One of the core requirements for my Interpreting degree is to take a Small Business Management class. I decided to take it in fast-track form (a whole semester worth of credit in 3 weekends? don't mind if I do!) so it has taken over my life for the past two weekends. I thought I was going to hate the class and find the information useless, since when I do interpret, I don't plan on opening my own agency; however, this class has actually been pretty interesting and I have learned a ton!
Our goal throughout the course is to develop a business plan for a legitimate business that we are interested in creating. Since I knew I didn't want to go the route of the interpreting agency, I decided to create a business plan for a cake business, since I have been "practicing" that for two years. I thought that I might actually want to do that to make ends meet until I can interpret full-time... but wow! Did you realize all the requirements for selling food to the public? Aside from the fact that you must have a kitchen, separate from your personal kitchen, that meets health codes and all that jazz, it is highly recommended that you also incorporate since you will be selling something that might possibly cause someone to become sick, they can sue, they'll try to take everything you have, etc. etc. Well, that is a LOT of initial cost. And I don't know about you, but I don't know of many people that will pay several hundred dollars to buy a cake from someone with as little experience as I have. After paying rent for the kitchen (because I definitely don't have other options as far as that goes) I doubt I could make ends meet.
The problem I'm having now, though, is that I think owning my own business sounds like a great idea, but I seem to be one of those "jack of all trades, master of none" people. I'm a crafty person, and I love to do lots of different things, but I don't feel like I'm great enough at any of them to make a profit off of them. I love the saying, "Find what you love. Then find someone to pay you to do it." I wish it was that easy. The saying doesn't give you advice for what to do while you're waiting to get your degree in what you love. :-P
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Not sure if any of this will apply to you but what I've done is found an umbrella business situation where I can build up a client base and reputation and then if I want to incorporate another venture, I can. We started out tutoring and then I went to piano lessons and it's all under the same umbrella. Since food has all that regulation, it might be easier to get started with something that doesn't require as much money/stipulations and then plan to move 'officially' to cakes eventually as you are able. Maybe? Idk :)
ReplyDeleteYeah, that's where I'm at now - trying to think of something somewhat related that will allow me to ease into the cakes. I've got some brainstorming to do! :)
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