I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again –

You might be the most talented baker in the world. But if you don’t have the business knowledge to grow, pivot, and scale your business with CONFIDENCE, your cake decorating skills and cute packaging won’t count for sh*t. 

In this blog post, I’m gonna share 3 essential factors you need to know to build a THRIVING and successful baking business, navigate unpredictable challenges, and emerge on top as the BOSSED-UP CEO you know you are!

#1) Invest in BUSINESS knowledge – not baking skills

Most bakers think that in order to grow, they need to keep improving their skills. But running a successful business requires MORE than just talent in the kitchen. So if you’re interested in seeing some REAL growth, stop wasting your $$ on decorating classes and invest in BUSINESS KNOWLEDGE.

Learning HOW businesses work will help you to make informed decisions, plan for the future, and adapt and pivot in times of crisis or emergency (remember Covid?! ...

Let’s be REAL, friend: In a COMPETITIVE industry like ours, even small mistakes can have EXPENSIVE consequences. A bad business decision or a major mistake can cause customers to leave you, impact your bakery's reputation, and result in a HUGE financial setbacks. 

That’s why avoiding mistakes isn’t just about saving face in the industry, it’s a matter of your business THRIVING or failing. In this blog post, I’m gonna the 3 BIGGEST mistakes I see bakery owners making all the damn time, so you can avoid them before it’s too late. So buckle up and pay attention to make sure you don’t repeat ANY of these mistakes in your business!

Mistake #1: Expanding before you’re READY

I get it. You're PUMPED to grow your business and get to that next level. OR, maybe you think you’re current circumstance is holding you back and you think GROWING and SCALING your business is the answer. But if you expand too early, based on a “feeling”, WITHOUT looking at your numbers and preparing yourself to deal w...

When I started my baking business, I was at ROCK freaking BOTTOM. I had zero money, zero experience, and ZERO credibility as a baker or business owner. 

Eddie and I both lost our six-figure corporate jobs in the 2009 recession. We had 3 young kids, a mortgage, 2 car payments, and a sh*t ton of other responsibilities. 

We had ZERO income coming in, our marriage was on the rocks, and we had to file for bankruptcy. We were on the verge of losing EVERYTHING.

That’s when my bakery, The Cake Mamas was born: out of PURE NECESSITY, with no MONEY, and my back against the wall. 

When I started, I didn’t have anything other than my own experience to learn from. I had to learn to do business the HARD WAY – through trial and error. And I made SO many mistakes in those early years that cost me TONS OF MONEY, simply because I didn’t KNOW any better and I didn’t have ANYONE to guide me in the right direction. 

I don’t want y’all to have to go through what I did. So, in this blog post, I’m talking...

Don’t let this be you, friend… 

But before we dive in, quick question –

How were your Valentine’s Day sales?

Was it record-breaking? Disappointing? Did you hit ALL your revenue goals, or did you fall short?

And most importantly, how are YOU feeling now that it’s all FINALLY over? (phew!) 

Hopefully, you’re feeling HAPPY, RELIVED, and PROUD! Cause you SURVIVED and we’re only going up for here! 

But the truth is there’s a reason why I’m asking you these questions…

It’s because if you wanna GROW your business, there’s one step you CAN’T miss after any HUGE SALE or event –

A DEBRIEF session.

It doesn’t matter how much money you make or how tired or bummed out you’re feeling. (Emotions don’t BELONG in business! )You NEED to sit down with a pen and paper, look at the DATA, pull out the receipts and analyze ALL the different AREAS of your business. I’m talking about your marketing strategy, your planning technique, the products you created, and the money you made! This is gonna be CR...

Now that we’re a MONTH into 2023 (can you believe it?) Some of us are still going strong on those new year’s resolutions, but for many of us, the motivation may be dying down a bit. But I believe that it’s NEVER too late to start something new. And taking MESSY, imperfect action (even if it looks different from what you envisioned or planned) is better than wondering what COULD’VE been. You feel me?? 

And one of the best ways to do something different, I think,  is by leveraging your expertise and starting a business of your own…

Maybe you’ve thought this before too? 

But REAL TALK: Most people don’t even know if entrepreneurship is the right path for them, or if they even HAVE the energy and resources they need to get their business up and running.

But that’s what I’m here for. So I’m gonna cut to the chase. Here are 3 things to CONSIDER if you're looking to drop that 9-5, start a side hustle, or become your own boss in 2023: 

 You’re gonna do things you DIDN’T sign up for

And t...

Let’s be REAL: Launching your own BAKING BUSINESS is no cakewalk. (no pun intended) 

It’s not just about picking a cute name and pretty packaging and making cute sh*t all day. You need to register your business, set up your finances, get trademarked and figure out a SH*T TON of other legal and logistical things. 

And SPOILER ALERT: The hard stuff doesn’t end there. When you start a business, you’re gonna spend a LOT of time doing things you didn’t sign up for – like taxes, payroll, sales, marketing. And IMAGINE doing ALL this while working your 9 to 5, raising a family, and trying to balance your personal life (!!!) 

I’m not trying to scare you but I can’t sugarcoat reality for you, friend. And YES, it can feel overwhelming and daunting AF, but with the RIGHT resources and guidance, YOU can power through this and get to the fun stuff (like baking & creating pretty things and making MONEY) ASAP!

So without wasting more time, let’s jump right into the 4 most important steps you CAN...

2023 is 11 DAYS AWAY(!!!) 

And as much as I enjoy spending time with family and doing all the FESTIVE things,  I’m also using this time to self-reflect, organize my thoughts, envision new goals, and map out my 2023. (This is important!) 

As a small business owner and entrepreneur, I fully believe that REST is  NON-NEGOTIABLE. I know first-hand that you can’t operate, create, and problem-solve when you’re tired and burnt out. So, I hope you’re using this time to reset, regroup, and get re-energized before the New Year. 

But I also hope that you’re using this time to think about what big goals and dreams you wanna achieve in 2023. 

And if you’re reading this saying, “I have NO IDEA what things I should even be thinking about” or “I have ideas but I don’t know how to start,” then keep on reading… 

Reflecting, planning, strategizing, and mapping out your year are CRUCIAL to being a successful small business owner. 

This is your chance to press RESET, apply the lessons you’ve learned ...

It’s the same story every single year –

MILLIONS of people set new goals, dreams and intentions for the year. They want to get fit, get their finances in order, buy their dream home – and yet by the time the middle of January rolls around people slip back into their usual routines and fall off the wagon. 

It’s back to the same old same old. People fall back into poor habits and continue to do the sh*t that no longer serves them. 

According to U.S. News, more than 80% of people give up on their New Year’s resolutions by the second week of February. 

That kinda sucks, tbh.

That’s why in today’s blog post, I’m breaking down 4 reasons WHY people fail to achieve their New Year goals every year (plus what we can do differently). Read on to find out if any of these relate to you… 

#1 You’re not ready to change

Let’s get straight into it… 

OUTCOMES are the result of ACTIONS, not intentions. 

And the actions you perform every day are the result of your HABITS and behaviors. 

If you...

Tis' the season for IMPOSTER SYNDROME!

If you haven't experienced what this feels like yet- then I applaud you sis!

But if you have I'm gonna share four tips with you that you can do today or whenever those feelings arise that will help you push past this feeling and get back to the confident self you should be!  

In case you don't know what imposter syndrome is or how it feels lemme break it down for you here:

Imposter syndrome is the feeling or idea that you're not good enough despite the successes and milestones you've achieved.

To keep it simple, you feel like a fraud. Despite all the things you've accomplished whether that's education, in your career, or your experiences- there is apart of you that still feels not good enough and deserving of the things you've received.

Fun Fact about me, when I started my bakery business, The Cake Mamas, I didn't have a ton of support from my fiends and family.

It could be they were "looking out for me" because it "wasn't the right time." ...

Let's face it, CHRISTMAS SHOPPING, or gift-giving in general, can sometimes bring on more stress than joy. That's why I've compiled a list of some of my FAVORITE holiday gift-giving ideas for you!

Whether you're shopping for your parter, your best friend, or YOURSELF, you'll find all my holiday faves here!

I separated them into categories so you can browse for that perfect, thoughtful, useful, and fun gift for everyone on your list! Let's start with...

Gifts for the Busy Business Owner 

Radlove Electric Adjustable Standing Desk  

Let’s face it, sitting all day sucks! I’m obsessed with my standing desk because I find that I'm more productive when I'm standing. I'm able to focus more and stay on task better when I'm standing and moving around. Which is why this desk is great for to pair with the next thing on my list! Keep reading… 

Work on Your Business AND Your Body with the Umay Under-Desk Walking Pad 

A Treadmill that fits under my desk, yes please! If becoming more acti...