The Hard Truth About Running a Bakery (And How to Stay in Business)

Yesterday I found out that one of my favorite local restaurants closed their doors for good.

And it broke my heart.

This wasn’t just another place to grab a meal—it was a staple in the community. A Michelin star restaurant, featured on 38 different dining guides, a popular spot where people gathered, celebrated, had first dates, and made memories. The food was incredible, the service was outstanding, and the owners poured everything into their business.

But despite all of that, they couldn’t stay open.

And if you’re a bakery or small business owner in the food industry, unfortunately, this could happen to you too—here's what I’d do to fight for the longevity of my small business in 2025. 

When a restaurant or bakery shuts down, it’s rarely because of bad food. It’s because of business struggles happening behind the scenes:

✔️ Pricing mistakes that eat away at profits

✔️ Inconsistent marketing that doesn’t attract new customers

✔️ Time management struggles that leave owners overwhelmed and burned out

✔️ Low visibility online, so potential customers never even know they exist

✔️ Lack of repeat customers, meaning every month feels like starting from scratch

Does any of this sound familiar?

Now, imagine announcing that your business is closing.

Your inbox floods with messages like:

💔 “Nooo! You were my favorite bakery!”

💔 “I wish I had known you were struggling—I would have supported you more!”

💔 “Your cakes were the best! I’m so sad you’re closing.”

They loved what you made.

They just didn’t know they needed to buy more, buy sooner, or bring their friends.

How would that make you feel? 

The thought of this should break your heart. And I don’t want this for you, friend! I don’t want to see another incredible, passionate, hard-working small business owner pour their heart and soul into their business—only to lose it because they didn’t adapt fast enough. 

I’m sharing this with you because the ONLY way for you to stay in business and continue to serve the amazing products you pour your heart and soul into and serve the communities that you’re in is to STAY RELEVANT, COMPETITIVE, and PROFITABLE. 

But how do you do this? 🤔 Especially in the baking industry where it’s a “saturated market” and places like Walmart are charging $20 for a vintage heart cake? 

Answer: You get INNOVATIVE, RESOURCEFUL, and LEVERAGE tools that other small businesses and industries are using. 

The main one being AI…

The truth is, big businesses aren’t smarter than you—they’re just using better tools. And the good news? Those tools are available to YOU, too.

By using AI tools, you can:

✅ Save Time – Automate repetitive tasks, streamline operations, and free up hours in your week
✅ Sell More – Improve marketing, attract more of the right customers, and increase conversions
✅ Scale Faster –Make data-driven decisions that help you grow strategically and sustainably

Want a simple prompt to get started? I asked ChatGPT this prompt and the response I got was incredible: 

“I own a (type of business) called (your business name). My goal is to attract more of the right customers, increase sales, and build a business that lasts. Ask my 30 deep-dive questions to help clarify my ideal customer, what they want most, their biggest struggles, how they make purchasing decisions, and what messaging will resonate with them. Then analyze my answers and suggest 3 ways I can improve my brand positioning, marketing, and pricing strategy immediately” 

Friends, this ONE STEP could completely change how you do business! 👏

One of the biggest mistakes small business owners make is waiting until they’re struggling to start looking for solutions.

Don’t wait until your sales are declining. Don’t wait until you’re exhausted and burned out. Don’t wait until you’re on the verge of closing.

Don’t wait until you’re writing your own, “we’re closing” post. Instead, let’s start using AI, to build a business that LASTS. 

If you’re ready to learn how to leverage AI in your own business, click here, and get a sneak peek into my AI workshop: Ai Made Simple For Bakers: Save Time, Sell More!