Getting Started

Congratulations on taking the leap from hobby baker to a professional baking business! Here are some tips on getting started with your cottage bakery:

Decide where you’ll bake

Will you continue to bake out of your home? Or will you graduate to a commercial kitchen?

Decide how you want to sell

Farmer’s markets, porch pickups, local delivery, food truck, mobile catering cart, partnering with other businesses through pop-up’s or wholesale? The choice is yours!

Establish legal foundations

The next step is getting all the necessary legalities sorted for the business, whether selling from home as a cottage baker or looking for wholesale opportunities. Some guidance on cottage food law:

• Forrager Laws
• Castiron’s guide to cottage food laws by state
• Starting a Cottage Food Business: webinar replay from Sugar Cookie Marketing

Create an online presence

Establishing a brand identity online is crucial. Once all the legal parts are set, having a website and a consistent online presence across all platforms will make the brand more visible. Consider your website a home base, and focus on elements like high-quality menu photography and the ability for customers to subscribe to email updates. You’ll also want to maintain online listings on major search engines like Google, wedding catering marketplaces like The Knot, and social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok.

Set up your Google Business Profile

Claiming and setting up a Google Business Profile and other online listings can greatly enhance local discoverability. This is essential for getting found when people search for products like yours in your area. Assuming you don’t have a brick-and-mortar, you can set up your GBP as a Service Area Provider, which masks your home address.

Connect with coffee shops

Exploring wholesale or pop-up opportunities with coffee shops can diversify income streams. Create a compelling sales sheet to pitch these partnerships effectively.

Facilitate customer pre-orders

Offering pre-order options on your website can streamline operations and help in managing inventory, making things easier for both you and your customers. I recommend tools like Hotplate and Bottle.

Ready for help?

Email info@donutdigest.com to get started on your professional bakery business journey.