You know what I wish someone told me before I decided to start a baking business?

That PASSION and a dream will get you started…

But it won’t be enough to keep you going.

I know that’s not the fluffy, feel-good, “follow your dreams” message we like to share on our Instagram stories, but it’s the truth.

And too many insanely talented bakers find that out the hard way.

So let me be the one to finally say it:

When you turn something into a BUSINESS, you need to INVEST more than just time and passion.

You need to HIRE people, you need SUPPORT, you need inventory, you need expansion, marketing, tools, coaching, books- in order to turn this passion into a full-fledged business, there needs to be an investment.

But because the barrier to entry is so LOW for the baking industry, we get told, “Your baking is amazing, you should start a business,” so we go out, create an Instagram handle, slap a logo on it, and we’re in business.

If you can’t get 500 people to give you $50 or $100, you ...

Lemme be real, sis! 
It’s HARD out here right now for small business owners, especially in the baking and food industries! 

Between the rising cost of goods, tariffs, rent increases, supply chain headaches, and trying to find (and keep) reliable help, small business owners are feeling it from all fronts. If it feels like you're constantly putting out fires or barely keeping your head above water, you're not alone.

But here’s the truth I’ve learned after building my baking business for OVER a decade and after coaching thousands of small business owners just like you:
When everything around you is shifting, it’s time to shift WITH it.

So if you’re in that boat- trying to keep your head above water, doing your best to keep the doors open, trying to stay passionate when the numbers aren’t adding up- these are the 20 things I’d do RIGHT NOW to reinvent my business and actually start making money again.

Let’s get into it. ⬇️

1. Stop, pause, and take inventory of what’s broken- and what’s...

Because staying booked, busy and still broke? That’s not the goal.

Let’s have a real BUSINESS conversation today… because this topic?

It gets me FIRED UP. 😤🔥

And if you’re a small business owner- especially in the baking or creative space- you need to hear this.

Because somewhere along the way, someone told you that more sales = success.

That if you just had more customers, more orders, more eyeballs on your business… then everything would work out.

The stress would go away.

The money would start rolling in.

And you’d finally feel like it was working.

Let’s pause right there.

Because I’m about to say something that might make you uncomfortable.

👉🏽 More orders won’t fix your business.

In fact? More orders might be breaking it.

The TOUGH LOVE You Didn't Ask For (But Need Anyway)

If you’re already overwhelmed with your current workflow…

If your calendar is FULL but your bank account looks like pennies…

If your prices were based on what your competitor charges, and your sys...

Spoiler Alert 🚨 Free content is cute, but it won’t build you a profitable business.

LET’S BE HONEST...

You’ve probably watched TONS of YouTube videos.

You’ve downloaded the ETSY checklists.

You might even be asking ChatGPT what to charge for your cakes. 👀 (No Shame!)

YET… your sales are still inconsistent.

You’re working NON-STOP, unable to take a well-deserved break.

Meanwhile… you’re still broke, overwhelmed, and constantly wishing you had MORE TIME.

Friend, lemme speak some HARD truth into your life real quick.

“FREE” WILL ONLY GET YOU SO FAR...

This is something I’ve said before- and I’ll continue to say it again and again:

While there is SOOOOOO much to learn for FREE from sites like YouTube, Pinterest, or ChatGPT, free information can only get you so far…

Listen… I LOVE FREE content as much as the next guy…

But here’s what you won’t get for free:

• A roadmap tailored to YOUR business
• Accountability to actually take action
• Feedback from someone who’s done exactly w
...

You ever feel like Monday hits you like a semi-truck? You wake up already behind, overwhelmed, and instantly reactive- checking orders, responding to 19 DMs, and wondering how you’re going to survive the week… AGAIN?

I’ve been there. Truthfully, some weeks can STILL feel like this.

But I’ve built a system and a ROUTINE to help with this beginning-of-the-week doom-and-gloom. A routine that grounds me, guides me, and- et’s keep it real-keeps me from losing my mind. And today, I’m pulling back the curtain to show you exactly what a CEO level routine looks like. 👇

Why a Weekly CEO Routine Can Help You Avoid Burnout and Grow Faster

If you’re constantly saying:

“I never have enough time.”

“I’m always playing catch-up.”

“My business is running me.”

Then THIS right here is your answer.

You don’t need more time- you need a SYSTEM. A routine. A dedicated time each week where you MEET with yourself to slow down so you can speed up.

This isn’t about being aesthetic or perfectly organized...

Let’s talk FACTS before feelings…

In 2025, tariffs on imported goods- including ingredients, packaging, and even equipment- have quietly started driving up costs across the board. And if you’ve been feeling like your expenses have crept higher while your profits stay the same (or shrink)... 👀 You’re not imagining it.

Pair that with rising wages, increased rent, higher utility bills, and inflation, and it’s no wonder so many small business owners are saying:

“I’m working harder than ever… but I’m making LESS.”

Friend, something’s gotta give. And that something? It’s probably your prices.

But before you spiral into a panic or people-pleasing mode, you’re not going to raise prices blindly. You’re going to do it with clarity, confidence, and strategy.

Here’s how…

7 Steps to Take Before Raising Your Prices

1️⃣ Identify Your Ideal Client

Know WHO you’re speaking to first. This doesn’t mean you have to announce it to him/her! It just means you have to have a clear understand of WHO e...

Let’s have a real BUSINESS conversation today… because this topic? It gets me fired up. And if you’re a small business owner (especially in the baking industry or specialize in custom creations), you need to hear this.

Answer this:

Would you rather make...

• 5 cakes @ $50 each = $250/week
• 2 cakes @ $150 each = $300/week
• 1 cake @ $300 = $300/week

Think about that. REALLY think about it.

Because too many of you are choosing volume over value, and it’s costing you more than you realize.

Lemme be BLUNT for a sec… If OTHER people wanna spend all their time making a cake, only to sell it BELOW WHAT IT COSTS THEM TO MAKE IT, because “people won’t pay more,” or the “cost of living is too high,” then by all means, let them ruin their own lives. BUT you’re here reading this, so lemme extend a lifeline to you.

I’ve heard it all…

“People around here won’t pay that.”

“The cost of living is ruining my sales.”

“The economy SUCKS.”

“If I raise my prices, I won’t have ANY customers.”

Li...

This is a little bit of a CONTROVERSIAL topic but it’s a necessary one…

Should you speak up on social issues in your business? 🤔

I’m talkin’ PRIDE Month 🌈

Juneteenth ❤️🖤💚

Black Lives Matter

Women’s Rights

Palestine (and other human rights issues happening across the globe)

…and all the other things that hit deeper than seasonal menus and new products.

Because the truth is—it’s scary.

It’s scary to take a stand.

It’s scary to speak up on something bigger than cupcakes, candles, nails, or lashes.

You start to wonder…

What if I say the wrong thing?

What if I lose customers?

What if I create a divide amongst the community I worked so hard to build?

And sis, I hear you. It’s scary to decide what is WORTH taking a stand on and what isn’t.

But here’s the thing we don’t talk about enough:

Silence is a statement as well.

And your community? They’re already paying attention.

So the real question isn’t “Should I speak up?”

It’s—What do I want my business to stand for?

So, let...

You know what makes me cringe? Watching another small business owner get dragged online from something that could’ve been AVOIDED altogether… 😤

I saw a video recently that made me DROP everything and film a reaction. You can watch that video here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DJaYP1yAEM8/

To sum it up, a customer was slicing into what they claimed was a $100 cake, and when they dropped the slice on a plate it sound like a LEGIT rock- with text across the video that said, “When you paid $100 for a cake the baker swore was light and fluffy…”

OOP. 👀

Now listen—I wasn’t even the baker, and I felt for them after watching this video because I know exactly what happened here (and it could’ve been avoided):

That cake was probably made with a ton of love and high-quality ingredients (and I’m sure was worth the $100 it cost), but someone didn’t explain how to serve it properly. So instead of a rave review, the baker is now getting dragged.

This is why I PREACH to my students (and taught A...

When I started my baking business, I didn’t have a plan.

I had ZERO experience. I had no idea what went into running a bakery- let alone ANY business.

What I did have? Was a pile of laundry, horrible credit, … and a sh*t ton of pressure to figure out how I was gonna support my family.

In 2009, I had just been laid off from my 6-figure corporate job. The job market was TRASH. And my husband and I couldn’t afford child care so I had to stay home with my kids. One day, I was folding some laundry and The Cake Boss happened to be on TV.

I watched as they made these BEAUTIFUL, OVER-THE-TOP works of art, and I thought to myself: “I could make that.”

I had never decorated a cake in my life. But I always creative. I always wanted to have my hands in things. I was a HUGE scrapbooker, I loved DIY projects, and while I didn’t really have the money to be starting a new hobby, I drove straight to the store and bought ALL the materials I would need to make a cake just like The Cake Boss.

Was it...