Cake decorating can be extremely satisfying and fun business to get
into especially with the right planning steps and a genuine love for the
process. It is not all moonlight and roses though, there are some cons
to the business as well that you should be aware of before starting or
considering the idea of a business. This is not meant to discourage your
venture but rather give you a realistic set of expectations.
Pros
- You will be doing something you are passionate about and love rather than a job just to pay the bills.
- You will bring joy and delight to many people with wonderful sweet confections.
- You will be part of a warm and creative community of people who take pride in creating lovely cakes.
- You can schedule your own time to some extent. Obviously you will have to work many hours, but if you need an afternoon for a child’s soccer game or a special weekend with your spouse, simply arrange your business around these important moments. This means personal commitments such as younger children or elderly parents can be addressed.
- Your overhead can remain low if you do not have an actual storefront. This also means you can schedule appointments when you want them and do not need to keep a staff member on your payroll.
- You can work when you are most productive as long as you make the deadline of the client. This means midnight to 6:00 am if you want or through the afternoon. There are no set rules when you are your own boss.
Cons
- You will probably have to work on most weekends and some holidays because that is when weddings and events usually happen. You will be delivering cakes and creating finishing touches on your cakes on most Saturdays when your business is thriving.
- You can schedule your own time to an extent, but you will be working many long hours especially on Thursdays, Fridays, and the weekend as the order comes together.
- You might have to renovate your house to accommodate a dedicated space for your business.
- You will have to be disciplined to attract and keep clientele, which means you never stop looking or selling your business. Checking social media accounts, creating marketing material and networking are all part of your commitment when you are not actually baking and decorating.
- The health board and government will require regular contact to keep your space and licenses up to date. Your kitchen needs to have regular inspections to avoid costly fines or even lawsuits.
- You will need to research and master new cake techniques in order to keep up with trends and client needs. This does not mean you have to be an expert on everything but having a basic knowledge of trends and trying new techniques will keep you interested and competitive.
By Michelle Anderson
Cake Decorating Expert, about.com
