I am contemplating starting up a small cookie/cake bakery in my city (Toledo). Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated, especially from those in the same type of business.

Thanks

Owned my bakery for 16 yrs, wouldn't do it unless I had seats. The money is in the lunches, the bakery makes it unique and superior to other lunch options, pastry is the desert.
I wouldn't advise anyone to start a full service, full line bakery these days.
It looks like a trend but its financial reality .

Hey Greard,
How about those bakery in a box franchises.
I have a customer that is retiring and wants to start one to pursue his passion for whatever. I don't know anything about them but there advertising sure makes me feel warm and fuzzy (headed).

Has the board had this discussion before?;{)>

Tim

Never heard of bakery in a box before, do they have a website?
Lots of artesan bread franchises are suffering in Boston, its the typical saturation story.
The survivors seem to catch on , introduce coffee and light lunches.
I recommend they keep bakeries in a box.

Regards, Gerard

we've had a great response to a little family style bakery. It is our own little stand against the franchises. This industry is becomming so monopolized its sickening. If your are going to do lunch in your bakery you might as well make it a lunch place that serves desserts. Get in line with all the other franchise, la madalaine,cornerbakery etc.
I don't know? I would not mind doing linch out the back door but i would never make it my priority in the bakery. I have yet to see anyone mix the two sucessfully. Don't yell back with the $$$ of the big players, I'm talking real bakery.
Check the demographics closely and find a good location with older money, open you bakery/cookie shop and good luck.
Bakery in a box, cookie franchises etc. Why buy a job for 150,000. when you can go get one for free!

I do own a bakery and do lunches sucessfully! We offer sandwiches on our bread, and soup in winter.
We have a full line of bakery items from wedding cakes, pastries, pies, every day occasion cakes, cookies, donuts, bread, and other fun stuff.
You can come see me and my bakery in Maryland.
Thinking sweet all the time!
Megan

I WOULD LIKE TO START A SMALL BUSINESS OUT OF MY HOME.WE ARE RELOCATING TO A CITY OF ABOUT 30 THOUSAND PLUS UNIVERSITY. I WOULD LIKE TO BAKE A LINE OF 5 DIFFERENT CAKES AND 3 DIFFERENT COOKIE RECIPES. I FEEL IT WOULD BE GOOD FOR STUDENTS,TAILGATING,AND ETC. ANY IDEAS ON HOW TO GET STARTED. THANKS!