sample cupcake business plan

Cupcake Shop Business Plan [Sample Template]

By: Author Tony Martins Ajaero

Home » Business ideas » Food Industry » Cake Shop

Are you about starting a cupcake shop with in-house bakery? If YES, here is a complete sample cupcake shop business plan template & feasibility study you can use for FREE .

Cupcake is type of cake which originated from the United States, and it is a small cake that is baked in small thin paper or aluminum cup and designed in different unique designs to serve just one person.

Suggested for You

• Funnel Cake Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Custom Cake Making Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Beer Garden Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Deli Business Plan [Sample Template]
• Cake Shop Organizational Structure [Job Description Included]

Aside from the fact that it is a small cake, it still contains icing, candy or all other decoration that can be found in traditional big cakes.

Please note that cupcakes can also be called fairy cake or patty cake especially in places like England and Australia. The truth is that, if you are a baker or even a caterer, it is easier for you to venture into cupcake business.

This is so because the same ingredients and processes that are used in making the conventional large cakes are the same ingredients and processes that are used in making cupcakes except for the size difference. The basic ingredient that is used in cupcake making is flour, butter, sugar, eggs, frosting and cake decorations.

What It Take to Open a Cupcake Shop?

One thing about cupcake business is that it is your creativity is one of the things that can stand you out from your competitors.

No doubt, people who are into cupcake making are very creative. And that is why you can come across cupcakes in different shapes, designs and flavor.

For example; we have cupcakes in different variants such as butterfly cupcake, cake in a jar, cake ball, elaborately frosted cupcakes, and gourmet cupcake. The bottom line is that if you are creative enough, you can design your cupcake to represent any celebrated events or occasion.

Beyond every reasonable doubt, a cupcake business is indeed a profitable business because you can operate the business with your family members from your kitchen thereby cutting operational cost to the barest minimum.

So also if you are able to secure a strategic high traffic location to open a shop, you can be rest assured to rake in good returns from your cupcake business.

A Sample Cupcake Shop Business Plan Template

1. industry overview.

Cupcake is a niche market in the baking and culinary industry and statistics has it that there are 400 registered cupcake outlets in the united states of America and 770,000,000 cupcakes are consumed in the U.S. in 2012 alone.

Crumbs Bake Shop® is the highest selling cupcake shop in the United States with estimated net sales of $8.9m and a gross profit of $5.1m in 2011.

As a matter of fact, Crumbs Bake Shop offers over 60 varieties of cupcakes to their customers and they have plans to open their outlets in about 200 different locations within the next four years. The cupcake industry rakes in about $1.6 billion annually in the United States of America with three years of steady growth.

Cupcake business is projected to become one of the fastest growing businesses in the baked goods industry. The world’s most expensive cupcake is $55,000; a red velvet cupcake with an 8 carat diamond engagement ring on it and it was done by cupcakes gourmet.

The cupcake industry thrives on creativity and it is on record that Sprinkles Cupcakes which is based in Beverly Hills, California and owned by Candace Nelson became the first cupcake outlet to start a cupcake dispenser with the capacity to hold up to 350 cupcakes per time.

The cupcake industry is still growing despite the fact that there are many players in the industry. For instance, statistics has it that 13 percent of cupcakes produced are served in wedding receptions.

The idea is that once a start – up cupcake shop is well positioned and offers additional services, then they just need to do little to stay in business.

Some of the factors that encourages and motivates aspiring entrepreneurs to venture in to cupcake business is the point that you can start the business on a small scale from the comfort of your kitchen without making purchase of heavy duty equipment.

All that you would have to spend some money on would be cake baking ingredients and relevant supplies. As a matter of fact, you can start by supplying your cupcakes to mom and pop shops around your community or you can even open a small shop / kiosk in front of your house and start retailing your cupcakes.

If you are hardworking and lucky enough, you can secure contract from the start to start supplying cupcakes for events (parties and wedding ceremonies et al).

This is why it is important to network and enter into strategic business alliance with event managers and wedding planners et al.

If you are contemplating to start your own cupcake business in the United States, you should ensure that you carry out a thorough market survey and feasibility studies . If you get some key factors wrong before starting your own cupcake, then you are likely going to struggle to stay afloat.

But over and above, cupcake business is a thriving and profitable business especially if you are creative and ready to take on the available market within the location where your business is plus the fact that Americans love cupcakes and they are willing to try – out different flavors.

2. Executive Summary

Isabella House of Cupcakes™ is a neighborhood cupcake business that will be based in Fairhope – Alabama, USA but will cover a wide range of clients both domestic and corporate clients.

Although we intend starting out from small in – house bakery, but that does not in any way stop us from maximizing our potential in the cupcake line of business. We hope to grow the business beyond Fairhope to other communities / cities in the State of Alabama.

Isabella House of Cupcakes™ is established by the awarding winning and renowned baker – Mrs. Isabella Welsh – Carrington who has B.Sc. in Food Science Technology and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration (MBA).

She has a robust experience in the food and confectioneries’ business having worked both in the public sector and the private sector prior to starting her own cupcake baking and retailing business in Fairhope – Alabama.

Our business goal as a community based cupcake baking and retailing business is to become the number one choice of residence in the whole of the communities where we intend to retail our cupcakes.

We are extremely creative, which is why we will come up with cupcakes in different designs, different variants, different themes, and different flavors and of course different packaging just to appeal to our target market.

As a business, we are willing to go the extra mile to invest in building a standard in – house bakery and also to hire efficient and dedicated employees.

Our in – house bakery and delivery network will be customized to fit into the kind of ideas we have of how a standard cupcake baking and retailing business should look like.

When it comes to hygiene, we have put plans, process and structures in place that will ensure that we are always at the top of game when it comes to that. We have been able to secure permits from all relevant departments in the State of Alabama.

Isabella House of Cupcakes™ is set to redefine how community based cupcake business should be run, not just in Fairhope – Alabama, but also in the whole of the United States of America.

Which is why we have put plans in place for continuous training of all our staff at regular interval and also liaising with stakeholder in the industry to contribute our quotas in the way baking equipment and accessories should be designed and fabricated to meet the ever changing demand of the baking and confectionery industry.

No doubt the demand for cupcakes and other baked foods is not going to plummet any time soon, which is why we have put plans in place to continue to explore all available market around the communities where we intend retailing our cupcakes.

In the nearest future, we will ensure that we create a wide range of distribution channels via franchising. With that, we know we will be able to

3. Our Products and Services

At Isabella House of Cupcakes™ we deal in all forms and flavors of cupcakes. We will bake and retail cupcakes made in different designs, different variants, different themes, and different flavors and of course different packaging just to appeal to our target market.

As part our strategy to create multiple sources of income in line with our core business concept, we will run an in – house and community based consultancy service and trainings as it relates to cupcakes and other baked foods.

Our intention of starting Isabella House of Cupcakes™ is to make profits from the industry and we will do all that is permitted by the law in the US to achieve our aim and ambition.

4. Our Mission and Vision Statement

• Our vision as a community based cupcake making and retailing business is to become the number one choice in the whole of Fairhope and also to be amongst the top 2leading cupcake baking and retailing companies in the State of Alabama before our 5 th anniversary.
• Our mission is to build a cupcake baking and retailing business that will grow from an in – house baker to a standard bakery whose products can be found in different locations all around Alabama.

Our Business Structure

As part of our plan to build a top flight community based cupcake baking and retailing business in Fairhope – Alabama, we have perfected plans to get it right from the onset which is why we are going the extra mile to ensure that we have competent employees to occupy all the available positions in our company.

The picture of the kind of community based cupcake baking and retailing business we intend building and the business goals we want to achieve is what informed the amount we are ready to spend to ensure that we build a standard in – house bakery, dedicated workforce and robust distribution network.

Below is the business structure that we will build Isabella House of Cupcakes™ on;

• Chief Executive Officer (Owner)

Bakery Manager

Human Resources and Admin Manager

• Sales and Marketing Officer
• Accountants/Cashiers

Bakers/Casual Workers

• Drivers/Distributors
• Customer Service Executives

5. Job Roles and Responsibilities

Chief Baker/Chief Executive Officer – CEO (Owner):

• Increases management’s effectiveness by recruiting, selecting, orienting, training, coaching, counseling, and disciplining managers; communicating values, strategies, and objectives; assigning accountabilities; planning, monitoring, and appraising job results; developing incentives; developing a climate for offering information and opinions; providing educational opportunities.
• Creating, communicating, and implementing the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for fixing prices and signing business deals
• Responsible for providing direction for the business
• Creates, communicates, and implements the organization’s vision, mission, and overall direction – i.e. leading the development and implementation of the overall organization’s strategy.
• Responsible for signing checks and documents on behalf of the company
• Evaluates the success of the organization
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of the bakery
• Part of the team that determines the quantity of cupcakes that are to be produced daily
• Make lists and budget for bakery supplies
• Oversee the entire bakery process
• Responsible for training new bakers
• Makes sure that quality in maintained at all times
• Map out strategy that will lead to efficiency amongst workers in the bakery
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of the workforce
• Ensures that the steady flow of both raw materials (flours, sugar, foils and other packaging materials et al) to the bakery and easy flow of finished products (cupcakes) through wholesale distributors and retailers to the market
• Ensures operation of equipment by completing preventive maintenance requirements; calling for repairs.
• Ensures that the bakery meets the expected safety and health standard at all times.
• Responsible for overseeing the smooth running of HR and administrative tasks for the organization
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations.
• Enhances department and organization reputation by accepting ownership for accomplishing new and different requests; exploring opportunities to add value to job accomplishments.
• Defines job positions for recruitment and managing interviewing process
• Carries out staff induction for new team members
• Responsible for training, evaluation and assessment of employees
• Oversees the smooth running of the daily business activities.

Sales and Marketing Manager

• Manages external research and coordinate all the internal sources of information to retain the organizations’ best customers and attract new ones
• Model demographic information and analyze the volumes of transactional data generated by customer purchases
• Identifies, prioritizes, and reaches out to new partners, and business opportunities et al
• Responsible for supervising implementation, advocate for the customer’s needs, and communicate with customers
• Develops, executes and evaluates new plans for expanding increase sales
• Documents all customer contact and information
• Represents the company in strategic meetings
• Helps increase sales and growth for the company
• Responsible for preparing different flavor and style for cupcakes and all our bakery products
• Responsible for carrying out all casual or unskilled jobs in the bakery
• Responsible for operating sealing and packaging machines
• Handles any other duty as assigned by the bakery manager

Accountant/Cashier

• Responsible for preparing financial reports, budgets, and financial statements for the organization
• Provides managements with financial analyses, development budgets, and accounting reports; analyzes financial feasibility for the most complex proposed projects; conducts market research to forecast trends and business conditions.
• Responsible for financial forecasting and risks analysis.
• Performs cash management, general ledger accounting, and financial reporting
• Responsible for developing and managing financial systems and policies
• Responsible for administering payrolls
• Ensures compliance with taxation legislation
• Handles all financial transactions for the organization
• Serves as internal auditor for the organization

Distribution Van Drivers:

• Delivers customer’s orders promptly
• Runs errand for the organization
• Any other duty as assigned by the sales and marketing executive and bakery manager

Client Service Executive

• Ensures that all contacts with customer (e-mail, walk-In center, SMS or phone) provides the client with a personalized customer service experience of the highest level
• Through interaction with customers on the phone, uses every opportunity to build client’s interest in the company’s products and services
• Manages administrative duties assigned by the store manager in an effective and timely manner
• Consistently stays abreast of any new information on Isabella House of Cupcakes™ products, promotional campaigns etc. to ensure accurate and helpful information is supplied to customers when they make enquiries
• Responsible for cleaning the bakery facility at all times
• Ensure that toiletries and supplies don’t run out of stock
• Cleans both the interior and exterior of the bakery facility
• Any other duty as assigned by the bakery manager.

6. SWOT Analysis

Due to our drive for excellence when it comes to running a cupcake baking and retailing business, we were able to engage some of the finest business consultants in Fairhope – Alabama to look through our business concept and together we were able to critically examine the prospect of the business and to access ourselves to be sure we have what it takes to run a standard cupcake baking and retailing business that can compete favorably in the baking and confectionery industry.

In view of that, we were able to take stock of our strengths, our weakness, our opportunities and also the threats that we are likely going to be exposed to in Fairhope – Alabama and also in other cities that we intend retailing our cupcakes. Here is a of what we got from the critically conducted SWOT Analysis Isabella House of Cupcakes™;

Our strength lies in the fact that we deal in all forms and flavors of cupcakes. We will bake and retail cupcakes made in different designs, different variants, different themes, and different flavors and of course different packaging just to appeal to our target market.

We have state of the art bakery facility and equipment that has positioned us to meet the demand of cupcakes even if the demand tripled overnight or if we have a massive order to meet and emergency need.

Another factor that counts to our advantage is the background of our Chief Executive Office; she has a robust experience in the industry and also a pretty good academic qualification to match the experience acquired which has placed her amongst the top flight professionals in the United States of America.

We are not ignoring the fact that offering consultancy services and running a standard and accredited training center is definitely going to count as a positive for us.

The fact that we are setting up a cupcake baking and retailing business in a city with other smaller and larger cupcake businesses might likely pose a challenge for us in breaking into the already saturated market in Fairhope – Alabama.

In essence our chosen location might be our weakness. But never the less, we have plans to launch out with a big bang. We know with that, we will be able to create a positive impression and we have a proper handle when it comes to building on already gather momentum.

• Opportunities:

The opportunities available to us are unlimited. Loads of people consume cupcakes on a daily basis and all what we are going to do to push our cupcakes to them is already perfected. There are also loads of people who would want to learn how to bake cupcakes and they will readily find our government approved cupcake baking training classes highly ideal for them to fulfill that goal.

The threat that is likely going to confront us is the fact that we are competing with already established cupcake baking and retailing businesses in Fairhope – Alabama and also there are other entrepreneurs who are likely going to launch similar business within the location of our business.

Of course, they will compete with us in winning over the available market. Another threat that we are likely going to face is unfavorable government policies and economic downturn. Usually economic downturn affects purchasing / spending powers.

7. MARKET ANALYSIS

• Market Trends

It is common trend in the bakery and confectionery industry to find bakers trying to outsmart one another. No doubt, those in the cupcake industry are known to be extremely creative which is why they could come up with cupcakes in different designs, different variants, different themes, different flavors and of course different packaging just to appeal to their target market.

Another trend is that some cupcake baking and retailing companies have gone beyond only selling their products in their stores to taking it out to people in parks, sport centers and public places through vans and mobile food trucks.

Some cupcake baking and retailing companies have even gone ahead to start retailing their cupcakes to the public through vending machines /cupcake ATM just like the owner of Sprinkle Cupcakes Candace Nelson did and some can just open a shop or kiosk in a street corner strictly for the sale of cupcakes.; it is one of the strategies that is helping them gain a huge market share.

8. Our Target Market

When it comes to retailing cupcakes, there is indeed a wide range of available customers. In essence, our target market can’t be restricted to just a group of people, but all those who love cupcakes and those who would want to try it out. One thing is certain; there are no restrictions to the demographic and psychographics composition of the target market for cupcakes.

Adults and children all consume cupcakes; the demography is all encompassing which is why you can find cupcakes been served in wedding receptions, birthday parties, children’s parties, school graduation parties, baby shower, and a whole lot of events and parties.

This goes to show that the target market for cupcake is wide and far reaching, you can create your own make niche yourself to serve a specific purpose.

In view of that, we have conducted our market research and we have ideas of what our target market would be expecting from us. We are in business to engage in wholesale distribution and to retail a wide range of cupcake flavors to the following groups of people;

• School Children
• Sport Lovers/Fans ( In Stadiums during live sport events)
• International and Local Tourists
• Corporate Organizations
• Families/Households in and around your neighborhood
• Churches and other religious centers
• Event Planners and Wedding Planners
• Everyone who resides in our target locations.

Our Competitive Advantage

First and foremost, the fact that anybody with baking skills can decide to start cupcake business means that the business is open to all and sundry, hence it is expected that there will be a high – level of competition in the industry. There is hardly any busy community or even street that you won’t find one or more people retailing cupcakes.

As a cupcake baking and retailing business, we know that gaining a competitive edge requires a detailed analysis of the demographics of the surrounding area and the nature of existing competitors. And even if you are successful at first, new competitors could enter your market at any time to steal your regular customers.

Hence we will not hesitate to adopt successful strategies from our competitors. We are going to be one of the very few cupcake baking and retailing business in Fairhope – Alabama with vending machines in various locations in the city.

Another competitive advantage that we have is the vast experience of our management team, we have people on board who are highly experienced and understands how to grow business from the scratch to becoming a national phenomenon.

So also the wide varieties of cupcake flavors et al that we produce, our large robust distribution network and of course our excellent customer service culture will definitely count as a strong strength for the business. One thing is certain, we will ensure that in future, we open our outlets in various cities in the United States of America and also sell our franchise. With that our brand will be well communicated and accepted nationally.

9. SALES AND MARKETING STRATEGY

• Sources of Income

Isabella House of Cupcakes™ is established with the aim of maximizing profits in the bakery and confectionery industry in the United States of America and we are going to go all the way to ensure that we do all it takes to retail all forms and flavors of cupcakes.

We will bake and retail cupcakes made in different designs, different variants, different themes, and different flavors and of course different packaging just to appeal to our target market. As part our strategy to create multiple sources of income in line with our core business concept, we will run an in – house and community based consultancy service and trainings as it relates to cupcakes and other baked foods.

10. Sales Forecast

It is important to state that our sales forecast is based on the data gathered during our feasibility studies, market survey and also some of the assumptions readily available on the field. Below are the sales projections that we were able to come up with for the first three years of operations;

• First Year-: $100,000
• Second Year-: $250,000
• Third Year-: $500,000

N.B: This projection is done based on what is obtainable in the industry and with the assumption that there won’t be any major economic meltdown and the arrival of a competitor in same location as ours within the period stated above. Please note that the above projection might be lower and at the same time it might be higher.

• Marketing Strategy and Sales Strategy

Before choosing a location to launch Isabella House of Cupcakes™ and also the kind of cupcake flavors to produce, we conduct a thorough market survey and feasibility studies in order for us to be able to be able to penetrate the available market in the cities where we intend positioning our business.

We have detailed information and data that we were able to utilize to structure our business to attract the numbers of customers we want to attract per time and also for our products to favorable compete with other leading cupcake baking and retailing brands in Fairhope – Alabama and the whole of the United States of America.

We hired experts who have good understanding of the baking and confectionery industry to help us develop  In other to continue to be in business and grow, we must continue to sell our cupcake to the available market which is why we will go all out to empower or sales and marketing team to deliver our corporate sales goals.

In summary, Isabella House of Cupcakes™ will adopt the following sales and marketing approach to sell our wide range of cupcake flavors;

• Introduce our cupcake brand by sending introductory letters to residence, merchants and other stakeholders both in Fairhope and in other cities in the State of Alabama
• Open our cupcake business with a party so as to capture the attention of residence who are our first targets
• Engage in road show in targeted communities from time to time to sell our products
• Advertise our products in community based newspapers, local TV and radio stations
• List our business and products on yellow pages ads (local directories)
• Leverage on the internet to promote our cupcake brands
• Engage in direct marketing and sales
• Encourage the use of Word of mouth marketing (referrals)

11. Publicity and Advertising Strategy

Regardless of the fact that our community based cupcake business is a standard one with a wide range of flavors and products that can favorably compete with other leading brands in the United States of America, we will still go ahead to intensify publicity for all our products and brand.

We are going to explore all available means to promote Isabella House of Cupcakes™. Isabella House of Cupcakes™ has a long term plan of opening outlets in various locations all around the United States of America and also to sell our franchise which is why we will deliberately build our brand to be well accepted in Fairhope before venturing out to other cities in the United States of America.

As a matter of fact, our publicity and advertising strategy is not solely for selling our products but to also effectively communicate our brand. Here are the platforms we intend leveraging on to promote and advertise Isabella House of Cupcakes™;

• Place adverts on both print (community based newspapers and magazines) and electronic media platforms
• Sponsor relevant community programs
• Leverage on the internet and social media platforms like; Instagram, Facebook , twitter, et al to promote our brand
• Install our Bill Boards on strategic locations all around major cities in the State of Alabama
• Engage in road show from time to time in targeted communities
• Distribute our fliers and handbills in target areas
• Position our Flexi Banners at strategic positions in the location where we intend getting customers to start patronizing our cupcakes.
• Ensure that all our staff members wear our customized clothes, and all our official cars and distribution vans are customized and well branded.

12. Our Pricing Strategy

When it comes to pricing for products such as cupcakes, there are no hard and fast rules, the prices depend on the size and packaging. Generally, the prize for cupcakes and similar products like cookies and confectioneries are affordable hence there is no need to employ any detailed strategies when it comes to fixing price.

In view of that, our prices will conform to what is obtainable in the industry but will ensure that within the first 3 to 6 months our cupcakes are sold a little bit below the average prices of various cupcake brands in the United States of America.

We have put in place business strategies that will help us run on low profits for a period of 6 months; it is a way of encouraging people to buy into our brands.

• Payment Options

At Isabella House of Cupcakes™, our payment policy is all inclusive because we are quite aware that different people prefer different payment options as it suits them. Here are the payment options that will be available in every of our outlets;

• Payment by cash
• Payment via Point of Sale (POS) Machine
• Payment via online bank transfer (online payment portal)
• Payment via Mobile money

In view of the above, we have chosen banking platforms that will help us achieve our payment plans without any itches.

13. Startup Expenditure (Budget)

When it comes to starting a cupcake business, loads of factors influences the amount that will be required to successful launch the business. Factors like the location you intend starting the business, the size of cupcake business you want to start i.e. the number of outlets/shops et al, and of course the state of the economy as at when you intend start the business.

We know that no matter where we intend starting our cupcake business, we would be required to fulfill most of the items listed below;

• The Fee for registering the business in the United States -$725.
• The budget for legal fees, insurance, permits and license – $3,000
• The amount needed to build a standard in – house bakery and renovation of the facility inclusive – $20,000.
• The Cost for the purchase of kitchen/baking equipment and gadgets (industrial ovens, fridges, smoke detector, TVs, microwave oven, Pans, Foils, Sound System, tables and chairs et al) – $5,000.
• The Cost for supply of flour and other baking ingredients for a month – $1,000.
• The Cost of Launching a Website – $600
• The cost opening party – $5,000
• Additional Expenditure (Business cards, Signage, Adverts and Promotions et al) – $5,000

Going by the report from our research and feasibility studies, we will need an average of $50,000 to start a small scale but standard cupcake business in Alabama, United States of America.

Generating Funding/Startup Capital for Isabella House of Cupcakes™

Isabella House of Cupcakes™ is a family business that is owned and financed by Mrs. Isabella Welsh – Carrington and Family. They do not intend to welcome any external business partner which is why he has decided to restrict the sourcing of the start – up capital to 3 major sources.

These are the areas we intend generating our start – up capital;

• Generate part of the start – up capital from personal savings and sell of stocks
• Source for soft loans from family members and friends
• Apply for loan from my Bank

N.B: We have been able to generate about $20,000 (Personal savings $15,000 and soft loan from family members $5,000) and we are at the final stages of obtaining a loan facility of $30,000 from our bank. All the papers and document have been signed and submitted, the loan has been approved and any moment from now our account will be credited with the amount.

14. Sustainability and Expansion Strategy

The future of a business lies in the numbers of loyal customers that they have the capacity and competence of the employees, their investment strategy and the business structure. If any of these factors is missing from a business (company), then it won’t be too long before the business close shop.

Isabella House of Cupcakes™ will ensure that all the factors listed above are reinforced on a regular basis, we will continue to improvise with our products, come up with pleasant and acceptable flavors and also we will engage in continuous capacity building of our workforce.

As a matter of fact, profit-sharing arrangement will be made available to all our management staff and it will be based on their performance for a period of five years or more.

We will make sure that the right foundation, structures and processes are put in place to ensure that staff welfare is well taken of. Our company’s corporate culture is designed to drive our business to greater heights and training and retraining of our workforce is at the top burner.

Check List/Milestone

• Business Name Availability Check : Completed
• Business Registration: Completed
• Opening of Corporate Bank Accounts: Completed
• Securing Point of Sales (POS) Machines: Completed
• Opening Mobile Money Accounts: Completed
• Opening Online Payment Platforms: Completed
• Application and Obtaining Tax Payer’s ID: In Progress
• Application for business license and permit: Completed
• Purchase of Insurance for the Business: Completed
• Leasing of facility and construction of in – house bakery: In Progress
• Conducting Feasibility Studies: Completed
• Generating capital from family members: Completed
• Applications for Loan from the bank: In Progress
• Writing of Business Plan: Completed
• Drafting of Employee’s Handbook: Completed
• Drafting of Contract Documents and other relevant Legal Documents: In Progress
• Design of The Company’s Logo: Completed
• Graphic Designs and Printing of Packaging Marketing/Promotional Materials: In Progress
• Recruitment of employees: In Progress
• Purchase of the Needed furniture, racks, shelves, computers, electronic appliances, office appliances and CCTV: In progress
• Creating Official Website for the Company: In Progress
• Creating Awareness for the business both online and around the community: In Progress
• Health and Safety and Fire Safety Arrangement (License): Secured
• Opening party/launching party planning: In Progress
• Establishing business relationship with vendors – wholesale suppliers/merchants: In Progress
• Purchase of delivery vans: Completed

Sample Bakery Business Plan For Inspiration

Writing a business plan is a crucial step in starting a bakery. Not only does it provide structure and guidance for the future, but it also helps to create funding opportunities and attract potential investors. For aspiring bakers, having access to a sample bakery business plan can be especially helpful in providing direction and gaining insight into how to draft their own bakery business plan.

Download our Ultimate Bakery Business Plan Template

Having a thorough business plan in place is critical for any successful bakery venture. It will serve as the foundation for your operations, setting out the goals and objectives that will help guide your decisions and actions. A well-written business plan can give you clarity on realistic financial projections and help you secure financing from lenders or investors. A bakery business plan example can be a great resource to draw upon when creating your own plan, making sure that all the key components are included in your document.

The bakery business plan sample below will give you an idea of what one should look like. It is not as comprehensive and successful in raising capital for your bakery as Growthink’s Ultimate Bakery Business Plan Template , but it can help you write a bakery business plan of your own.  

Bakery Business Plan Example – Home Sweet Home Baked Goods

Table of contents, executive summary.

• Company Overview

Industry Analysis

Customer analysis.

• Competitive Analysis

Marketing Plan

Operations plan, management team, financial plan.

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods is a home-based bakery in Bend, Oregon that has been operating successfully for the last 3 years. Founded by talented baker Jill Davis and her husband Sam, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods specializes in creating custom cakes, cupcakes, pies, and other desserts from scratch. Now that their business has grown and they have expanded their customer base, Jill and Sam are looking for funding to open a brick-and-mortar storefront location in Bend.

The new location will be a modern bakery with an inviting atmosphere and welcoming staff. Through the use of high-quality ingredients, innovative recipes, experienced baking staff, and updated bakery equipment, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods is poised to become the premier bakery in Bend. The new store will create jobs for local residents while bringing delicious baked goods to the community.

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods’ mission is to use locally sourced ingredients whenever possible to create unique baked goods of uncompromising quality at an affordable price. With its commitment to excellence and creative approach to baking, the company will provide customers with a unique experience with each visit.

In order to achieve these goals within their budget constraints, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods has put together a comprehensive plan utilizing proven marketing techniques, operational efficiencies, and cost management strategies. By leveraging technology such as social media marketing platforms like Facebook and Instagram as well as partnerships with local businesses, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods has created a strategy for success that will allow them to not only meet but exceed customer expectations.

As part of this plan, we are seeking funding from investors or lenders who share our vision for creating an exceptional bakery experience in Bend. With your help, we can continue our growth while developing long-term relationships with our customers through quality products and outstanding service — all while supporting small business owners in our community.  

Company Description

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods is a home-based bakery in Bend, Oregon that has been operating successfully for the last 3 years. Founded by passionate baker Jill Davis and her husband Sam, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods specializes in creating custom cakes, cupcakes, pies, and other desserts from scratch. The company’s focus on quality ingredients, innovative recipes, experienced baking staff, and updated equipment sets them apart from its competitors.

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods strives to provide customers with an exceptional experience each time they visit the store by using locally sourced ingredients whenever possible. This commitment to excellence has allowed them to expand their customer base across the region, leading them to seek funding for a brick-and-mortar storefront bakery location in Bend that will bring even more delicious baked goods and job opportunities to local residents.  

The Bend, Oregon home-based bakery industry is a booming sector that has seen significant growth in the last three years. According to figures released by the Oregon Department of Agriculture, retail bakeries generated over $200 million in sales in 2019 alone, up 8.3% from 2018. The number of establishments operating within the state has also increased, with seven new businesses opening their doors in 2019.

The majority of these bakeries specialize in cakes and cupcakes, though some offer other items such as pies and donuts. The market for specialty items is particularly competitive, with many bakeries offering custom designs that cater to specific dietary needs or themes. This demand has encouraged a larger variety of offerings from existing businesses and attracted more upstart shops to enter the market.

Bend’s bakery scene is driven by its large base of tourists and university students who often seek out unique treats while visiting the city. As a result, many local bakeries have developed memorable branding campaigns that target these customers and feature unique flavors or design styles that set them apart from competitors. These efforts have been rewarded with higher rates of customer loyalty, allowing these businesses to enjoy continued success despite an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Despite its popularity as a destination for bakers and dessert lovers alike, Bend also faces certain challenges that may affect business operations going forward. High rent prices are one such issue; with real estate costs on the rise, it can be difficult for small local businesses to secure an affordable space without sacrificing quality or service standards. Additionally, Bend’s seasonal climate – boasting cold winters and dry summers – makes it difficult for certain items such as ice cream or frozen yogurt to remain popular year-round options for consumers.

Overall, however, Bend remains an excellent location for home-based bakers seeking to expand their operations into a storefront setting due to its vibrant culture and lively atmosphere. With proper planning and execution, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods can position itself as a leader in this growing industry while helping bring more culinary creativity and innovation to the area’s residents and visitors alike.  

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods has an ideal target market that includes both local customers and visitors to Bend, Oregon. The company is particularly passionate about providing locally sourced ingredients in its baked goods, making it a natural draw for people who live in the Bend area.

The local demographic consists primarily of working professionals, families with children, retirees, and university students. These customers are looking for high-quality desserts that cater to their individual dietary needs while also remaining reasonably priced. Home Sweet Home Baked Goods’ emphasis on using local ingredients appeals to this demographic as it shows their commitment to supporting the local economy and providing fresher products.

The company also seeks to attract tourists with its innovative recipes and memorable design themes. Tourists often seek out interesting treats while visiting cities such as Bend due to their limited time frames; baked goods created with original recipes can be a great way to provide these customers with an enjoyable experience that they won’t find anywhere else. Furthermore, its custom designs help create an even more unique experience for each customer – whether a visitor or local resident – by allowing them to customize their order based on specific dietary restrictions or preferences.

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods targets individuals who are looking for quality desserts made from fresh ingredients but don’t want to sacrifice taste or convenience. The company is committed to creating innovative recipes that appeal to customers of all ages and encourages its customers to interact with staff members for advice or suggestions when ordering customized items – this gives them an added sense of security when selecting special orders knowing that they are getting exactly what they need from the bakery’s staff of experienced bakers. Moreover, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods’ commitment to using locally sourced ingredients resonates strongly with individuals who value sustainability and ethical production processes; this connection can become even stronger if the company decides to partner with local farms or purveyors when sourcing their ingredients in the near future.

Overall, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods is aimed at professional adults and families looking for delicious yet affordable treats made from quality ingredients as well as visitors interested in finding original recipes while discovering Bend’s culinary scene. By providing customer service excellence paired with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible, the company seeks not only to build a loyal customer base but also to contribute positively towards the overall development of Bend’s culinary industry.  

Competitor Analysis

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods will be entering a very competitive market in Bend, Oregon. The local bakery market is saturated with many established businesses that have been around for several years, offering a variety of products and services. Therefore, the company must assess the competition and identify its strengths and weaknesses in order to create effective differentiation strategies that will allow it to stand out from the crowd.

One of the main competitors in the region is The Baker’s Dozen Bakery, which has been operating since 2000. The business offers a wide range of baked goods such as cookies, cakes, muffins, brownies, doughnuts and more; their prices are slightly higher than those of Home Sweet Home Baked Goods but customers are willing to pay for their quality products. Furthermore, The Baker’s Dozen Bakery has built a strong reputation by catering events in the area as well as providing custom orders for special occasions. In addition to this, they also offer delivery services throughout Bend; while this may not be a major advantage over Home Sweet Home Baked Goods now due to the pandemic-related restrictions on food service industry operations in most areas, it could potentially become an important asset when things return to normal.

Another competitor is Sweeter Things Bakery & Cafe which has been running since 2013. This business specializes in customized cakes made with fresh ingredients; these expensive desserts appeal to customers looking for something extra special for weddings or birthdays whereas The Baker’s Dozen Bakery focuses more on traditional baked goods such as cupcakes and cookies. Sweeter Things Bakery & Cafe also offers delivery services throughout Bend just like The Baker’s Dozen Bakery – again, this could be an important factor once restrictions are lifted.

Finally, there is Kate’s Cupcakery which opened up in 2016 and focuses solely on cupcakes. While this business does offer unique flavors and custom designs that appeal to customers looking for something different from traditional cupcakes (i.e., gluten-free or vegan baked goods), its menu is limited compared to those offered by both The Baker’s Dozen Bakery and Sweeter Things Bakery & Cafe which provides wider varieties of baked goods plus other pastries like pies or tarts. Additionally, Kate’s Cupcakery does not offer delivery services so customers would have to visit the store if they want one of their cupcakes – this could pose a potential disadvantage if other competitors start providing delivery services once restrictions are lifted due to the pandemic situation.

Overall, while all three businesses have great potential they do not necessarily provide what Home Sweet Home Baked Goods plans on delivering: locally sourced ingredients used whenever possible combined with innovative recipes and custom designs catering specifically towards individual needs – all at reasonable prices that appeal both local residents and visitors alike. By leveraging these aspects that differentiate them from other competitors in the area, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods should be able to position itself as a leader in Bend’s bakery industry while still maintaining a competitive edge.

In order to do so, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods must focus on creating an engaging and unique atmosphere that will draw customers in. This can be done by utilizing modern design approaches and incorporating eco-friendly materials when possible as well as providing custom flavors that cannot be found elsewhere in the city. Offering discounts for orders placed online or through their app could also help to attract more customers while simultaneously cutting operational costs. Additionally, they must ensure that their products are of high quality; offering samples and feedback forms at the store are great ways to get customer opinions on what they like or dislike about a particular product – this information can then be used to make necessary improvements as needed or create new recipes. With the right combination of these elements, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods should be able to stand out from all other competitors in Bend and establish itself as the go-to bakery for all locals and visitors alike.

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods is a home-based bakery that offers locally sourced ingredients and innovative recipes. Our goal is to provide our customers with freshly made, high-quality pastries at reasonable prices. We offer custom flavors and designs for special occasions like weddings or birthdays as well as more traditional items such as cupcakes, cookies, pies, and tarts.

To drive foot traffic to our storefront location in Bend:

• Products : We will focus on creating unique flavors (gluten-free/vegan options) along with custom designs catering specifically to individual needs.
• Price : We will offer competitive prices that appeal both to local residents and visitors alike.
• Promotion : We will use digital marketing methods such as a website, social media platforms, and app ads to reach a wider audience. Additionally, we will create promotional offers like discounts (e.g., 10% off orders placed online or through our app) and free samples at the store.
• Place : To ensure quick delivery times, we will focus on developing relationships with local suppliers so that we can get ingredients quickly and efficiently whenever possible. This way customers can be sure that their orders are always freshly made when they arrive.

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods is a home-based bakery that offers locally sourced ingredients and innovative recipes to customers at reasonable prices. We specialize in custom flavors and designs for special occasions such as weddings or birthdays, as well as more traditional items such as cupcakes, cookies, pies, and tarts. As we expand to a storefront location in Bend, our goal is to create an engaging atmosphere that will draw customers in while providing quality products that can’t be found elsewhere.  

Daily Operations:

We will begin each day by prepping the ingredients and baking batches of our products. This includes sifting flour and pre-measuring all other ingredients so that our pastries are made with the utmost care and precision. In addition, we will also make sure to check the expiration date on all ingredients used to ensure freshness. Once this is done, we will start the baking process using various techniques such as panning dough into sheet pans or molds or piping batters onto parchment paper for cupcakes. After baking has been completed, we will package up the products for sale or delivery depending on customer orders. Finally, we will clean up any messes from the kitchen area before closing for the day.  

Milestones to Achieve:

The following milestones will be necessary to ensure the success of Home Sweet Home Baked Goods.

• Develop Relationships with Local Suppliers – We will create relationships with local suppliers to get fresh ingredients as quickly and efficiently as possible.
• Create a Website and Social Media Platforms – We will need to build a website that advertises our products, informs customers about delivery options, and provides contact information for orders. Additionally, we will develop social media accounts on popular platforms like Instagram and Facebook in order to reach a wider audience and engage customers through content marketing strategies.
• Offer Promotional Offers – We will need to create promotional offers such as discounts or free samples at the store in order to draw more customers into the shop.
• Develop Innovative Recipes – We will need to come up with new flavors, designs, and recipes in order to keep customers coming back for more.
• Increase Visibility – We will need to use strategies such as app ads and digital marketing campaigns in order to increase the visibility of our business and reach more potential customers.

By achieving these milestones, we will be able to create a successful storefront location that provides quality products and an enjoyable atmosphere. Our goal is to become a fixture in the Bend community by creating a safe space where people can come together over delicious baked goods.  

The management team at Home Sweet Home Baked Goods is comprised of Jill Davis and her husband Sam. Jill and Sam have been a dynamic duo since they first met in college, and their enthusiasm for baking has helped them to build an empire out of their passion.

Jill is the co-founder and head baker at Home Sweet Home Baked Goods. She is a talented pastry chef with a keen eye for detail, ensuring that every product they produce meets their high standards. She has spent years perfecting her craft, creating innovative recipes with locally sourced ingredients to meet the needs of their customers. Her creativity and skill in the kitchen have earned her renown among local bakers, and she often receives requests from customers to create custom flavors or designs for special occasions such as weddings or birthdays.

Sam serves as co-founder and CEO of Home Sweet Home Baked Goods. He brings his wealth of business knowledge, acting as a strategic partner to Jill by overseeing operations, developing marketing strategies, and securing connections with suppliers. Sam’s dedication to customer service ensures that every customer gets the best possible experience when ordering from Home Sweet Home Baked Goods. His commitment to excellence has enabled them to consistently provide quality products at reasonable prices.

Together, Jill and Sam have turned a hobby into a successful business that specializes in fresh baked goods made with love for each customer who comes through its doors or orders online. Their passion for baking has enabled them to grow from a small home-based bakery into an established storefront location where they can continue providing exceptional products while getting to know their community better than ever before.  

Home Sweet Home Baked Goods is dedicated to providing quality baked goods and an enjoyable atmosphere for their customers. To ensure the success of their storefront, they need to create a comprehensive financial plan that outlines their projected growth and profitability.

In summary, Home Sweet Home Baked Goods’ financial plan is based on the following assumptions:

• Initial Start-Up Capital – We will need to raise initial start-up capital of $30,000 in order to cover expenses such as rent, equipment, and inventory for our storefront location.
• Profitability – We anticipate a 10% increase in sales every month, resulting in a steady growth of profitability.
• Cost of Goods Sold – We estimate our cost of goods sold to be 35% which is lower than the industry average due to our commitment to quality ingredients and competitive prices.
• Working Capital – Our working capital requirement will need to be adequate enough to cover at least three months of inventory, wages for staff, and other operating expenses.
• Financing – We plan to raise funds from a combination of personal savings, investors, and bank loans in order to meet our initial start-up capital requirements.
• Expansion – We anticipate the need for additional space or equipment within 12 months of opening.
• Taxes – We plan to pay estimated taxes quarterly throughout the year in order to remain compliant with federal regulations.

These assumptions will form the basis of our financial plan for Home Sweet Home Baked Goods and will help us to determine how we should allocate funds in order to reach our desired business goals. With this financial plan, we hope to transition Home Sweet Home Baked Goods into a successful storefront business.  

Sample Menu

1. Fresh Bread:

• White Sandwich Loaf
• Whole Wheat Loaf
• Raisin Walnut Bread
• Italian Herb & Cheese Loaf
• Cinnamon Swirl Bread

2. Cookies:

• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Peanut Butter Cookies
• Vanilla Layer Cake with Strawberry Filling and Cream Cheese Frosting
• Carrot Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
• Red Velvet Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

4. Pies and Tarts:

• Apple Pie with Crumb Topping
• Lemon Meringue Tart

5. Specialty Desserts:

6. Coffee Drinks & Teas:

• Cold Brew Coffee

7. Smoothies & Shakes:

• Strawberry Banana Smoothie
• Mango Pineapple Shake

Financial Statements

Balance sheet.

[insert financial statement]

Income Statement

Cash flow statement, bakery business plan example pdf.

Download our bakery business plan PDF here. This is a free bakery business plan example to help you get started on your own bakery plan.

How to Finish Your Bakery Business Plan in 1 Day!

Don’t you wish there was a faster, easier way to finish your bakery business plan?

With Growthink’s Ultimate Business Plan Template you can finish your plan in just 8 hours or less!

Cupcake Business Plan PDF Free Download | Sample Business Plan For Cupcake Shop PDF

How to Start a Cupcake Business - Cupcake Business Plan PDF

Are you considering starting a Cupcake Business and you’re in need of a cupcake business plan PDF? if yes, you'll find this free book to be extremely helpful.

This is a practical guide that will walk you step by step through all the essentials of starting your business. The book is packed with guides, worksheets and checklists. These strategies are absolutely crucial to your business' success yet are simple and easy to apply.

Don’t Start a New Cupcake Business Unless You Watch This Video First!

Checklist for Starting a Business: Essential Ingredients for Success

If you are thinking about going into business, it is imperative that you watch this video first! it will take you by the hand and walk you through each and every phase of starting a business. It features all the essential aspects you must consider BEFORE you start a business. This will allow you to predict problems before they happen and keep you from losing your shirt on dog business ideas. Ignore it at your own peril!

Here’s a Valuable Free Gift for You This is a high quality, full blown business plan template complete with detailed instructions and all related spreadsheets. You can download it to your PC and easily prepare a professional business plan for your business. Click Here! To get your free business plan template

The Single Most Important Ingredient for Business Success

The first and most important thing you need to acquire in order to succeed in a small business is... knowledge.

Sounds exaggerated? Listen to this...

According to research conducted by Dun & Bradstreet, 90% of all small business failures can be traced to poor management resulting from lack of knowledge.

This is backed up by my own personal observations. In my 31 years as a business coach and consultant to small businesses, I've seen practically dozens of small business owners go under and lose their businesses -- not because they weren't talented or smart enough -- but because they were trying to re-invent the wheel rather than rely on proven, tested methods that work.

Conclusion: if you are really serious about succeeding in a business... If you want to avoid the common traps and mistakes... it is absolutely imperative that you acquire the right knowledge.

"Why Invent Mediocrity, When You Can Copy Genius?"

That's an excellent quote I picked up from a fellow business owner a few years back. What this means is that you should see what is working and try to duplicate it. Why go through all the trouble of inventing something new, that you don't even know will ever work, when you can easily learn from and duplicate something that has been a proven success?

[ Note: One of the BIGGEST mistakes almost all new businesses make is that they WASTE tons of valuable time, energy and money on trying to create something "new", that has never been tested or proven... only to find out later that it was a total loss. Don't make the same mistake! ]

Hi! My name is Meir. I'm the founder and president of BizMove.com, a successful Internet based information business. I'm also the author of numerous books, mostly in the area of small business management.

I've been involved in small business for the past 31 years of my life, as a business coach, manager of a Cupcake firm, a seminar leader and as the owner of five successful businesses.

During my career as a business coach and consultant I've helped dozens of business owners start their businesses, market, expand, get out of troubles, sell their businesses and do practically every other small business activity you can think of. You see, I have been there .... done it ... and bought the Small Business t-shirt! -- This free book contains techniques and strategies I've learned during my 31 year small business career.

Here's what you'll discover in the 'How to Start a Cupcake Business' book:

Success Tip: Setting Goals

Good management is the key to success and good management starts with setting goals. Set goals for yourself for the accomplishment of the many tasks necessary in starting and managing your business successfully. Be specific. Write down the goals in measurable terms of performance. Break major goals down into sub-goals, showing what you expect to achieve in the next two to three months, the next six months, the next year, and the next five years. Beside each goal and sub-goal place a specific date showing when it is to be achieved.

Plan the action you must take to attain the goals. While the effort required to reach each sub-goal should be great enough to challenge you, it should not be so great or unreasonable as to discourage you. Do not plan to reach too many goals all at one time.

Establish priorities. Plan in advance how to measure results so you can know exactly how well you are doing. This is what is meant by "measurable" goals. If you can’t keep score as you go along you are likely to lose motivation. Re-work your plan of action to allow for obstacles which may stand in your way. Try to foresee obstacles and plan ways to avert or minimize them.

Click here! to download your Cupcake Business plan PDF book for free

Here're other free books in the "how to start a business" series that may interest you:

Here's a Sample 'Executive Summary' for a Cupcake Business plan :

Introduction [BUSINESS NAME] is a start-up coffee and bakery retail establishment located in southwest Washington. [BUSINESS NAME] expects to catch the interest of a regular loyal customer base with its broad variety of coffee and pastry products. The company plans to build a strong market position in the town, due to the partners' industry experience and mild competitive climate in the area. [BUSINESS NAME] aims to offer its products at a competitive price to meet the demand of the middle-to higher-income local market area residents and tourists. The Company [BUSINESS NAME] is incorporated in the state of Washington. It is equally owned and managed by its two partners. Mr. [BUSINESS OWNER] has extensive experience in sales, marketing, and management, and was vice president of marketing with both Jansonne & Jansonne and Burper Foods. Mr. [BUSINESS OWNER] brings experience in the area of finance and administration, including a stint as chief financial officer with both Flaxfield Roasters and the national coffee store chain, BuzzCups. The company intends to hire two full-time pastry bakers and six part-time baristas to handle customer service and day to day operations. Products and Services [BUSINESS NAME] offers a broad range of coffee and espresso products, all from high quality Columbian grown imported coffee beans. [BUSINESS NAME] caters to all of its customers by providing each customer coffee and espresso products made to suit the customer, down to the smallest detail. The bakery provides freshly prepared bakery and pastry products at all times during business operations. Six to eight moderate batches of bakery and pastry products are prepared during the day to assure fresh baked goods are always available. The Market The retail coffee industry in the U.S. has recently experienced rapid growth. The cool marine climate in southwest Washington stimulates consumption of hot beverages throughout the year. [BUSINESS NAME] wants to establish a large regular customer base, and will therefore concentrate its business and marketing on local residents, which will be the dominant target market. This will establish a healthy, consistent revenue base to ensure stability of the business. In addition, tourist traffic is expected to comprise approximately 35% of the revenues. High visibility and competitive products and service are critical to capture this segment of the market. Financial Considerations [BUSINESS NAME] expects to raise $110,000 of its own capital, and to borrow $100,000 guaranteed by the SBA as a ten-year loan. This provides the bulk of the current financing required. [BUSINESS NAME] anticipates sales of about $491,000 in the first year, $567,000 in the second year, and $655,000 in the third year of the plan. [BUSINESS NAME] should break even by the fourth month of its operation as it steadily increases its sales. Profits for this time period are expected to be approximately $13,000 in year 1, $36,000 by year 2, and $46,000 by year 3. The company does not anticipate any cash flow problems. 1.1 Mission [BUSINESS NAME] aims to offer high quality coffee, espresso, and pastry products at a competitive price to meet the demand of the middle- to higher-income local market area residents and tourists. 1.2 Keys to Success Keys to success for [BUSINESS NAME] will include:

• Providing the highest quality product with personal customer service.
• Competitive pricing.

3.0 Products [BUSINESS NAME] offers a broad range of coffee and espresso products, all from high quality Columbian grown imported coffee beans. [BUSINESS NAME] caters to all of its customers by providing each customer coffee and espresso products made to suit the customer, down to the smallest detail. The bakery provides freshly prepared bakery and pastry products at all times during business operations. Six to eight moderate batches of bakery and pastry products are prepared during the day to assure fresh baked goods are always available.

How to Keep Your Key Employees

1. Give them an economic stake, notably equity or options -- everyone's an entrepreneur/investor these days, especially key employees!

2. Offer each key employee a way to get around ANYTHING or ANYONE that gets in the way of their creativity, effectiveness or production.

3. Develop a company vision/cause/purpose that is even more compelling than any one individual is -- this bonds key employees.

4. Create an entrepreneurial environment which stimulates without becoming adversarial/territorial.

5. Give each key employee the BEST of every tool, software or equipment -- they need/respond well to these more than the average employee.

6. Challenge each key employee to produce FAR more than they currently are producing -- key employees NEED to be challenged to keep them focused and out of mischief or job searching.

7. Eliminate the power structure and replace it with a strength-based power structure; this in order to reduce politics and simplify structure/management levels.

8. Put the key employees in continuous training, both in their skill set but also in communication/relating/management skills training programs as well.

9. Build up the reputations of each key employee vs being afraid to grant them this visibility/credibility/power.

10. Put the key employees in their own 'club' so they KNOW they are one of the annointed one -- they'll keep paying the 'dues' which is motivating.

Copyright © by Bizmove Free Business Guides. All rights reserved.