Disclaimer: Nothing in this article should be construed as legal, financial or tax advice. Please always consult a knowledgeable professional advisor.
Starting and running your own business is an aspiration for many. And for those whose life calling involves starting a bakery café, it’s a dream that most likely started at home, the seeds planted when cooking family recipes in their childhood kitchen. This is a dream close to the heart, but turning dreams into a successful reality does require careful planning. So, we’ve put together advice on how to create a bakery business plan.
How to start a bakery business plan
In order to create a plan that best supports your bakery business, consider your objectives and the specific factors unique to your business, in addition to general operations. Writing a business plan is a good way to organise the steps you need to take. Some of the things a good business plan includes:
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Know the market. Understanding and explaining the market landscape includes following competition and trends in your industry and neighbourhood. Research what makes your competition strong and where there are opportunities for your unique selling proposition (USP) to shine. Know what your target customer is looking for and how you can meet those needs.
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Know your business. It’s also wise to have a strong company point of view and an executive summary, as well as deep knowledge of your product, management, and sales structures. A well-run business attracts customers.
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Perform a SWOT analysis SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Being prepared for potential roadblocks helps you visualise the future and avoid mistakes.
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Determine legal and health and safety obligations. Knowing how to follow codes and obtain permits, register your business, and get a business licence in advance pave the way for successful bakery business set up. To start a bakery, Irish laws include both business guidelines and food handling laws.
How much does it cost to start a bakery?
Defining your start-up costs can depend on things like size and location. The costs of running a cake baking business from home, for instance, will differ from operating in a brick-and-mortar bakery. Once you understand the costs, you can know whether or not you are financially ready for your venture. Some possible costs to consider include:
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Location and space – Do you want a place where customers will stay and relax, or do you envision counter-only service? Starting a bakery café vs. how to start a small coffee shop bakery or how to start your own bakery business from home require different considerations and are very different endeavours. How important is foot traffic and word-of-mouth to your business, or are you an expert in how to advertise your cake business? Is the space ready for operations or will there be building costs in addition to rent and utilities?
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Inventory – Managing inventory is a crucial part of a bakery business’ financial health. There are many ways to organise inventory, but one of the best is through online inventory management systems specifically designed to track and edit your quantities.
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Labour – Paying your employees includes their hourly wages, but it also includes training, benefits, and insurance. These business operations are made easier with systems that help you set up payroll and organise employee management.
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Equipment – Bakery business costs include a lot of equipment. Some may exist in your location, but you will have to make sure you budget early on for things like worktables, proofing cabinets, dough preparation equipment, and bakery ovens.
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Design and interiors – The aesthetics of your space communicate the personality of your business. How you want people to feel when they walk in - whether it’s warm and comforting or sleek and polished, interiors are part of an overall bakery business plan.
How to take payments at your bakery
It’s important to be set up to accept all kinds of payment from day one. Knowing how to start a cake business or run a successful bakery business includes getting paid. This means seamless connection between online orders, in-store purchases, and catering invoices.
Things to consider when taking payments include:
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Choose the right online store provider. If you plan to sell goods online, Square Online allows you to create a bakery website to sell and ship orders or offer Curbside pickup and local delivery. You can also sell on Instagram, Facebook, and more through the system.
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Use a bespoke POS for transactions. Customise the Square POS for your specific bakery business needs. It helps manage your sales, records, and inventory. Employees can easily learn the functions and customers enjoy a quick and easy checkout experience.
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Opt for a restaurant-specific POS. If your menu is more complicated or the workings of your business resemble those of a restaurant, the Square for Restaurants POS will help you manage menus, orders, and payments.
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Consider all your payment options. Other ways of accepting payment include Square Payment Links for at-home orders, Square Virtual Terminal enables you to process credit cards from your computer, Square invoices to create and track incoming and outgoing orders, and in-person contactless card readers.
How to reach and keep your customer base
Making people aware of your business is a crucial step in moving it to the next level. Customer retention after you get them in the door is step two. Here are some ways to get your name out there and keep your customers coming back.
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Set up social media. Learn how to advertise cake business on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Consider targeted paid social media to increase the number of local people who will see your ad.
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Build a website. A good website is part of the overall customer experience. If they are searching for a great bakery business near them, and your competitor’s site gives a better impression and answers their questions, you just may lose that business. Or, if a customer recommends you and details like your address and phone number can’t be found online, that’s another lost opportunity.
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Deliver fast, easy service. No matter how delicious your pastries and cakes are, starting a bakery café relies on customer service. The customer experience is often only as good as the technology that gets customers through the line. Square Payments allow you to accept different methods of payment, including quick contactless payment, Apple Pay, and Google Pay. The all-in-one Square Terminal does it all in a compact, intuitive package.
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Stand out from the crowd. Think about what makes your business unique or what you could offer that is different. Companies like The Misunderstood Heron in Connemara, for instance, include the very best, locally sourced, fresh produce from their food truck. Consider free-from foods for customers with allergies, healthy and vegan options, or featuring locally sourced ingredients.
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Boost sales with online sales. Diversify your offerings and sell goods and merchandise from your website. More restaurants and cafés have started to use tools like Square online store to continue serving their communities through the pandemic.
How to manage a cake business from home
Whether cake is your passion or you want to know how to start a bread bakery business, it’s important to have diverse service options and be able to adapt to changing times. With the rise of remote work, some might be wondering how to manage a cake baking business from home. The main differences between how to set up a cake business from home and how to run one from a storefront include these steps:
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Register as self-employed. You can register with Irish Tax and Customs if you are running your business yourself, have more than one simultaneous customer, and sell goods and services for profit, among other considerations.
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Check with the EHO with any concerns. You should contact the Environmental Health Officer (EHO) if you have any questions or need advice about your premises and what standards you need to meet.
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Get permission from your landlord. If you plan to run your bakery business from home, you must get written permission from your landlord.
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Check with the FSA regarding insurance. You can also visit the Food Safety Authority of Ireland website to make sure you have the required insurance and are meeting all the necessary standards.
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Keep close track. Tracking income and expenses can be difficult without the right tools, but it’s important to have everything in order for tax purposes and business management. The Square Marketplace includes many business apps you can sync with Square to keep your finances organised.
Whether from home or at a brick-and-mortar location, if you start a bakery in Ireland, there is much to consider. With tools like Square POS and its dashboard feature, you can stay organised and ready to face the challenges and joys of owning your own cake baking business, from home or otherwise. You can truly sell anywhere with Square.