Posted by Robin on April 12, 1998 at 23:56:21:
In Reply to: Re: Starting a Small Business posted by Amy on April 05, 1998 at 14:08:58:
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: : : : : I have started a small business.I bake,package,deliver and sell (wholesale) one dessert product to local restaurants and delis.I'm interested in getting in touch with someone who has done what I
: : : : : am doing. When I have a larger customer base I plan on producing two or three more products.I could use some info on the legalites of renting a kitchen and someone elses insight or hindsight based on their experience. I'm looking forward to hearing from someone. THANX
: : : : Thats how me and Carol started our bakery, we baked for cafe's , gardner museum and people who ordered retail, we delivered on the subway.
: : : : Don't ask any questions of the health dept until you already know the answers or they'll shut you down immediately, go to city hall, buy the food est handbook and read it carefully, you'll realise its not legal unless everything is up to code.
: : : : If you have a few thousand you might be able to pass but its not likely or worth it, just keep a low profile until you can secure some space or open something legal.
: : : : Limiting the product line is the only way to make a profit, we did 2 - 3 max...plus wedding cakes retail to the public.
: : : : Finding customers is easy as picking plums, pulling it off and finding suppliers can be something else.
: : : : BTW, your email is not working.
: : : : Gerard
: : : Thanx for the good advice Gerard!! AMY
: : Amy,
: : Gerards comments were excellent. I too started a small wholesale pastry and cake business a number of years ago. Gerard's comments on health codes aside,
: : the best opportunity for suppliers is to use any of the shopping clubs (Sam's Club, COSTCO, etc) for probably as much as 60-70% of your ingredient needs.
: : The rest I used to shop through friendly chefs I knew who would allow me to tack on to their weekly orders and paying them COD. As for finding a facility
: : that is licensed, often churches, VFW's and the like have very well equipped kitchens and many will gladly lease you some space (or even barter with you for
: : product!) Good luck with your little enterprise.
: : Greg
: Thanx for your reply and advice gregg........................Amy
Amy, I too have a small pie-baking business. I sell them mostly
to local restaurants.For awhile I rented a kitchen from a small
eating establishment in town, but I didn't really have enough clientele
at the time, so I went back to baking at home for now. I find there is
a shortage of pie-bakers where I live, so I had wonderful reception from
the restaurants I appraoched.And they let me put out cards with my number,
so I get lot's of referrals too. But marketing, then baking ,then delivering and
billing is really a lot to do and I also have 2 other jobs, so I'm a busy
lil lady! Feel free to e-mail me if you'd like to and we can compare notes!
Robin