Do you want to earn more money with your cake business? Yes? Of course you do! Then I have an idea for you.
This is not something that will work for everyone, but hear me out, okay? Almost 7 years ago I accidentally started a cake business. My real-life cake business was a huge blessing at that time when we were really struggling financially. I didn't make a ton of money, but I made enough to help us make ends meet.
Years later, I still don't make a ton of money on my cakes even though I've raised my prices a few times. I just evaluated my cake budget a couple of months ago and I had only netted around $3000 this year - less than $500/month. Frankly, that's depressing. And not very motivating to keep going.
The truth is, to make a really good income with real-life cake, I'd have to live somewhere else and work full-time (or more).
To make more money here, I'd need to raise my prices significantly. And in the rural area where I live, I'm almost certain my client base would all but disappear if I started charging $7-8 per serving. That's just the hard facts.
Why do I keep doing it then? For two reasons. First, I love cake. I love baking and decorating and making clients happy! Second, I am making some money and since cutting back and taking fewer orders, I'm not nearly as stressed out all the time. Last, my real-life cake business gives me content for this blog - and that's where my real income comes from!
My net income on this blog was over $5000 last month. That's more than I've netted for the entire year in my real-life business. Did you catch that?
So here's my idea for you. If you want to make more income with your cake business without actually doing more cake - start a website or blog! I'm not talking about a website just for your clients - I'm talking about a place where you share your cakes with the world.
How? Well, for starters, Pinterest and Google Images. More than 73% of my traffic on this site comes from those two resources and most of that is because of my cake pictures that have been shared on this blog, then pinned on Pinterest. When people search for cake pictures on Google and/or Pinterest, my pictures show up and they click through and bam - I have traffic! And when it comes to a website, traffic = income.
I know, I know... this is not for everybody. But let me also say, I think it's a great idea for more people than would admit it. You don't have to be a great writer (I'm not!) or technically advanced (again, I'm not!). You just need to be a great cake decorator with good pictures and ideas, and a willingness to share.
All of that to say, there's income potential there with the work you've already done (assuming you're good at your job and you can take good pictures).
You could start a website simply to share your pictures, or start a blog to actually write posts, share recipes, pictures, tutorials and more. Either way, if you get your beautiful cake images out there and start sharing them, traffic will grow and you will find yourself making more money.
Now I'm going to be honest and tell you. Running a website or blog is not always easy. You will not get rich quick (unless you get really, really lucky). But with persistence and commitment, you can develop another source of income based on your current cake business.
And if you happen to be reading here and cake is not "your thing", the sky is the limit with blogging. Whatever your passion is, there's a blog or website idea you can develop!
If you like to share your passion, are willing to invest time and stick with it long-term, love helping people, and yes, want develop another stream of income, blogging is absolutely something you should add to your business! This is something I believe with all my heart and am passionate about!
To get you started, BlueHost is having a FLASH SALE that's good only today and tomorrow (September 15-16, 2016). You can set up your own blog and get hosting for only $2.95 per month (for 12, 24, or 36 months). That's equal to only $35.40 for a YEAR! That's less than your monthly cell phone bill and it's such a good deal! You'll have at least a year to feel your way around, try it out and see if blogging or having a website is a good fit for you!
If you're not gifted with all things techy, I have a few other posts I'd recommend to help you get started and get more info. Check out these posts:
- more posts on Food Blogging and Photography here...
- To make your site pretty and not spend a fortune, I recommend Jumping Jax Designs (Becca designed Rose Atwater for me and she's a joy to work with - this is not a paid referral!)
- Do you want to chat with me personally? I offer coaching here.
Hi Rose! Thanks for this idea. Is BlueHost user friendly? Or do you have to know html to design it or hire a designer?
Eeeh - Bluehost is fairly user friendly and their customer service is outstanding, BUT they don't have anything to do with your design. That's a whole other can of worms. I talk more about it in the posts linked at the bottom (3 Easy Steps to Start a Blog and How to Start a Food Blog & Make Money), but for me, I always recommend hiring a designer unless you have a background in that sort of thing. I tried to design my own site and found out very quickly that I'd rather cut off my own arm! Ha!
Hi Rose ~ You definitely gave me something to think about! It's been on my mind for awhile and may be the fork in the road that I may want to seek. I know I can't compare it to this but I just started posting on Instagram for about a month now and have 69 followers without having posted much.
Well I'd like to encourage you to seriously look into it - it's such a great opportunity for cakers spread their wings and build their businesses more!
Hi Rose,
I hope you don't mind me commenting. I am a Cake Bakery Owner and Cake Business Mentor based in the UK. I help cake designers boost their cake businesses and create profitable businesses.
This post is fantastic. Great for opening up the eyes of bakers who could tap into another source of income while still being involved with the cake industry.
It is also a thing I haven't yet mastered. I would love to share how to monetise a blog with my community and wanted to ask how would you feel about doing a guest post or series?
Let me know what you think.
Pia x
Hi, Rose thank you for let me know that I was wrong pricing my cakes.
This is great advice! I actually used to own a bakery and chose to go back to working from home a few years ago. After I closed my shop I had several local home bakers asking me for advice on opening and operating a bakery. Because I had so many inquiries, I decided to start a blog to help home bakers and shop owners alike. I've only been really working hard at it for a few months, but I finally made my first $10 last month! I'm ready to start bringing in the big bucks, but I know patience is key, just as it was when I was growing my cake business. I've been visiting your blog for years and I'm so happy to see how successful it's become!
That's amazing Tina! I'm so proud for you 🙂
Hi Rose,
I am also a homebased baker, a wife and a mother of a teenager & a toddler. I am also getting a hard time making money for my cake business and I really wanted to try your advise, thanks for the great idea it is such a big help will try it asap!
Hi rose my name is ruby and i live in south africa and would like to start my own blog but have no idea could you please help i am on holiday here till the end of Feb