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How to Start a Bakery Supply Business

A bakery supply is a business that is involved in the sales of everything that is used in the bakery industry. These supplies are in high demand due to the fact that bread, cakes, biscuits, and every other food that is produced in the bakery industry are considered staple food across the board.

Examples of bakery supplies are flour, syrups, sugar, salt, milk, butter, eggs, extracts, spices and add-ins, leaveners (baking powder, baking soda, yeast, and steam), packaging materials, baking tools, and equipment. The size of the global market for baking ingredients, which was estimated to be $12,960.0 million in 2020, is anticipated to increase to $22,592.6 million by 2030, rising at a CAGR of 5.6 percent between 2021 and 2030.

According to the American bakers association, the $423 billion economic effect of baked products was produced and sold in the U.S. Commercial bakeries sell $31 billion worth of goods, while retail bakeries bring in about $3 billion in income.

Steps on How to Start a Bakery Supplies Business

  1. Conduct Market Research

You would need to conduct market research to be able to maximize profits from the business. The first step in the market research process for a bakery supplies business should be to develop a market-based research question in line with your business goal and objective.

Owing to that, you should source information that will help you maximize your business, and also give you reliable data, and even a clue of what your potential market will be looking out for, from a bakery supplies business. The research will help you operate your business with less stress.

a. Who is the Target Market for Bakery Supplies Business?
  • Bakereries (Cake makers)
  • Households
  • Catering and baking schools.
b. Is Bakery Supplies a Profitable Business?

Yes, bakery supplies is a profitable business, and as a matter of fact, the industry is projected to reach $22,592.6 million in 2030.

c. Are There Existing Niches in the Industry?

There is no existing niche when it comes to the bakery supplies business.

d. Who are the Major Competitors?
  • ABC Bakery Supplies
  • ProBAKE Inc.
  • Medina Baking & Powder Products
  • Bakers Authority
  • Gemini Bakery Equipment Company
  • Inter-County Bakers
  • Oasis Cake & Candy Supply Co
  • Sweet City USA
  • Brill Inc.
  • South Holland Bakery Supply
  • Johnson Bros Bakery Supply
  • Erika Record Baking Equipment
  • NY Cake-Baking Supply Store
  • Allied Bakery & Foodservice Equipment
  • Keith Giusto Bakery Supply
  • Origen Bakery Equipment LLC
  • American KGP Inc.
  • Texas Bakery Supply Houston
  • Merchants Bakery Supply
  • Sunrise Bakery Supply.
e. Are There County or State Regulations or Zoning Laws for Bakery Supplies Business?

Yes, there are county and state regulations and zoning laws for the bakery supplies business in the United States. Have in mind that the federal food code is set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA does not, however, regulate bakery supplies operations.

Instead, the food code serves as the foundation for each state’s individual code. Note that in the US, you must adhere to your state’s food service regulations. For a list of state-by-state food service regulations,  you should go to the FDA website.

f. Is There a Franchise for Bakery Supplies Business?

No, there are no franchise opportunities for the bakery supplies business.

g. What Do You Need to Start a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • A feasibility report
  • Business and marketing plans
  • Business licenses and permits
  • Delivery vans or bikes
  • Insurance policy
  • EIN (Employer Identification Number)/Federal Tax ID Number
  • Employees.
  1. Choose a Memorable Business Name

When looking to start a business, before you can begin to file the necessary documents with the constituted authorities or start your website, it is necessary that you come up with a name that you will be recognized with. It is essential that the name you come up with can easily be pronounced, is unique and easily memorable.

Some of the catchy business name ideas suitable for a bakery supply business are;

Creative Bakery Supply Business Name ideas
  • Carrollton Max© Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Liz Stafford® Bakery Supplies, LLC
  • Shannon McAllen© Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Bakery Solutions® Bakery Supplies Company, Inc.
  • Linda Johnson™ Bakery Supplies Company, Inc.
  • Mary Ridger™ Bakery Supplies, LLC.
  • San Antonio© Bakery Supplies, LLC
  • Pius Daylong® Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Sally Bennard© Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Simon Greene™ Bakery Supplies, LLC
  • West Caldwell® Bakery Supplies, LLC
  • Tony Twinsburg® Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Roe Bensalem© Bakery Supplies, LLC
  • Universal City® Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Deer Park® Bakery Supplies Company
  • Jasper Maspeth™ Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Selena Borke® Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Rita Pita© Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  • Daniel Weslaco™ Bakery Supplies, LLC
  • Brooklyn Street™ Bakery Supplies, Inc.
  1. Register Your Business

a. What Type of Business Structure is Best for the Bakery Supplies Business?

There are several options for a bakery supplies business structure, but an LLC is the one the majority of players in this line of business considered most. Every company will want to form an LLC in order to protect itself against lawsuits.

b. Steps to Form an LLC
  • Choose a name for your LLC
  • File articles of organization
  • Choose a registered agent
  • Decide on member vs. management
  • Create an LLC operating agreement
  • Comply with other tax and regulatory requirements
  • File annual reports.
c. What Type of License is Needed to Open a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • General business license
  • Zonal permits
  • Signage permits
  • Proof of ownership, proper identification, and vehicle license
  • Proof of district-issued food manager identification card
  • Food purchase record storage and record keeping
  • Depot, commissary, or service support facility
  • Copy of license for the service support facility and/or a recent inspection report.
d. What Type of Certification is Needed to Start a Bakery Supplies Business?

You don’t need any certifications to start a bakery supplies business, it is a business that is open to all and sundry.

e. What Documents are Needed to Open a Bakery Supplies Business?

These are legal documents that are required if you want to run a bakery supplies business in the United State;

  • DBA
  • EIN
  • Business and Liability Insurance
  • Federal Tax Payer’s ID
  • State Permit and Building Approval
  • Certificate of Incorporation
  • Food Handlers’ License
  • Business License
  • Business Plan
  • Employment Agreement (offer letters)
  • Operating Agreement for LLCs
  • Insurance Policy
  • Online Terms of Use
  • Online Privacy Policy Document
  • Contract Document
  • Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
f. Do You Need a Trademark, Copyright, or Patent?

There may not need to register for trademark or intellectual property protection if you’re starting a bakery supplies business. The nature of the business allows you to run it without having any reason to sue anyone for using your intellectual property unlawfully.

  1. Cost Analysis and Budgeting

a. How Much Does It Cost to Start a Bakery Supplies Business?

The startup cost for a bakery supplies business is not usually fixed, it will cost from $5,000 to $100,000. Note that it can possibly go higher, depending on your business goals and objectives.

b. What are the Costs Involved in Starting a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • A total of $750 is required to register a business in the United States.
  • About $1,300 in costs accounting services (software, P.O.S. machines, and other software), licenses, and permits.
  • About $3,500 in marketing and promotion costs for the grand opening, as well as $3,580 for the production of 2,000 flyers at a cost of $0.04 each.
  • A business consultant’s services, which include creating a business plan, cost $2,500.
  • About $2,400 in total premiums for insurance coverage (general liability, workers’ compensation, and property casualty).
  • Additional startup costs, such as $500 for stationery and $2,500 for phone and utility deposits.
  • Store facility rent (Lease)- $75,000.
  • Operational costs during the first three months (staff salaries, petrol, bill payments, etc.) – $30,000.
  • About $3,720 is the price of the storage equipment (bins, racks, shelves, and food cases).
  • About $3,750 is the price of the store’s equipment (cash register, security, and ventilation).
  • About $35,000 is the price of stocking up on bakery goods.
  • Launching a website cost $1,200, and throwing an opening party will cost $3,000 in total.
  • Miscellaneous – $5,000.
c. What Factors Determine the Costs of Opening a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • The size of the bakery supplies
  • The choice of location
  • The required licenses and permits
  • The cost of hiring and paying a business consultant
  • The cost of branding, promotion, and marketing of the bakery supplies
  • The cost of the insurance policy covers
  • The cost of registering the business
  • Cost of recruiting and training the staff
  • The cost of the purchase and customizing of uniforms, shoes, and caps for your employees
  • The cost of the grand opening of the bakery supplies.
d. Do You Need to Build a Facility?

It is not compulsory to build a new storage facility for the bakery supplies business. The nature of the business makes it possible for you to operate from a rented storage facility.

e. What are the Ongoing Expenses of a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • Utility bills (internet subscriptions, phone bills, signage and software renewal fees et al)
  • Salaries of employees
  • Delivery vans and bikes maintenance
  • Insurance
  • Marketing costs.
f. What is the Average Salary of your Staff?
  • Chief Operating Officer (Owner) – $38,000
  • Store Manager – $30,000
  • Merchandise Manager – $29,630,000
  • Accountant (Cashier) – $28,500
  • Sales Girl/Boy – $26,800
  • Delivery Vans and Bikes Driver – $26,000 Per year.
g. How Do You Get Funding to Start a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • Raising money from personal savings
  • Raising money from investors and business partners
  • Sell shares to interested investors
  • Applying for a loan from your bank
  • Source for soft loans from your family members and friends.
  1. Write a Business Plan

a. Executive Summary

West Caldwell© Bakery Supplies, Inc. is a registered company that will be based in West Caldwell, New Jersey but operates all across the major cities in New Jersey. West Caldwell© Bakery Supplies, Inc. has acquired all the relevant licenses and permits to operate throughout the United States. We will ensure that we abide by the rules and regulations guiding the bakery supplies industry.

b. Products and Service

Saling and supplying of bakery supplies, such as flour, syrups, sugar, salt, milk, butter, eggs, extracts, spices and add-ins, leaveners (baking powder, baking soda, yeast, and steam), packaging materials, baking tools and equipment et al.

c. Mission Statement

Our mission is to build a profitable business venture; a bakery supplies business that will grow from one store to different locations all around the cities in the United States. We want to become a one-stop bakery supplies store.

Vision Statement

Our Vision is to become one of the preferred choices of bakeries and bakers when it comes to the bakery supplies business in the whole of West Caldwell, New Jersey.

d. Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of a bakery supplies business are to provide a retail outlet where bakeries, bakers, and people can order or go to buy a wide range of bakery supplies.

e. Organizational Structure
  • Chief Operating Officer (Owner)
  • Store Manager
  • Merchandise Manager
  • Accountant (Cashier)
  • Sales Girl/Boy
  • Delivery Vans and Bikes Driver.

Marketing Plan

a. SWOT Analysis
Strength:
  • Excellent operational history
  • Robust relationships with key stakeholders in the bakery industry
  • Experienced and trained professionals
  • Excellent customer testimonials.
Weakness:
  • The owner is new to large-scale marketing
  • Will need a loan to purchase the latest vans and bikes
  • The owner is currently running the business solo
  • Lack of economies of scale.
Opportunities:
  • The rapid growth of the bakery market
  • Build upon existing clientele
  • Online market, services, technology, and the opening of new markets.
Threat:
  • Loans diminish profitability until they are paid off
  • The first year will be financially tight while we gain customers and pay off loans
  • Competition in the area could increase
  • Management of employees requires time, money, and efforts
  • The regulatory department could change its regulatory status and decide to enforce laws that can strangulate new businesses.
b. How Do Bakery Supplies Businesses Make Money?

Bakery supplies businesses make money from the sale and supply of bakery supplies such as flour, syrups, sugar, salt, milk, butter, eggs, extracts, spices and add-ins, leaveners (baking powder, baking soda, yeast, and steam), packaging materials, baking tools, and equipment et al.

c. Payment Options
  • Payment via bank transfer
  • Payment with cash
  • Payment via credit cards/Point of Sale Machines (POS)
  • Payment via online bank transfer
  • Payment via check
  • Payment via mobile money transfer
d. Sales and Advertising Strategies
  • Introduce your bakery supplies company by sending introductory letters to bakeries, catering schools, households, and other stakeholders in and around the city you intend to cover.
  • Open your bakery supplies company with a party, so as to capture the attention of residents who are your first targets.
  • Advertise your bakery supplies in community-based newspapers, local tv and radio stations
  • List your business and services on yellow pages ads (local directories)
  • Leverage the internet and mobile apps to promote your bakery supplies brands
  • Engage in direct marketing and sales
  • Deliberately brand your bakery supplies vans and bikes
  • Encourage the use of word-of-mouth marketing (referrals).

Financial Projection

a. How Much Should You Charge for your Product/Service?

The price of bakery supplies depends on the type, size, and brand of the product.

b. How Much Profit Do Bakery Supplies Business Owners Make a Year?

The report shows that on average, a bakery supplies business owner makes more than $60,000 per year- assuming steady clientele.

c. What Factors Determine the Amount of Profit to Be Made?
  • The capacity of the bakery supplies
  • The location bakery supplies business is covering
  • The management style of the bakery supplies
  • The business approach of the bakery supplies
  • The advertising and marketing strategies adopted by the bakery supplies business.
  • The number of years the bakery supplies are in business.
d. What is the Profit Margin of a Bakery Supplies Business Product/Service?

The profit margin of a bakery supplies business is not usually fixed, it could range from 5 percent to 20 percent.

e. What is the Sales Forecast?
  • First Fiscal Year: $240,000
  • Second Fiscal Year: $330,000
  • Third Fiscal Year: $450,000
  1. Set Up your Shop/Office

a. How Do You Choose a Perfect Location for Bakery Supplies Business?
  • The demography of the location
  • The demand for bakery supplies in the location
  • The purchasing power of businesses and the residents of the location
  • Accessibility of the location
  • The number of bakery supplies businesses, and bakeries in the location
  • The local laws and regulations in the community/state
  • Traffic, parking, and security et al.
b. What State and City are Best to Open a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • Boston, Massachusetts.
  • Los Angeles, California
  • Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Phoenix, Arizona
  • Fort Smith, Arkansas
  • Lakewood, Colorado
  • Columbus, Ohio
  • Delaware City, Delaware
  • Chicago, Illinois
  • Atlanta, Georgia
c. What Equipment is Needed to Operate a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • Vans, bikes, or drones
  • Delivery bags and casing
  • Relevant software (Apps).
  1. Hire Employees

When hiring employees for a bakery supplies business, you should hire a competent chief executive officer (owner) shop manager, merchandise manager, accountant (cashier), sales boys/girls, delivery vans, and bike drivers.

  1. Launch the Business Proper

No bakery supplies open for business without first organizing an opening party to launch the business officially. You can do a soft opening party if you are operating on a low budget, or you can go for a grand opening party for all and sundry in the location where your bakery supplies will be located.

With a proper launching of the business, you will officially inform people in your city that your bakery supplies business is open.

a. What Makes a Bakery Supplies Business Successful?
  • Choose a good location
  • Partner with the leading bakery supplies manufacturers to work with
  • Make sure your shop is stocked with different brands and types of bakery products
  • Hire competent, hardworking, and reliable staff
  • Throw an open house grand party before officially opening the business
  • Be deliberate with your marketing sales approach
  • Encourage the use of word of mouth to promote your business
  • Leverage all available online and offline platforms to promote your bakery supplies business.
b. What Happens During a Typical Day at a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • The shop is open for the day’s work
  • The shop and products are cleaned and well-arranged
  • Walk-in customers are attended to
  • Deliveries of orders are made
  • Marketing/website upkeep
  • Supply ordering
  • Administrative duties
  • Stocks are taken, and reports are written and submitted to superior officers
  • The business is closed for the day.
c. What Skills and Experience Do You Need to Build a Bakery Supplies Business?
  • Customer service skills
  • Interpersonal skill
  • Business management skills
  • Work experience in the bakery supplies industry
  • Experience in managing people
  • Experience in business administration
  • Experience in handling relevant software apps.