I thought it would be helpful to put together a page of recommended resources to start, grow and manage your bakery business.
Since you're all at different stages in your business (and in different niches in some cases), I've put together a wide range of resources.
Full disclosure: Please note that some of the links below are affiliate links - meaning I will earn a small commission if you decide to do business with that resource (enough to buy me a cup of coffee or to pay to upkeep this website). Please understand that I only recommend resources that are truly valuable and not ones based on commissions.
Education & Online Courses
- The Wilton Method®: Baking Basics with Beth Somers
Bake the perfect cake — every time! Learn the skills to make a classic yellow cake with rich chocolate filling and scrumptious buttercream icing. - Introduction to Cake Sculpting with Amanda Oakleaf
Conquer cake sculpting under the direction of custom cake designer and Food Network Cake Challenge competitor Amanda Oakleaf. - Sweet Elegance: 16 Cookie-Decorating Techniques with Amber Spiegel
Create inspired cookies customers will order again and again. Decorate your treats with brush embroidery, antiquing techniques, floral accents, watercolor painting and more! - The Perfect Cupcake with Jennifer Shea
Deliver heavenly cupcakes no one can resist. Combine creative cupcake flavors, fillings and frostings with gorgeous decorating for out-of-this-world treats!
Website Setup and Marketing
- [Tutorial] How to Build a Website For Your Bakery in Less Than 10 Minutes
If you're starting or own a bakery and want to build a website, this video is for you. I will show you how easy it is to build your own website - in less than 10 minutes! - Website Domain Name - Godaddy
Godaddy is a great place to buy the domain name that you'll need for your bakery website. Use the link above to get yours for only 99 cents! - Website Hosting - Bluehost
Along with a domain name, you'll also need website hosting to set up your website. Why do you need both? An easy way to think of it is that a 'domain' is the address of your bakery while the 'host' is everything inside your bakery. You can't have one with the other. Use the link about to get awesome hosting for only $3.95/mo. - Website Builder - Web.com
The fastest and easiest way to get your bakery website up and running is to use a website builder like the one at Web.com. You get a free domain name, a professional layout and point/click editing which makes managing the site so easy. - Website Templates/Themes - Themeforest
This site is great for finding professional, pre-made templates for your website. It's the next step up from a website builder like the one I recommend at Web.com. - Custom Websites - Clickstream Marketing
If a website builder or template isn't custom enough for you, then contact these folks for a complete custom website. They also offer a service to install the theme you purchased at Themeforest.
Equipment & Supplies
- Amazon
I mean what can't you find on amazon? From supplies to equipment, chances are you'll find it on amazon at a great price. - Craftsy
This site has tons of baking supplies with a specialty of cake decorating supplies.
Setting Up Your Business
- LivePlan Business Plan Software
This software simplifies business planning, budgeting, forecasting, and performance tracking for small businesses and startups. Set business goals, compare performance to industry benchmarks, and see all your key numbers in an easy-to-use dashboard so you know exactly what's going on in your business. - LegalZoom
Easy online incorporation or LLC creation.
Miscellaneous
- Indeed Job Search
Often times the best preparation for starting your own bakery is to work under a master baker or chef to hone your skills.