So if I baked some cupcakes...

[blue_fjords]

Peeps, I need some help. I've been talking to my brother and my co-workers and they've been encouraging me to start a cupcake business. Like a kind of business, b/c I wouldn't have a store or health inspections. (I would fail health inspections, as I live w/ two dogs and a cat. We're a hairy house.) So it would be a kind of catering/drop off

Comments

[lionessvalenti]

I like Awesomecakes. Though it might be because a cousin of mine has a catering business called Amandacakes, and it makes me think of that.

Eat My Cupcakes sounds like a euphemism for something dirty. ;)

I also sort of like Priscilla & Lydia's. You could call it P&L Cupcakes or something, and have a nice story behind the name, being named for your nieces.

I'm obviously no help, lol.

[blue_fjords]

The initials is what my brother was leaning towards. Famous Blue Cupcake always struck my fancy b/c it sounded like the Leonard Cohen song "Famous Blue Raincoat." The only thing is, offline people don't know me as blue. They'd be all "Who the hell is blue? Why'd you choose that?" But secretly, that's the one I want. Oh decisions, decisions!! I also do rather like Awesomecakes, though. But I put it on the list as a joke! And now I really like it.

[m_nivalis]

(saw this via friendsfriendsfriends)

I'd go for Famous Blue Cupcake, but then I'm a Leonard Cohen fan. For customers who won't associate in that direction, perhaps you could do a cupcake with blue frosting (or make the cupcake itself blue, but that might be an acquired taste) and have as a "signature cupcake".

[blue_fjords]

Yeah, I'm thinking for a signature cupcake to do an almond cake w/ blueberry mousse. Then it has some blue on top, and I can put it in a blue liner. Though I've had some setbacks in looking up regulations for opening this kind of business, so we'll see!

[kriari]

Hrm. I am at that middling place where I do things for co-workers and their families but also get an occasional word-of-mouth referral. Bakeries in Nashville are over-priced for what you get and they tend to specialize. When I was researching wedding cakes, most of them wanted $5 slice for something simple. RIP meet OFF. Anyway, I make a decent profit when I do charge folks. Lots of times if I'm going to the party, the cake is my gift. None of which addresses the question you've asked :)

I think that there's a growing market for vegan products, especially cupcakes, cakes, and the like so I wouldn't worry about finding business.

As for names, I'd agree it's a good thing to keep "Vegan" out of the name. However, I'd say you might want to imply it? Something about raw or natural? I stink at titles.

[blue_fjords]

Wow, $5 a slice? Sheesh. And the thing about wedding cakes is that they seldom taste good. It's all about the presentation. I have never eaten a piece of wedding cake and thought to myself, "Self, I must try to recreate this deliciousness." (Although one of my favorite AUs ever is this rom-com featuring a wedding cake, and I will admit to looking up a recipe for it and trying it out. It was buttery rich and delicious, but probably the most fattening cake I've ever made. AU: Peanut Butter-Pumpkin Wedding Cake and recipe: cake and I used a buttercream frosting.)

[kel_reiley]

my sister's wedding cake was DELICIOUS, but she didn't get it from a fancy bakery

a friend baked it special for her - it was beautiful AND tasty

[beckytheelf]

OMG A CUPCAKE BUSINESS. THIS IS SO FANTASTIC. LOL. I am so excited for you LOL. Just the thought of cupcakes and business makes me happy, idk why. I hope you really do go for it =D
As for advice, I've got none because pricing is not my forte at all. Sorry :(

[blue_fjords]

Thanks for the support! I am definitely going to give it a whirl. It will be a lot of hard work, but I love baking and I could really use the money.

[neifile7]

Is this the first step in the East Coast Fangrrrl Baker Coalition? Oh yes, sez I, make it so! Seriously, though, maybe having a network where each baker does different niche things could work for you all.

I like Famous Blue Cupcake. But as a good White Collar fangrrl, I have to put in a word for The Greatest Cake. :)

[blue_fjords]

LOL, I watch White Collar but had no idea of the reference, so I just googled it -- and google pointed me to Sam's LJ. Ha! If only I had paid attention to his Three Things! Curses!

Your icon is hysterical, by the way!

[thrace_adams]

i voted for awesomecakes but I like Piper & Milo's Sweet Kitchen. I think you could totally do something like that. I know when I was living there there was a cake company run by a couple of moms in my MOPS group and their cakes were probably some of the BEST CAKES EVER! I would have totally ordered from them had I had an occasion to, so yeah, would totally order cupcakes b/c I hate baking them. I'm good with brownies and cookies...but cakes...UGH.

[blue_fjords]

Would you happen to remember if they were a registered company, or just did things by word-of-mouth?

[thrace_adams]

I think they might have been registered, they had business cards, but I'm not 100% sure - I can see if I can find their card see if I still have it...