Bakeries are wonderful places. Not only do they sell some very tasty products, but they are usually beneficial to the local community.
Starting a bakery can seem quite exciting. However, it can also be a lot of work. Don’t worry, this article contains tips that can prove to be very useful.
Decide What Type Of Bakery You’ll Run
One of the first things you’ll need to do is decide what type of bakery you’ll run. Are you going to run a bakery/cafe establishment? Perhaps you plan to open a counter-style bakery. Alternatively, you could open a bakery in a food truck.
Choosing the type of bakery you want to run can help you to work out what products you’re going to sell.
It can also help you to work out how much room you have for your equipment such as your refrigerators, Bongard deck ovens, and preparation counters.
Come Up With A Business Plan
Coming up with a business plan is essential if you want to ask for funding. A business plan can also prove to be beneficial for helping you to come up with a sales plan. You’ll also need to work out your business strategies, your projections, and your marketing plan.
Business plans can help your proposed business to look like the real deal. Additionally, it can be useful if you want to refer back to your original goals.
Find The Ideal Location
Where would you like your new bakery to be? As soon as you know what type of bakery you want to run, you can look for a location. Different locations could be suitable for different types of bakeries.
For example, a counter-style bakery could be ideal for a small market town. However, a bakery/cafe business might be better for a tourist area.
Thirdly, if you’re considering using a food truck, you’ll need to know where to park it. Some locations will be more suited to parking your food truck than others.
Get The Right Licenses
It’s hugely important for you to get the right licenses. Every state will have a different license requirement. Make sure you know which licenses and permits you need to trade. You may need to have the following licenses/permits:
- Sales privilege license
- Food handler’s license
- Zoning law and permits
- Catering license
Making sure that you have the right licenses now means you’re less likely to run into problems in the future. While applying for licenses and permits might seem laborious, they can help you to show you’re a legitimate business.
Name Your Bakery
Now it’s time for you to come up with a name for your bakery. You may already have a name in mind. However, you will need to make sure that it’s not already being used elsewhere.
Try to come up with a name that shows what you sell. The name you choose should also appeal to your chosen demographic.
Ideally, your new bakery business’s name will be memorable and easy to pronounce. Try to come up with a name that you think will appeal to others. Ask friends and family what they think of your chosen name.
Choose What You’re Going To Sell
Think about what type of products you’re going to sell. For example, do you plan to just sell bread or will you sell cakes as well? Will you bake everything that you want to sell or do you plan to sell other company’s products as well?
When you know what you’re going to sell, you’ll have a better idea of the type of bakery business you’re going to run.
Market Your Business
When it comes to marketing your business, you need to do it well. Word of mouth is still a good way to market your new bakery. However, there are many other options that are worth considering.
Think about using social media to help you spread the word. Don’t be afraid to print off leaflets about your new business. Hand the leaflets out or put them in mailboxes.
Just make sure that any marketing media you make contains the following information:
- The name of your bakery
- Where your bakery is located
- The opening hours
- When the bakery officially opens
- Any offers you’ll be running
Make sure you also include your business’s logo and branding in all forms of marketing. If you haven’t created a logo as yet, create one now. It does not have to be particularly stylish or elaborate. Your logo should simply include your bakery’s name and give a little detail about what it offers.
Starting a bakery can be a lot of hard work. However, the whole process can be very exciting. Opening up a bakery and selling your products can be very fulfilling. Use the above tips to help you start a bakery.
