the startup includes:
1. Ovens and mixers of different powers and for handling different specialties
2. Cooling racks for managing the produce post-baking
3. Baking dishes of various dimensions and sizes
4. Mixing bowls to suit ingredients of different materials
5. Assorted utensils and cutlery
6. Attractive packaging supplies
7. Extensive raw material supply
8. Cookbooks, manuals and recipes booklets to keep you updated on the latest trends
9. Sanitizers and other chemical detergents
10. Attractive display cases for your finished products, along with tables and chairs for your customers who might want to eat on the spot
11. Packaging material so clients can take their baked goods home
Starting a bakery business can often be a significant entrepreneurial decision. Apart from the basic training, work area, cost of products and other such aspects, one of the most crucial requirements is to ensure that you maintain the quality of the bakery products you churn out. In addition, when adequate attention is paid to all of the above factors when planning how to start a bakery, the results are generally effective, making the venture surely a profitable one.
Starting a new business is a big deal! It's an exciting time that's filled with lots of questions. IF you have questions about how to start a bakery or other small business, A Touch of Business has answers.
