In addition to cakes, many small businesses also offer cupcakes and cake pops. While this might seem an obvious choice, there are some additional considerations you’ll want to address when deciding what options to include in your bakery menu. There are some very good reasons to consider cupcakes in your business plan:

• They are an “evergreen” product, meaning customers want them at all times of the year. Every season is potentially a cupcake season. While the same could be said for cakes, we find that wedding season is one of busiest for cake-only shops.
• Cupcakes can be added relatively inexpensively to your existing workflow. You will incorporate more of an assembly-line approach.
• Cupcakes can be used alongside larger cakes. We often see brides choosing a beautiful cupcake tower with a cutting cake at the top, surrounded by cupcakes decorated in the colors of the wedding.
• Cupcakes are easier to transport and can be sold in a broader variety of locations and may open up wholesale opportunities for your cake business. (Think farmers markets, fairs, coffee shops).

While many bakers have gone towards cupcake-only businesses, I believe that offering cakes and cupcakes is still a great way to go, as the tradition of cake cutting, cakes for birthday parties, meals, showers, etc. is still huge. If you have the skills to decorate cakes, a full-service, traditional cake business is likely to distinguish you from those who only sell cupcakes. Let me know what you think!

Using Fresh Flowers on a Wedding Cake

Fresh flowers can be a beautiful addition to any cake however, there are also safety concerns to take into account when using fresh flowers with food.   As an alternative, you may wish to decorate your cake table with fresh flowers, and use sugar flowers on the cake itself to avoid any problems or concerns.

Below you will find general information on using fresh flowers, as well as a few questions you might ask your florist. Never hesitate to follow up with your florist if you have any concerns.

Fresh Flowers:

• Fresh flowers should always be arranged in containers or taped into corsages to avoid contamination.  For food safety purposes, flower stems should NEVER be directly inserted into the cake.
• If you as the cake decorator arrange fresh flowers for a cake be sure to add this as an additional charge. Include the cost of the flowers plus a $10 – 30 arranging fee (depending on estimated time required.)
• Most cake decorators prefer to place the flowers on the cake for liability as well as food safety issues

Questions to ask a florist before using flowers on a cake:

·       Are the flowers toxic? Unfortunately, many popular wedding flowers are toxic. Be sure to double check.

·       Are the flowers organically grown? These are truly the only way to go as you do not want toxic pesticides near your cake.

·       Does the florist prepare the flowers in some type of container or pick? One simple way to avoid most contamination is to arrange the cake flowers in a container that can be sat on top of the cake, or taping them into a corsage type arrangement which will allow the stems to be placed into a special food safe plastic pick to be inserted into the cake, rather than inserting the flower stems directly into the cake.

Read more →

While it is not as easy to start a cake business in Georgia as other states with Cottage Food Laws on the books, it is not impossible to generate income from making and selling cakes. Georgia allows bakers to sell “low-risk” cakes and cupcakes at Farmer’s Markets in the State of Georgia. These markets must be sponsored by the state or a political subdivision of the state (e.g. county, town, city, neighborhood association, etc.) or a non-profit Farmer’s Market. This is a great opportunity to sell cakes and cupcakes to the public at large, though not as easy as setting up shop for pick-up at home or as a delivery service. If you are interested in testing the waters, it is still a strong option.

For all the details about this regulation contact your local health departments or the Georgia state Department of Agriculture.

Georgia -Farmers-Market Cake Business-Guidelines

A new Georgia Cottage Food Law initiative is gaining momentum in Georgia. You can support this group on Facebook and sign their petition.