If you're a cake enthusiast looking to turn your passion into a profitable business, there are various ways to make money as a cake baker.
From selling cakes to cafes and restaurants to specializing in wedding and celebration cakes, and even offering online sales or cake decorating classes, the possibilities are endless. However, each revenue generation method has its advantages and disadvantages, and it's important to consider what suits your skills, interests, and resources.
In this blog, we'll explore the different ways you can make money as a cake business, and the pros and cons of each method.
Whether you're starting a cake business from scratch or looking to expand your existing one, we hope this guide will help you find the best approach to meet your business goals.
5 Ways To Make Money As A Cake Baker
There are various ways a cake business can generate revenue by catering to different types of cakes and customers. Here are some common ways to generate revenue as a cake business owner:
1. Selling cakes to cafes and restaurants: One way to generate revenue is by supplying cakes to cafes and restaurants. This approach allows you to focus on a specific type of cake, such as cupcakes or pastries, and establish a regular customer base. The advantage of this approach is that it can provide a steady stream of income, and there's often a high demand for baked goods in the foodservice industry. However, the disadvantage is that it can be challenging to find clients and maintain consistent quality and delivery.
Selling for volume will drive your cost per cake down. Cafes and restaurants don't want to pay too much for their cakes or pastries and therefore your costs will have to be competitive. This means although you might have a high volume of orders, they won't be as profitable. This is especially frustrating if you're baking at home and don't have the equipment to make cakes 100s at a time like some commercial cakes do.
2. Specializing in wedding and celebration cakes: Another way to generate revenue is by specializing in wedding and celebration cakes. This approach allows you to create high-end, bespoke cakes for weddings, birthdays, and other special events, charging a premium price for your services. The advantage of this approach is that it allows you to focus on a specific market and showcase your creativity and skills. However, the disadvantage is that it can be challenging to build a reputation and attract high-end clients.
In contrast to cafe and restaurant sales, wedding and occasion cakes can yield more revenue per unit. However, be weary that you need to be providing a unique design, style or flavour to stand out from the crowd and for customers to justify spending more on your cakes.
3. Online sales: With the rise of e-commerce, online sales have become a popular way for cake businesses to generate revenue. You can sell a range of cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods online, either through your website or social media platforms. The advantage of online sales is that it can provide a global customer base, allowing you to reach customers beyond your local area. However, the disadvantage is that it requires investment in e-commerce infrastructure and marketing to attract customers.
One huge thing to take into consideration with online sales is delivery. If you have a local market that is really invested into your cakes and you want to sell to them it might be easier than going global. Cakes are perishables and with some you only have 2-3 days at most for consumption so delivering the cakes as fresh as possible might prove a challenge.
4. Cake decorating classes and workshops: Offering cake decorating courses can be a profitable way to generate revenue. You can teach students how to decorate cakes, cupcakes, and other baked goods, either in-person or online. The advantage of offering classes is that it can be a lucrative source of income, and you can share your skills and knowledge with others. However, the disadvantage is that it requires planning, preparation, and marketing to attract students, and there may be competition from other instructors.
5. Selling at farmers markets: Farmers markets or local artisan markets are popular places for customers to purchase locally produced food, including baked goods. Selling at farmers markets can be a cost-effective way to test new recipes and reach a local audience. It can also be an opportunity to gather feedback from customers and establish relationships with other local producers. However, the disadvantage is that farmers markets are often seasonal, so there may be periods where there are no markets to sell at. Additionally, it can be challenging to secure a spot at popular markets, and the competition can be tough.
With Copper Spoon Cakery we have tried and tested all of these methods and there is merit to every one of them. There are some that are great for starting out (like Farmers Markets and Occasion cakes) and some that take a bit more time to develop, like our online cake decorating courses.
Overall, the key to generating revenue in a cake business is to find a niche that suits your skills and interests and build a loyal customer base. By focusing on a specific type of cake or customer, you can differentiate your business from competitors and establish a reputation for quality and creativity.
However, it's important to keep in mind that each revenue generation method has its advantages and disadvantages, and it may take some trial and error to find the right approach for your business.
Looking to start your own cake business? Check out our guide on the top things you need to do when starting a cake business from home.