There are three things the human brain cannot resist noticing – Attractive people, danger and the smell of Fresh Bread. But, can you open a bakery without experience? It is possible, it takes some work and there are a few traps to avoid. Among some of the examples I have included a Banker, and a Software Developer who makes over $100,000 a year working 3½ days a week from his baking.
Remember one thing that is often overlooked by almost everyone who aspires to do something they have not done before. “We become by doing, not thinking”.
- Checking the Bakery Forum on Quora Most are Saying No!
- Agnetta Lew disagrees, saying that Culinary School will Not teach you how to crack 36 eggs at the same time.
- Do You Need a Culinary Degree to Open a Bakery?
- Can you open a bakery without knowing how to bake?
- Buying a Franchise Looks to be one way to open a Bakery without any Experience.
- Don't Open a Store. Set up a Bakery at Home.
- Conclusion
Checking the Bakery Forum on Quora Most are Saying No!
If you want to be that owner that walks around the shop solving problems and shaking hands, get the business degree and then hire a chef and/or baker.
If you want to be sweating in the kitchen making the best pastries in town and writing the recipes, go to culinary school.
Quora
Agnetta Lew disagrees, saying that Culinary School will Not teach you how to crack 36 eggs at the same time.
She Compared going to Culinary school to being on top of the dean’s list in university, but not being able to find a job.
Her story.
I am a home baker turned business owner. I did not go to culinary school simply because I could not afford to spend 2-4 years learning to cook/bake. I interned at a french bakery and learnt from scratch. I had no ideas how to crack 36 eggs at the same time and seperate yolks from whites. (crack all 36 into a bowl and use your fingers to scoop the yolks out).
Starting a business from scratch means you have a lot to learn have to deal with packaging, customers, design, presentation, cleaning, website and food delivery. Having a mentor in the industry to help you is the best.
Quora
Actually, culinary school didn’t have too many good wraps when it came to discussing opening a bakery
Do You Need a Culinary Degree to Open a Bakery?
The Webresturant store says you don’t
You don’t have to have a culinary degree or a bachelor’s degree in business to own a bakery.
The Webresturant store’s opinion is: “Culinary school cannot beat the skills gained doing hands on work in a bakery.”
But they say the academic knowledge comes in useful if you are arranging finance, or trying to attract investors, and managing the shop.
They also say the high cost of culinary school might good from a business point of view, but not good for gaining good baking skills.
You can read more Here.
Avalon Yarnes says Culinary School can be useful… But…
Man, oh man, how I wish I had worked in other bakeries before opening up my own! I graduated culinary school, interned with a custom cake studio, and then, with a steady shove from my mother, I opened up my bakery Just–Like–That.
Avalon Yarnes. Avalon cake school. 10 things I wish I knew before opening a bakery
35 year bakery veteran Clinton Phillips thinks Culinary school is a headache.
He says “Going to a culinary school can take up to three years and then you are only going to learn the basics.”
He thinks you would better off working in a bakery as an apprentice or labourer for five years and then making a decision. You can see more on Quora.
Can you open a bakery without knowing how to bake?
Food Strategy says you can.
You do not need your own recipes to start a bakery. Not only that, but there’s no need to make everything from scratch. You don’t even have to make ANYTHING from scratch! You could EVEN sell baked goods that other people make and resell them
Australian business. Food Strategy.
But they add a rider, ” If you want to start a bakery, work in a bakery first so you know what goes into running the business.”
Buying a Franchise Looks to be one way to open a Bakery without any Experience.
Richard Cook agrees.
A banker by trade, to him the benefits of a franchise was the practical, hands-on training.
He quickly learned that if you can follow a recipe and be methodical, then the companies system will work for you. You can see more on Richards story Here.
Although many people say franchises are just a cut and paste of a process and don’t allow for any creativity.
The benefits seem to outweigh the negatives though.
Franchise companies do a lot of research into locations and are able to provide the ingredients at a competitive cost.
This SWOT analysis also gives them the Thumbs Up
Nothing like a SWOT analysis to get to the nitty gritty of things.
But they point out correctly that the cost of a bakery franchise can be prohibitive for many solopreneurs.
The most important take-aways I have seen from buying into a franchise, relate to competition, technology advancements and changing consumer preferences.
Don’t Open a Store. Set up a Bakery at Home.
This could be a winner.
There is a small piece about home bread baking business Here
Peter Niepel was a software developer and now makes between $100,000-$150,000 a year baking from home in New Zealand.
He squeezes 40+ hours into those 3 days and spends some time doing office work on the 4th day.
His competitors on main street make around $400,000-$500,000 a year, but they are paying salaries, leases and working 6 ½/7 days a week. sometimes up to 10 hours a day.
Peter has a cleaning lady who takes about 3 hours to clean up, and another lady who helps him at the market on Saturday mornings.
So! You don’t have to lease a shop, hire staff and bake every day of the week if you don’t want t
Conclusion
The laws vary from country to country, states within countries, and local areas within states.
So check the laws before you do anything. Bureaucrats take food laws seriously and expect you to as well.
However to succeed without any bakery experience is definitely possible.
But there seem to be only two realistic options.
- Buy into a Franchised operation, or
- Start from Home.
Everyone of the experienced people I researched say, start with a plan. Not just a plan you have in your mind, but a proper business plan written down on paper.
If you don’t know how to write one, get someone to do it for you or go and learn how to write one.
You don’t need to spend years sitting in a classroom, there are courses you can do from home and they are reasonably priced.
If your working from home and think you don’t need a business plan. Think again! Otherwise you might find a bank putting one of these signs out the front of your place.
Remember one thing that is often overlooked by almost everyone who aspires to do something they have not done before. “We become by doing, not thinking”.
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