Outline
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - So You Think You Want to Start a Home-Based Bakery
Assessing Your Baking SkillsAssessing Your Business Skills
Home-Based Baking Rules and Regulations
Getting Organized
How This Book Is Organized
Chapter 2 – Setting Up Your Home-Based Bakery Business
Setting Up Your Kitchen
Preparing Your Family for a Transition
Employing Family Members
Complying with Local, State and Federal Requirements
Working with Your Local Health Department
Working with Your Local State Department of Agriculture
Renting an Incubator Kitchen
Equipping Your Kitchen
Organizing Your Pantry
Packing and Labeling Your Goods
Transporting Your Products
Customer and Vendor Relationships
Chapter 3 - Getting Started
How to Structure Your Business
How to Organize Your Office
Kitchen Office Essentials
Writing a Business Plan
Business Books, Software, Videos and Online Resource
Chapter 4 - The Legal Aspects of Home-Based Baking
Why You Must Follow the Law
Zoning Issues and Home-Based Baking
The Essentials of Business Liability Insurance
Developing Business Policies and Procedures
Food Safety and Sanitation Rules to Live By
Chapter 5 – Setting Up Prices
How to Price Your Products
How to Calculate Your Labor Cost
Wholesale vs. Retail Production
How to Produce Profitable Products
Chapter 6 – Sales and Marketing
Where to Sell Your Home-Based Baking
Defining Your Niche
Naming Your Business
Positioning Your Products
Designing Signature Products
How to write an eMarketing Plan
12 Steps to a Great Press Release
Developing a Home-Based Baking Portfolio
Online Marketing and Social Networking
Word of Mouth Advertising
Selling Your Products Online
Keeping Track of Your Customers
Chapter 7 Bookkeeping for the Home-Based Baker
Seeking Professional Assistance
Paying Your Food Tax
U.S. Federal Taxes for the Self-Employed
Accounting Software for Home-Based Bakers
Managing Your Business: Why Some Home-Based Bakers Fail
Chapter 8 – Ready, Set, Bake
Home-Based Baking Checklist
Organizing Your Baking Time
Developing a Product Line
Do You Need Help?
Product Delivery and Transportation
Delivering the Goods
Chapter 9 – Selling Your Product Online
Establishing Your Web Site
Selling via Online Food Malls
Developing an eCommerce Web Site
Food Photography: Images on the Web
Learning from Your Online Competitors
Chapter 10 – Interview with a Home-Based Baker
Calling All Cakes – Owner Whitney Couch
Gellocake – Owner Lilian Chavira
Maine's Cake and Cookies – Owner Diane Purkey
The Box Turtle Bakery – Owner Abraham Palmer
The Cake Chic – Owner Julie Pietz
Twisted Sisters Barkery – Owners Teresa Hunt, Pam Ray, Diane Willis
Chapter 11 Top Kitchen to Market Products
Top 10 Home-Based Baking Product Ideas
Top 10 Home-Based Baking Products for Shipping
Top 10 Home Food Processing Products
Appendix
Culinary Schools/Pasty Program
Online Culinary Resources
Top 10 Baking Blogs
Recommended Reading for the Home-Based Baker
Professional Baking Books
Industry Magazines and Online Resources
Professional Organizations
Suggested Workshops and Seminars
Index
About the Author