Steps to Open a Cupcake Store

Are you a baker or someone who just loves making sweet treats? Why not open your own bakeshop? You can make cupcakes and top them with all sorts of frostings of various designs you can think of.

Get from our basic guide some ideas on how you can get off with this business.

cupcakes from a cake store

Are you a seasoned baker wanting to run your own bakeshop and store? Or, you might be an executive thinking of starting your own food business, or perhaps a stay-at-home mom looking for some way to earn money. Whatever you are, if you have the passion for baking sweet treats (or perhaps a desire to learn how to), you can start a cupcake shop.

There are a lot of things that make the business of baking and frosting mini-cakes a sell-off idea. Unlike a cake business in which you usually have to sell the whole big thing, a cupcake business involves just selling the smaller versions. It means you can sell to a lot of people, even to kids. Also, being small, you can be a lot more creative about cupcakes. You can create cupcakes with a variety of frostings and designs. You can even make customized cupcakes!

Here are some ideas about starting a cupcake store:

  • If you are just starting to learn the craft, strive to become an expert baker and decorator. Bake a lot and collect recipes. It might take you not only months, but even years to be really good at it. Keep learning.
  • You can start small by baking in your own kitchen. You can get orders from friends, relatives, offices and through referrals by them from people who are holding birthday parties, wedding receptions and other special occasions. You can also bake and supply wholesale to bakeries and supermarkets.
  • If you can’t afford an upfront store yet, go online. Hire a Web designer to create a site for you in the Internet where people can get to know your offerings and post orders.
  • If you are opening a store, you’d need capital to pay for renovations, buy baking equipment and supplies (ingredients, pats, pans, ovens, cash register, display rack, freezers). You’d also need at least three month’s worth of capital to pay for rent and utilities.
  • Get a location where traffic is heavy, for example near a big store. Or you can put a display stand in the mall.
  • The food business is heavily regulated. You might need to get some special licenses in addition to what other general businesses are getting. If you are operating a kitchen, you will have to pass certain sanitation standards.
  • You can sell cupcakes for those with diet restrictions. You can sell vegan, and sugar-free cupcakes. In your store, you can also offer drinks to go with the sweets, like coffee.  

22 Comments

  • Patria said on September 28, 2009
    This is what i was looking at.
  • Sana said on October 2, 2009
    I am planing to open a cupcake shop in my own house and I want to know what I need to open my shop with the budget. Exp: how many eggs, sugar, etc... to have one batch for example in one batch include 12 pieces how to count the profit and the total revenue etc.... Thank you
  • Kitty &Suzie said on December 20, 2009
    Cottage Grove Oregon..My sister and I would love to do something like this. We are on Social Security and very creative..and really really want to do this can you help, with suggestions
  • easy123cupcakes said on January 12, 2010
    You must have a tried out recipe for example a vanilla cupcake recipe that you know will turn out fine everytime you make. Of course you would need to calculate how much it would cost you everytime to make the same badge again and then to mark up accordingly to your time and labour. As you go along some of these costs would be contributed to your marketing, sales, promotion, website and so forth.
  • Rita said on March 22, 2010
    It is my dream to have my cupcake shop, I also specialize in caramel apples, chocolate covered strawberries, I already sell, and get orders from friends, neighbors, family etc. But I was wondering if there is any grants available for someone like me?
  • SHAUNTE said on June 6, 2010
    I AM LOOKING TO OPEN A CUPCAKE BUSINESS IN THE MALL. I LIVE IN INDIANA INDIANAPOLIS, USA. SO HOW WOULD I GO ABOUT THIS TYPE BUSINESS
  • Alyssa said on August 24, 2010
    Hi I live in west Jordan utah and am a new mommy trying to find ways to help bring in some money. I love cupcakes!! I'm hoping that within the next 2-3 years I will be running my own cupcake business from my home I'm working on recipes and prices now but don't know what else I could or should do to really get the business started. Any suggestions? I could use all the help I could get.
  • Mark Westphal said on September 13, 2010
    I am thinking of opening a cupcake shop in Healdsburg California.
  • marjorie lauria said on October 16, 2010
    i am 17 years old i love to bake and i love peoples reactions when they eat my cup cakes , i am hoping to go to FIDM in california and pursue fashion merch ,but on the side i would love to bake and sell my cup cakes and i would love to open a shop in hollywood .
  • Rhonda Hardiman said on December 8, 2010
    I want to open my shop in Raymore, Missouri. I would like to know where do I go to get a grants for my cupcake shop.
  • nita said on December 14, 2010
    i want to open a cupcake shop but first i would need to start the business at home and then move to a small shop later i need all the suggestions and help i can get i know i can bake, i just don't know if i can do the business end of it but it would be fun to try
  • Kim said on March 10, 2011
    I want to open a cupcake business in Bend, Oregon and was wondering if there are grants for this my husband and I both are unemployed we would start out of our home if needed yet I would love to have a store. I enjoy baking and have managed a restaurant for several years. I think now is the time for us to start our own business. Thank you for your help.
  • Stephanie said on March 19, 2011
    I've started making cupcakes, cookies, chocolates out of my own kitchen. By word of mouth it has grown into a small business all on it's own. I would like to turn my basement into a kitchen and work out of my home. Can I please have ways to get Grants to turn my basement into the kitchen I need to grow. After that where and what do I do next? Thanks for your help.
  • Marlene said on July 5, 2011
    Trying to start up a cupcake store in south FL soon. I bake a lot rite. I go to the different class they offer in the schools or just about any location. Where can I FIND MONEY TO Borrow. My credit is fair.
  • Tayba said on July 8, 2011
    I have a dream to open a cupcakery - even though i'm only 14 i love cupcakes and i like the idea of making my own income and not having to rely on my parents for money..
  • AMIYAH said on September 9, 2011
    I AM A VEGAN AND HAVE A NOT SO GOOD JOB I CANT SAVE ANY MONEY, BUT I WOULD LOVE TO MAKE VEGAN CUPCAKES, AND IF I START THIS BUSINESS SHOULD I STOP WORKING? AND HOW CAN I SELL MY CUPCAKES TO SUPERMARKETS?,
  • edna said on January 1, 2012
    i would like to open a cupcake shop, but i dont have the money right now . I would like to start from home right now until i'm able to save some money. for a website or open a shop my dream is to open one in hollywood ca
  • Emily Espinoza said on March 22, 2012
    I may be only 11 years old but i am already planning and learning how to open a cupcake shop.
  • James expert adviser said on March 22, 2012

    @Emily Espinoza, so nice to hear about it but wont be surprised if your priorities change when you become 18+.

    Jestin James
    Startup Biz Hub - Senior Advisor (Staff)

  • kathreen buckner said on April 10, 2012
    i am laid off teacher who would love to start my own cupcake and candy shop out of my kitchen my sweets are ready to be sold. Thanks
  • Leona Whitten said on June 26, 2012
    I am trying to take my business from home to storefront. Let me give you some of the pitfalls of opening a shop; even if you are not baking them at the shop. The Department of Agriculture is very strict on sanitation, and even if you don't bake them at the shop you are required to follow their minimum construction requirements. I intend to sell cupcakes, muffins, brownies, fudge, bulk & novelty candy none of which is made at the shop or eaten there (retail). I've been told that I must have the following; 3 compartment sink, hand washing sink, mop sink. I find this a unreasonable request and asked if I could use the commissary who is making my muffins. I was told no, that I cannot transport my wares/or product from the commissary in my station wagon. However, if you are a mobile food vendor you can? Does that make sense to anyone? I asked if you are mobile is the vendor required to have his transport vehicle inspected, I was told no, so what is the problem with my using a commissary where some of my baked goods come from? If anyone has the answer to this one, I will send you a dozen cupcakes of your choice... I forgot to state that my business is called "Bubbles" Sweet Shop, located in St Johns County, FL. I have invested over $10k into the business and the Department of Agriculture will not let me open without the above required equipment...
  • Hanifah said on October 9, 2013
    I'm planning to open a small cupcake shop but I'm finding it hard to get a list of the right equipments that I need. Can you pls help ASAP?thnx

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