Well, you have gotten alot of great info and advice. I just want to reiterate that I think you should really try to get access to a professional kitchen as soon as you can.
I recently quit my job. Im trying to spend more time in volunteer work. But I still want to keep my hand in the business. So Ive done a couple of cakes out of my home. This has been my experience so far:
Through the years Ive collected alot of equipment. But there were a few more things I needed and wanted. Also I had to buy ingredients, at retail of course. I dont have a business name or tax ID or anything like that yet. I've had to bake the cakes one at a time because I just have a regular home oven. It can take all day to bake enough cakes for one large order. Ive had to make the icing in small batches because my mixer is only a 5 quart. Once the cakes are baked I have to take them to my friends restaurant because I dont have enough freezer space. Then when Im ready to decorate them I have to drive back and pick them up.
So far I have spent: $457.60
so far I have collected: $130.00
Thats actually not too bad for just getting started.
My first cake:
Food cost: $52.32
Non food cost: $6.25
Total: $58.57
I collected: $100.00 Profit: $41.43
Time appr. 5 hours = $8.28/HR
I would like to get a freezer. It would actually save alot of time travelling back and forth to the restaurant. But for what I need it would cost about 450. So I would like to make up some of my costs already incurred before I do that.
Working out of a professional kitchen would save MUCH time. Being able to mix up and bake all the cakes at once. And to make up one big batch of icing would save considerable time. And as someone already mentioned cleanup time is WAY reduced in a professional kitchen....esp. because of the dish machines.
I know you think that doing cookies for 85 people out of your kitchen is great. But that is actually a VERY small catering job. If you are successful, you can expect to be offered much bigger jobs. You are going to need to be ready for the time, expense, and space that is needed to pull it off.
So let us know what happens. Im excited for you (and me).
eeyore  |