Everybody loves bread and sweets, so starting your own pastry shop can mean you will never run out of customers. Of course, how your business performs depends greatly on the quality of your products, so you have to ensure that you follow the right processes and use only the best ingredients. People are willing to pay a premium for great food — and if your pastry business offers both quality and a good price, you can expect to always be busy.
If this is your first time trying to set up a bakery or pastry shop, then there are basic tips that can help you get started on the right footing. One of such is to get in touch with raw materials providers that offer bulk pricing, such as wholesale suppliers of cheese and bulk flour manufacturers.
1. Location
As with any business, it doesn’t make sense to put up a shop where people don’t usually go or have trouble getting to. Choose a high traffic area such as a mall, transport terminal, school, and similar locations. Consider what type of pastry shop you want to launch. If it is a simple takeaway counter, you’d probably do better near train or bus stations where your customers are on their way home or to work and need something to eat or bring to their family and friends. If you have a cafe, you need to be at a place where people will want to hang out and wait, like near a government office, a mall, or a school.
2. Business plan
Every venture needs a plan so that you can define your goals and ensure that you can track your movements. This is also necessary if you intend to obtain a loan for your pastry shop. A business plan includes a summary of what your venture is all about, its management, analysis and projection of the market, your sales strategies, and how you will use your financial resources.
3. Menu
The simpler the menu, the easier it will be for you to obtain raw materials and track inventory. If you are just starting out in this business, it is recommended that you limit your menu to less than five items and then just add or remove as you go on, depending on how your customers respond to your initial run. Focus on pastries that you know best to make and are likely the most attractive to buyers. Cheese and butter-rich pastries are a popular choice by anybody or any age, so you might want to start with goodies that contain these.
4. Equipment
What types of machines do you need to produce your menu items? Do you need an industrial-grade oven or would semi-industrial size suffice for now? Decide what type of display counter you would like to have. Would you be needing chairs and tables? Determine how you will store your pastries after shop hours. Where will your staff place their personal belongings when they’re at work? How will cleanup be conducted? Will you be installing an AC? These factors will determine your budget and the efficiency of your operations.
5. Supplies
Buying in bulk saves you more compared to just getting a few supplies at a time. Wholesale producers of raw materials are everywhere, but you will need to be extra careful about who you partner with to ensure quality and safety. Remember that you are producing food. Visit the production facility of your supplier to see if they are producing materials according to standards. Ask if they offer special pricing for bulk orders or if you want to start small, see if they can give you a discount if you pay for future orders in advance.
Take note that part of setting up a pastry shop business is acquiring the right licenses and permits to operate. Check with your local government on the process of setting up a small business and the fees related to it.