If you’ve ever wanted to start a home baking business, or you’ve watched enough videos online & thought, “I could do that...” but had no idea where to start, this handbook is quite literally made for you!
This is so much more than just a book. It’s an all-encompassing business resource guiding you step-by-step through starting, running & growing a home baking business of your own.
Over the course of my first five years, I grew my home cake pop business from a “little side gig” into a thriving business that is now my full-time job. I’ve taken everything I’ve learned along the way and brought it together into one resource to give you the guidance I wish I had when I was getting started.
From getting your business off the ground and building your customer base to managing orders, streamlining your workflow, and finding new ways to grow- it’s all here! The handbook is broken into four parts, with resources, key takeaways & action steps throughout to help you actually put what you’re learning into practice.
And because cake pops are my specialty, I’ve dedicated an entire part to cake pop production + workflow. But the majority of the handbook can be applied to any home baking business, no matter what you sell!
Most importantly, you don’t need to take all of this on at once. This handbook covers five years of building & growing my business! My hope is that it becomes a resource you can come back to time & time again as your business grows - take what you need now, and know the rest will be here whenever you’re ready for it!
PLEASE NOTE: The digital download link will be sent via email, so please double-check that you’ve entered the correct email address before checking out. The link will expire 24 hours after your first download, so be sure to save it somewhere reliable!
Due to the digital nature of the Home Baker Handbook and the immediate access provided upon purchase, all sales are final and refunds cannot be issued.
If you have any issues with your download after your purchase, please email me: nicole@mainstreetsweetsfrisco.com - this is the quickest way to reach me!
What’s Inside?
Part 1: Business Basics
12 Steps to Starting Your Home Bakery
Pricing Your Products
Labeling
Bookkeeping + Business Setup
Part 2: Cake Pop Production + Workflow
Base Cake Pop Recipe
Beyond the Base: Flavor Variations
My Dough Method
Making Cake Pops: Step by Step + Troubleshooting
Chocolate Tips + Melting Method
Chocolate Storage
Packaging
Freezing Cake Pops
Baking in Bulk
Building Your Weekly Workflow
Part 3: Selling + Managing Orders
Taking Custom Orders
Creating a Custom Order Form
Invoicing + Payment
Sticking to Your Policies
Part 4: Growing + Expanding Your Business
Holiday Sales
Flavor of the Month
Pop Drops
Wholesale
Selling at Markets
Social Media + Content Creation
Monetizing Online
Testimonials
“The Home Baker Handbook is SUCH an incredible resource. Think about it like a cookbook for business. It’s filled with several “recipes” and something you refer back to constantly. Every time you read it, you learn something new. I am personally more of an intermediate cake popper. My business is about 2 1/2 years old and I WISH I had this when I started but I couldn’t believe how much I learned even still! It’s very detailed and organized in such an intuitive way. Fantastic resource for all!”
— Casey C.
“I think it’s important to make this distinction: this isn’t a recipe book. It’s a handbook for navigating the BUSINESS side of being a treat maker. Yes, there are recipes, production tips, and troubleshooting, but the real value is in all of the pieces that aren’t always obvious when you’re first starting out, and that become even more important as your business grows. Whether you’re dreaming about turning your hobby into a business, you’re already taking orders and feeling a little overwhelmed, or you’re ready to figure out how to grow beyond custom orders, there is something in this book for you.”
— Daniela Z.
“The Home Baker Handbook is the tool I wish I could have had when I started my business. It contains so much valuable information and knowledge about every aspect of starting and running a home baking business. It's also very easy to understand and organized in a way that doesn't make you feel overwhelmed while reading it. Nicole has put so much care and effort into creating this handbook, and it truly shows. I highly recommend this handbook to all home bakers. Whether you already have a business or are just about to start one, I'm sure you will find this to be an incredibly valuable tool to have!”
— Andrea Q.
“Nicole shares everything - from crafting perfect cake pops and troubleshooting common issues to launching and growing your own business. Drawing from her own journey, she reveals the tips, tricks, and efficiencies that helped her succeed. An amazing all-in-one resource for both novice and experienced poppers!”
— Suzy G.
“wow! where do i even begin?! i learned SO much from this handbook and wish i would’ve had it sooner on my home baking journey. it’s jam-packed full of practical tips & information for how to run an efficient and successful home bakery. the wholesale section has been extremely helpful for me as i’m in the process of landing a partnership with a local coffee shop. if you’re on the fence about whether to buy the handbook, you won’t regret it!”
— Caroline J.
FAQ
I live outside of the United States. Will this handbook still be helpful for me?
Yes!! So much of what I’ve shared can be applied to home baking businesses anywhere in the world!
Certain “logistics” like cottage laws, business registration, taxes, food safety regulations, and labeling requirements will vary depending on where you live. Some of the specific platforms, products, and resources I mention may not be available in your country- but the advice and strategies behind them still apply!
And that’s just a fraction of what’s covered in the book. Everything from building your clientele and managing orders to weekly workflow, prepping in advance, baking in bulk, holiday preorders, and growing your business can be applied no matter where in the world you are!
I don’t sell (or plan to sell) cake pops. Will this handbook still be beneficial for me?
Absolutely! Cake pops are my specialty, so you’ll definitely see cake pop-specific examples throughout the book. Part 2 is especially cake pop focused, walking through my entire production process from recipes and storage to baking in bulk and building my weekly workflow.
But the majority of the handbook is about running a home bakery as a whole - starting your business, pricing, managing orders, building your customer base, holiday sales, wholesale, social media, and so much more. Those strategies and resources can be applied to any home baking business, no matter what you sell!
And who knows, maybe Part 2 will give you the confidence to add cake pops to your menu!
Are there any templates included?
While there are no downloadable or editable templates included, I’ve shared screenshots and examples of all of the different resources I’ve created for my business throughout the handbook - like prep sheets, care cards, order forms, and more! These are meant to give you inspiration for creating your own versions that fit your business, and Canva is a great resource for easily bringing those ideas to life.
Are there any restrictions on how I can use the handbook?
I absolutely encourage you to take what you learn throughout the handbook and apply it to your own business! However, the handbook itself and the information included are for your personal use only and may not be copied, reproduced, redistributed, resold, or shared with others without prior written permission.