We recently shared a post about what equipment you would typically need to open your own bakery, but opening a bakery is an extensive process that requires much more than just purchasing equipment. You’ll need a business plan, secured finances, a secured location, and much more.

Narrow It Down

If you are looking to open your bakery, you should first decide what type of bakery you are want to open. A lot of things should play a role in your decision when deciding on a type of bakery such as your abilities, your finances, and so forth. For instance, you can open an online bakery which just requires a great website that can function in place of a storefront. You can also open a sit down bakery if you want people to come into your bakery and stay for an extended amount of time.  There are several different types of bakeries and each one is going give a different end result so you need to know your preference.

Form a Plan

Opening a bakery is a major time commitment as well as a major financial commitment. If you are planning to open your own bakery, you should have a well-developed business plan beforehand. This will help you to look at your future business in great detail. A business plan should outline your business, your budget, set specific business goals, determine how you’ll make profits, outline your target customers, and much more.

Determine Cost

The hardest part of opening a bakery, or any business for that matter, can be coming up with the initial costs.  You’ll need to really look extensively into your finances and determine what your startup cost will be. You need to consider the price of the appliances, equipment, and utensils you’ll need to get started. In many states, you also need to apply for a license as well that can often cost money. Although a lot of the costs are upfront and are a one-time occurrence, your finances will take a large hit initially. Make sure that you have enough money to live off of before you start writing checks.

Shop for Location

An important part of opening a bakery is finding a location that is good enough to meet your needs. If you are looking to open up a bakery where people can come in and sit while they enjoy your foods, you’ll need a bigger space for tables and chairs. If you are looking to just have customers stop in to get their desired items, you should focus on having a larger, commercial kitchen because you won’t need much seating space at all. Don’t be afraid to turn down properties that don’t fit your needs. Purchasing a location is a major step and you should make sure that you are getting the best one possible.

If you’re considering opening your own bakery space, these should hints help guide you in the right direction. When you get to the point of purchasing your equipment, contact Empire Bakery.