by Renea
(Pennsylvania)
My home based business to start a home based baking business was born out of sheer need. My husband had lost his job, and we had a new baby on the way.
Having your own home baking business can be both frustrating and wonderful at the same time! I started my own business because there was a market for home baked goods in our area.
I also found that there were no regulations governing the baking and selling of home baked goods. In some areas, you may need a business license and your kitchen may need to be certified.
I started my business to meet a specific need: my husband was out of work and we were expecting a child. We needed to pay our bills and to set aside money for our new addition!
The first baked item I sold was Faschtnachts! They are potato doughnuts and were very popular in Pennsylvania where we lived.
I began quite small: I placed an ad for just a day in the local newspaper. I advertised that I was selling the popular doughnuts for $3 a dozen.
The store in town was selling them for $3.25, so it was quite a bargain! I got many requests and sold over 31 dozen doughnuts from that ad that ran for just a day in the newspaper!
In addition to giving me immediate business, that ad gave me many long term customers.
I had people who were satisfied with the product who bought other items I sold. They also recommended me to their friends and neighbors.
I would advise other people wanting to start a business to first check out the regulations that govern such a business in their area. It is important to make sure that you have the proper license or inspections that need to be done to comply with regulations in your area.
The next thing I'd advise is to check out resources offered by your local business association or chamber of commerce. These resources can advise you on getting capital for a start up or avoiding common mistakes when starting your business.
A mentor can answer your questions, and encourage you when things get rough. They can also tell you about things that worked and things that didn't work when they started their business.
I'd encourage prospective business owners to follow their hearts and to refuse to listen to the nay-sayers!
When I began my business, I found that there were a number of people who had a number of reasons why I wouldn't succeed. I also found that they were more than happy to share their negativity with me!