Part 5
How do I include my family in my baking business?
A. How about advertising? Designing your handouts. Handing out papers in your neighborhood.
How about creative delivery? I know of some children who have a cute little wagon and pony and deliver in their neighborhood and small town on a certain day of the week. (In costume of course). What about that little red wagon? Do they drive? What about the Amish with their little huts by the road? They have plenty of business.
Sales -teens are great at taking orders for special baking days like Valentines or Christmas. I give them a certain percentage of their orders.
Baking - train them to do the baking
Decorating cakes - let them take a class with you or alone and put them in charge of decorating.
Do not discount dishwashing and kitchen clean up. I do not pay my children for chores. However, if my baking for profit requires extra work for them then I try to pay them some too!
Taste Testers- You have your own built in test kitchen and taste testers so make use of that.
This is a great business to include pre-teens and teens in.
Any unanswered questions? Want to know more? Contact me at..... redaredding@gmail.com
This concludes my 5 part mini course.
If you would like more information you might be interested in my ebook on Baking for Profit. It includes this information as well as much much more. I include the actual recipes I have used in my home baking as well as many suggestions on making profit from your home kitchen. I tell you what time of year to sell which items. I give time saving shortcuts too! Many of my items take less than 30 minutes to complete. I tell you how to make a great profit in just a few hours a month. I also tell you how to fit baking in with everything else you already do. Happy baking!!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Baking for Profit Five Part Mini Course Part 4
Part 4
How do I calculate cost and price my baked goods?
Calculating cost is the easy part.
Did you know there are 4 cups of flour to a pound? 2 cups of sugar to a pound?
You break down a recipe for cost as follows:
Example: Blueberry Crunch Pie (a 25 year favorite in my family)
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour say 5 lbs. = 20 cups and cost 1.59. Divide 1.59 by 20 = about .08 per cup so I estimate the flour to cost about .11cents
1 cup nuts divided 2.00
1 stick margarine .15 if a pound cost .60
11oz. cream cheese 1.50
2 cups powder sugar .32
1 can of blueberry pie filling or homemade $2.00
1 - 8 oz. whipped topping .99
I add all these cost up. $7.07 for 1 13X9 size blueberry crunch pie.
To price this I will add cost + time (less than 30 minutes) + value (how much it is worth to the customer and to me to make it). If I price mine at $20.00 it would give me an hourly wage of $26.12.
Part 4 Continued....
You do not want to spend your time baking if it does not really benefit you. Decide how much it is worth to you. It is better to have less customers and a higher profit for what you make. Do not worry that you will not have enough business. It will come!!
Before you set your price too low, start looking around at coffee shops, bake shops, grocery store bakery prices, upscale restaurants, and even mom and pop shops. You will be surprised. A whole 9 inch coconut cream pie from an upscale coffee house in my area sells for $25.00 take home price. If they get $4 for a slice of pie they are getting $32.00 for a whole pie.
Helpful Hint: If you want to make a larger profit watch the sales for items you know you will use flour, sugar, margarine, etc. and stock up. You can decrease your cost by as much as 50% by shopping the sales. You rarely find a better buy at buyers clubs than you can find in the local grocery store sales.
How do I calculate cost and price my baked goods?
Calculating cost is the easy part.
Did you know there are 4 cups of flour to a pound? 2 cups of sugar to a pound?
You break down a recipe for cost as follows:
Example: Blueberry Crunch Pie (a 25 year favorite in my family)
1 1/3 cups all purpose flour say 5 lbs. = 20 cups and cost 1.59. Divide 1.59 by 20 = about .08 per cup so I estimate the flour to cost about .11cents
1 cup nuts divided 2.00
1 stick margarine .15 if a pound cost .60
11oz. cream cheese 1.50
2 cups powder sugar .32
1 can of blueberry pie filling or homemade $2.00
1 - 8 oz. whipped topping .99
I add all these cost up. $7.07 for 1 13X9 size blueberry crunch pie.
To price this I will add cost + time (less than 30 minutes) + value (how much it is worth to the customer and to me to make it). If I price mine at $20.00 it would give me an hourly wage of $26.12.
Part 4 Continued....
You do not want to spend your time baking if it does not really benefit you. Decide how much it is worth to you. It is better to have less customers and a higher profit for what you make. Do not worry that you will not have enough business. It will come!!
Before you set your price too low, start looking around at coffee shops, bake shops, grocery store bakery prices, upscale restaurants, and even mom and pop shops. You will be surprised. A whole 9 inch coconut cream pie from an upscale coffee house in my area sells for $25.00 take home price. If they get $4 for a slice of pie they are getting $32.00 for a whole pie.
Helpful Hint: If you want to make a larger profit watch the sales for items you know you will use flour, sugar, margarine, etc. and stock up. You can decrease your cost by as much as 50% by shopping the sales. You rarely find a better buy at buyers clubs than you can find in the local grocery store sales.
Baking for Profit Five Part Mini Course Part 3
Part 3
Where do you find customers?
Who do you know?
Family, Friends,Hairdresser, Social clubs,Ladies club, Church family,Nurses - Doctors, Librarians, Midwives, Neighbors, Former Co-workers, Husband’s co-workers
Soon to be customers are every where you are! They will be thrilled to find someone who will provide a great product at a great price and convenience. And talk about freshness!
How will you introduce your products?
A. Bake samples to introduce others to your new baking business. Tell them you are beginning a new bake at home business and would like their opinion on your new products. Be prepared to tell them how often you are going to bake (1 time a week, holidays, every Friday, bake to order and how far in advance to place an order).
Ask them to consider letting you do their baking. Many will say yes. Soon you will have to decide what your limits are and how much baking you want to do.
Another way to get customers is to offer to make the shower or birthday cakes, etc. as your gift. Soon word will get around that you do cakes. You’ll also spend less on gifts:)
If it is your turn to bring sweets to the Sunday morning coffee hour or ladies tea, make sure you bring your best. Everyone will want to know where you got your sweets. Tell them you made them and include them in your baking business. Let them know if they ever need something special you will be happy to make it for them.
Next time we will discuss calculating cost and pricing your baked goods.
Where do you find customers?
Who do you know?
Family, Friends,Hairdresser, Social clubs,Ladies club, Church family,Nurses - Doctors, Librarians, Midwives, Neighbors, Former Co-workers, Husband’s co-workers
Soon to be customers are every where you are! They will be thrilled to find someone who will provide a great product at a great price and convenience. And talk about freshness!
How will you introduce your products?
A. Bake samples to introduce others to your new baking business. Tell them you are beginning a new bake at home business and would like their opinion on your new products. Be prepared to tell them how often you are going to bake (1 time a week, holidays, every Friday, bake to order and how far in advance to place an order).
Ask them to consider letting you do their baking. Many will say yes. Soon you will have to decide what your limits are and how much baking you want to do.
Another way to get customers is to offer to make the shower or birthday cakes, etc. as your gift. Soon word will get around that you do cakes. You’ll also spend less on gifts:)
If it is your turn to bring sweets to the Sunday morning coffee hour or ladies tea, make sure you bring your best. Everyone will want to know where you got your sweets. Tell them you made them and include them in your baking business. Let them know if they ever need something special you will be happy to make it for them.
Next time we will discuss calculating cost and pricing your baked goods.
Five Part Mini Course on Baking for Profit -Part 2
Part 2
What do you bake?
Almost anything you bake well can be marketed. Producing a quality product is the most important aspect of your baking business.
What do you know how to bake?
Bread - Whole wheat, white, banana, homemade rolls, etc.
Cookies - Individual Chocolate Chip, Macadamia, Oatmeal, Party cookies
Cakes - Wedding, shower, birthday
Pastries - Cinnamon rolls, fruit filled, etc.
Pies - crusts, fruit, cream
Specialty Desserts - Blueberry Crunch or your family favorite
Pepperoni rolls, stromboli, meat pies
Doggie biscuits
You begin with what you know and add to your learning.
If you are still in the early learning stage then start with one thing and perfect that. Baking is very satisfying and profitable.
Your family will love testing your new products.
Next time we will discuss Where to find customers.
What do you bake?
Almost anything you bake well can be marketed. Producing a quality product is the most important aspect of your baking business.
What do you know how to bake?
Bread - Whole wheat, white, banana, homemade rolls, etc.
Cookies - Individual Chocolate Chip, Macadamia, Oatmeal, Party cookies
Cakes - Wedding, shower, birthday
Pastries - Cinnamon rolls, fruit filled, etc.
Pies - crusts, fruit, cream
Specialty Desserts - Blueberry Crunch or your family favorite
Pepperoni rolls, stromboli, meat pies
Doggie biscuits
You begin with what you know and add to your learning.
If you are still in the early learning stage then start with one thing and perfect that. Baking is very satisfying and profitable.
Your family will love testing your new products.
Next time we will discuss Where to find customers.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Five Part Mini Course on Baking for Profit -Part 1
As a mom of 11 children I have learned to be thrifty. I have also learned that sometimes being thrifty is not enough. Through the years there were times I needed to supplement our income without sacrificing our family. As we were working through a time when we needed to supplement our income, my mother suggested baking.
My parents owned and operated a bakery for many years so this suggestion was close to home. I already knew how to bake. My mother walked me through what to bake and how to price my baked goods. I have now used this information for many years. This has proven to be a wonderful way to supplement our income without leaving my children. Not only did this give me the opportunity to earn money from my home but it also gave me a good return for the time invested.
In this five part mini-course I will show you how to start making money from your home kitchen today.
In just a few hours a month you can make $500 - $1000 or more.
Part 1 What equipment will you need?
Part 2 What will you bake for profit?
Part 3 Where do you find customers?
Part 4 How do you calculate costs and profits?
Part 5 How do you include your family?
Part 1
What equipment do you need?
Using basic equipment found in most home kitchens you can begin to make a profit today!
Some basic equipment:
It may be obvious - you will need an oven,
a mixer - a commercial mixer is totally unnecessary (I have one which I rarely use). Any mixer will be a great benefit. I have a Bosch which is great for bread baking, a Kitchen Aid, and my very first hand mixer which is 20+ years old. If you haven’t purchased one yet you might want to consult www.urbanhomemaker.com for info on some great mixers.
Some things which will be helpful and are usually found in most kitchens.
A large bowl, measuring cups, and spoons, a cookie sheet, loaf pan or if not you can free form your loaves, muffin pan, cake pans -round, 13X9,(Use what you have!) and
a scale will be a great addition to your baking business. It will give you accuracy and consistency in your products.
I recommend that you start with what you have on hand and then add equipment as your business grows.
Next time we will discuss What to Bake.
My parents owned and operated a bakery for many years so this suggestion was close to home. I already knew how to bake. My mother walked me through what to bake and how to price my baked goods. I have now used this information for many years. This has proven to be a wonderful way to supplement our income without leaving my children. Not only did this give me the opportunity to earn money from my home but it also gave me a good return for the time invested.
In this five part mini-course I will show you how to start making money from your home kitchen today.
In just a few hours a month you can make $500 - $1000 or more.
Part 1 What equipment will you need?
Part 2 What will you bake for profit?
Part 3 Where do you find customers?
Part 4 How do you calculate costs and profits?
Part 5 How do you include your family?
Part 1
What equipment do you need?
Using basic equipment found in most home kitchens you can begin to make a profit today!
Some basic equipment:
It may be obvious - you will need an oven,
a mixer - a commercial mixer is totally unnecessary (I have one which I rarely use). Any mixer will be a great benefit. I have a Bosch which is great for bread baking, a Kitchen Aid, and my very first hand mixer which is 20+ years old. If you haven’t purchased one yet you might want to consult www.urbanhomemaker.com for info on some great mixers.
Some things which will be helpful and are usually found in most kitchens.
A large bowl, measuring cups, and spoons, a cookie sheet, loaf pan or if not you can free form your loaves, muffin pan, cake pans -round, 13X9,(Use what you have!) and
a scale will be a great addition to your baking business. It will give you accuracy and consistency in your products.
I recommend that you start with what you have on hand and then add equipment as your business grows.
Next time we will discuss What to Bake.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Custom Search