Cupcake business

fizzlepurplefuz

I'm not sure if i'm in the correct forum so please move my post if i have placed it incorrectly.

I'm looking to start up a side business involving cakes, mainly cupcakes.
Recently i have been making a few batches for birthday parties and they have gone down very well.
Currently I'm in the process of trying to build a portfolio...
At the moment I am working out of my kitchen.... In order to progress I understand that I will need to get my kitchen "passed" if I plan to sell to the wider public, well that's what I have been told anyways.

I was wondering if anyone could give me some advice or point me in the right direction please?
Would I be allowed to work from my own kitchen or would I have to look for a commercial space?

Thanks for your help

terryhobdell

Please go to your local County Enterprise Board for some advice A start your own business course would help all free, Cup Cakes is a very dodgy enterprise thousands at it.

Buttercake

Have you created a plan of action? what needs to be done and what needs to be prioritised? Start piece by piece

Heres a post from ages ago - information is still relevant: http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?p=72660392

jaymcg91

The cupcake craze is over, you should google Crumbs Bake Shop, a massive cupcake chain that is on the verge of filing for bankruptcy because people have moved on.

joejobrien

Over supplied imo. Take a walk through any farmers market and see the volume of them. Maybe you have something extra or different but your post does not suggest this. and maybe even shy of experience:o
Come up with something different and you maybe off then. Good Luck!

MidlandsM

too late to the market place.

fizzlepurplefuz

I haven't visited this thread for a while......I appreciate your advice and your honesty

Buttercake

Don't let it get you down though, if this is your passion - go for it.

As others have said its a very saturated market but so is Hairdressers, Accountants, etc doesn't mean someone who wants to be a hairdresser or an accountant should not start their own business.

Try and do a twist or a different take on the current market? - maybe target an area where there are no nearby cake shops/makers.

Get in with some wedding people, as any wedding i've been to they only have cupcake tiers and most of them taste like butter and sugar mixed together. Personalise your product, even having slick packaging or logo design will help build a brand.

Those guys in the US collapsed, of course they did, because they thought every street corner needed a cupcake shop - there are similar failures across every industry.

If you create an image, supply good quality cupcakes then you'll have lots of repeat customers.

Best of luck

Bandara

Buttercake wrote: »

Don't let it get you down though, if this is your passion - go for it.

As others have said its a very saturated market but so is Hairdressers, Accountants, etc doesn't mean someone who wants to be a hairdresser or an accountant should not start their own business.

Try and do a twist or a different take on the current market? - maybe target an area where there are no nearby cake shops/makers.

Get in with some wedding people, as any wedding i've been to they only have cupcake tiers and most of them taste like butter and sugar mixed together. Personalise your product, even having slick packaging or logo design will help build a brand.

Those guys in the US collapsed, of course they did, because they thought every street corner needed a cupcake shop - there are similar failures across every industry.

If you create an image, supply good quality cupcakes then you'll have lots of repeat customers.

Best of luck

Respectfully I have to disagree

The cupcake phase as gone.

Like smoothie bars, old style sweet shops, milkshake bars,
bubble tea is currently halfway thru it's life and natural yogurt places are next to hit it big and fade away

There's nothing to be made in cupcakes anymore

Artisan high end bakery shops have possibilities, but not cupcake stalls imo

Wedding market is gone, the hotels make and supply the cupcakes directly now as part of their package

MammaZita

Big market for children's personalised birthday cakes, which I'm very surprised given you can get a perfectly adequate one in tesco or aldi for €6-€8.

And of course caricature ones for special birthdays, retirement, big anniversaries, communions, confirmations.

I personally couldn't justify the cost but judging by Facebook friends, these expensive cakes are all the rage so there is a business out there.

I have 3 friends all competing in the one geographic area and all are busy, so if you're good enough, you'll do we'll.

Best of luck

makeandcreate

As mammazita said there seems to be a lot of people looking for specialised bespoke cakes. And you need to keep on trend - this year minecraft, frozen and lego have all been huge - people are looking for party stuff with these themes.
Depending on how good you are at paste modelling I'd have a look at a cricut or similar cutting machine for gum paste and a SCAL package - seems like a handy way to produce consistent good looking cakes without too much hassle.
The other thing - so many cupcake shops I found they were a packet mix - even the girls in the UK teaching the decorating were using it and I think it foul and oily - a proper homemade cake base is so much nicer. The cupcakes might have looked good but the taste was just disappointing.