By Jennifer Lopez One of the most difficult aspects of starting a home baking business is knowing how much to charge. When you first start out you may not have the knowledge or the confidence that someone with more experience has, and you may feel as if you shouldn't charge what you are worth. Let's explore the pros and cons of pricing in the baking world. First, know that you cannot compete with a commercial bakery or big box store prices. If a potential customer comes to you with an idea, or wants something for below what it costs you to make it, then let it go. I will gladly tell customers with budgets ...
cupcakes
Aubri’s Sweets & Treats
We want to help promote your new Kentucky home baking business! We will be featuring the work of home baker's around Kentucky on a regular basis. Email us at KentuckyHomeBakers@gmail.com or see our Facebook post to be featured! My name is Aubri Martin. I am the owner/baker at Aubri's Sweets & Treats. I am located in Hanson, Kentucky. I specialize in custom cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and more yummy treats. Here are few pictures of my recent work! 😊 I have more pictures of my work on my Facebook business page: Aubri's Sweets & Treats. Follow us on social media, ...
Baking For Her Son, Christina’s Baking Story
Today we feature the baking story of a baker from Versailles, Kentucky. Who's motivation for baking is her son. "My motivation for baking is my son. He is a talented musician who takes private lessons weekly, needs high quality musical instruments, and travels for many band events not just throughout the state, but also around the world. As you can imagine, all of this comes with a high price tag. I have been able to offset the expenses associated with his participation with baking cupcakes. I don’t have a cute business name, but my cupcakes taste delicious. For Derby weekend, I baked Mint Julep cupcakes ...
House Bill 263: An Act Related to Home-Based Food Products
January 23-25th we met with legislators in Frankfort, Kentucky to talk with them about changing Kentucky's current law to allow all people to bake from home. We handed out cookies, cupcakes and information for them to consider about the cottage food industry. Representative Richard Heath agreed to sponsor our bill and the following week he filed House Bill 263: An act related to home-based food products. There are several steps involved for a bill to become law. This week, on February 15th House Bill 263 was heard before the Health and Family Services Committee. They voted on our ...
A Tribute, And An Update
When I was growing up in Paducah, Kentucky, at every birthday we always had amazing cakes that my mom bought from a local baker. It was the 80's, and long before Food Network and shows like Ace of Cakes. Our little town had a local cake decorator named Fern Hamblin. Her little cake business was called Fern's Frosting and she was located in Reidland, KY. I remember so many of her cakes, and remember being so amazed by them at a young age. The one that stands out the most was a hamburger cake that she made for my aunt's birthday. Of course back then I never knew I'd grow up to be a cake decorator, but Fern and ...
Another Taste of Our Youth
"As single, male senior citizen, my home cooking abilities are severely limited. Something like this would help me get the homemade things that I remember so much from many years ago. It's time we took the over-cautious mindset out of things and remembered that my generation drank water from a hose, shared drinks, rode in the back of pick-ups, never heard of seat belts and ate from trucks driving down the street. And by golly, we survived! Let us old-timers have another taste of our youth." - Jim Lasch, 70 year-old retired veteran from Kentucky ...
High Barrier To Entry, Even As A Farmer – Emily’s Baking Story
Today we feature the story of a farmer. This is Emily's story in her own words. "Dear Kentucky State Lawmakers, I am Two Sisters Fudge, a small entity that followed all the rules for a few dollars per pound in profit. I am Kentucky Proud and yet that doesn't describe my story. I wanted a way for my girls to earn money for college so we started making fudge. We searched the area for a commercial kitchen. Our only options were $250 per month in Louisville - a 30 minute commute or a small ill equipped ancient community kitchen in LaGrange, we were still paying for. We couldn't use the enormous gas ...
Stifled Dreams, Laura’s Baking Story
States with supportive cottage food laws provide simple and inexpensive ways for skilled people to begin safe and profitable businesses from home — businesses that can become sustainable jobs. Arguably, Kentucky’s lack of a cottage food law mostly affects women — ones who can and bake, but who might otherwise lack employment, garden space, access to commercial kitchens or capital.- RACHEL HURD ANGER, LEO Weekly Today we feature a story that yet again, shows how Kentucky puts the dreams of women on hold. Not every person can start out in a commercial kitchen, or a storefront. Some people don't need or want that. ...
Rural American Dreams, Beth’s Baking Story
Today we feature the story of a baker from a rural Kentucky community. This is Beth's story in her own words. "My name is Beth and I'm only twenty-three years old. I was born and raised in Henry County, Kentucky. I'm new to home baking because I've been baking for less than 2 years. However, I have never found something that fills my heart and let's my mind wonder quite like being in the kitchen behind a pastry bag. It all started about 4 years ago, at my previous job. I was lucky enough to start decorating ice cream cakes at the local Dairy Queen. Eventually with the limited restrictions of what I ...
From Pride and Joy, To Broken Dreams – Mary’s Baking Story
Today we feature the story of a home baker who built up a home baking business in Michigan. Unfortunately, when she moved, she found out about Kentucky's restrictive cottage food law. This is Mary's story in her own words. "Several years ago, on a whim I decided to take a Wilton course, which led to another, and another. Then, I became a Wilton Instructor. It was great! I loved helping people learn to decorate because I, myself LOVED decorating. It wasn't long afterward that I heard our governor at the time, Jennifer Granholm, signed the Michigan Cottage Food Law. After that, there was no stopping me. I ...