There's something comforting and satisfying about baking your own baked goods in your shop or restaurant. To get started, you'll need the right equipment to create commercial bakery goods that your customers will eat up every day. You'll also need good ingredients and a way to package or display your wares.

Before you start baking and selling baked goods, formulate a plan for your bakery. You'll need to think about:

1. What recipes you want use, if you want to rely on frozen baked goods and what supplies you'll need for either of those options.

2. Look for used bakery equipment such as ovens, tables, racks and display cases to save money.

3. Find wholesale baked goods supplies like flour and sugar at distribution companies in your area.

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Choose ingredients for your baked goods kitchen

If you decide you don't have enough room for a full-fledged bakery in your shop, you can still install some small ovens and bake some products in-house, just order pre-made dough, batters and other items from commercial bakery goods suppliers. You may decide to specialize in organic baked goods, gourmet baked goods or gluten-free baked goods. Look for specialized companies that sell these unique ingredients when searching for supplies for baked goods business.

I recommend: One company, Dawn Food Products, offers a wide range of bakery supplies to meet your needs. They offer everything from pre-made glazes to fillings, dough and mixes that you can use to create your own bakery goods without all the equipment of a full bakery. Find organic baking mixes at Truly Organic Baking.

Find equipment online from baked goods suppliers

You can find many of the supplies you'll need for your bakery online. Otherwise, look for used equipment that will save you money on your overall bakery set-up. Look for dealers that sell all the equipment you need, and offer creative financing options, such as leasing instead of purchasing your equipment.

I recommend: Bakery Equipment.com, offers an online form to fill out so you can anticipate your equipment start-up costs. They offer leasing plans, too. Another company, Kerekes Bakery & Restaurant Equipment, offers used bakery equipment, including mixers, ovens, and display cases, all necessary bakery supplies you'll need to open a full-service bakery.

Decide on packaging and display for your baking goods business

How will you package and display your baked goods? To display your baked goods at their very best, invest in bakery display cases designed especially to keep your baked goods fresh and appealing all day. If you don't need a floor mounted display case, look for smaller counter top cases designed for smaller displays.

I recommend: FixturesGroup offers several styles of bakery display cases for large and small bakeries. For smaller displays, try these counter top display cases from the Hubert Company.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Think outside the box when you look for new and used bakery supplies. Is there a bakery in your area that may be closing? See if they'll make you a deal on their unused supplies and equipment. Is there a restaurant supply distributor in your area? See if you can open a wholesale account with them. They often have deals on used equipment too, but make sure you get a warranty before you buy any used equipment.

When you sell baked goods at your place of business, you want to ensure you get the best possible product available. Exceptional taste and quality will ensure that the customers return as repeat clients.

A sampling of commercial bakery goods includes brownies, cookies, cakes, pies and muffins. You may also wish to offer specialty baked goods to your customers like no sugar added and non fat desserts.

1. Choose the bakery goods you wish to order for your business. You may want to conduct a brief survey to determine the inventory you should order.

2. Estimate the amount of baked desserts you need for your customer base. Average out your expected number of clients to decide how many desserts and baking goods you need to order.

3. Find a baked goods supplier and place your order. Ideally, you should order from a wholesale baked goods distributor to save the most money on orders.

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Order frozen baked goods

When you sell baked goods, you're likely to do some of the baking on site. However, if you only wish to heat and serve, then you should consider selling baked goods that initially come frozen. The products will last longer and taste delicious after heating.

I recommend: Choose from a large selection of suppliers of frozen baked goods on the FoodService.com site. To supplement your baked goods inventory, you can order many of the frozen products offered from the Stover Company. Frozen baked goods include brownies, pie crusts, scones, cookies, and more.

Buy specialty baked goods

Although the bulk of your orders will concentrate on more viable commercial bakery goods, you'll want to appeal to the client base looking for organic, low carb, no sugar, low fat or non fat baked desserts.

I recommend: View the list of products available through Garden City Foods, Inc. This supplier specializes in organic, all natural and low carb baked goods. You can also send a request to Graber's Kountry Korner to find out more about their specialty baked goods.

Get wholesale baked goods

For the hot selling items, you'll want to find a baked goods supplier that can give you wholesale prices. Finding the lowest possible prices will greatly increase profits for your baked goods business.

I recommend: If you’re looking for a popular and reliable distributor of wholesale baked goods, then place your order through the famed Zaro’s Bakery. Wholesale items available include pound cake, cookies, pies, cheesecakes, muffins and more. For more delicious products, check out the product list provided by Foxtail Foods.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before buying a bulk order of bakery goods, you should set up a product cutting. With a product cutting, a sales representative will meet with you and offer you a sampling of their different types of gourmet baked goods.

There's nothing like the aroma of fresh baked goods to lure customers into your shop or restaurant. Baking every day, however, may not be cost effective, especially if you own a small shop like a café or coffee shop. Instead, find a baked goods supplier that can give you high-quality baking goods at a good price, so you can add to sales and keep your customers satisfied at the same time.

Know what to look for before you begin selling baked goods, so you'll choose the right goodies for your situation and your clientele. While making the most of baked goods in your business, try to:

1. Seek out organic baked goods to ensure the highest-quality ingredients that will please your customers and allow you to charge just a bit more for your baked goods.

2. Look for a baked goods business with a good reputation and that offers products to taste before you buy.

3. Gourmet baked goods are extremely popular, so look for artisan breads and other trendy items to add depth to your line of baked goods.

Action Steps
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Find training and consulting to help you build your baked goods business

There are training opportunities and consultants who can help you make the most of your baked goods business. Look for a consultant with years of experience in the baking industry, and training as a pastry chef so you can increase your knowledge and the complexity of your bakery items.

I recommend: The Long Company specializes in bakery consulting on all levels, from production to engineering. Johnson & Wales University offers degree programs in baking and pastry arts, and food management, as well.

Look for frozen baked goods and ready-to-finish bakery goods you can serve fresh

Many wholesale bakeries offer shipping around the country, and they'll send frozen baked goods right to your door that you can bake and serve fresh the same day. There are also companies that specialize in ready-to-finish products, so you can add fresh toppings or decorations that make any baked good taste even better.

I recommend: One major wholesale baker, Pennant Foods, offers thaw-and-serve muffins and muffin batters that you can order wholesale and serve in your shop. If you're looking for ready-to-finish products, try BonertsPies.com, a wholesaler who offers a variety of pies you can decorate or top yourself before putting them on display for customers.

Develop your own custom line of specialty baked goods

Many wholesale bakeries will work with their customers to develop custom lines of baked goods. They'll also put your logo on their products in many cases. So, if you want to sell your own line of hot dog buns to go with your homemade sausages, there are companies that will do just that.

I recommend: Brown's Bun Bakery in Detroit will develop recipes and package their products to your specifications. Morrisons Pastry Corporation offers traditional and low-fat muffins sold wholesale throughout the nation, so you can serve customers with health concerns, too.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  You have a lot of options when you're making the most of baked goods, even if you can't create your own pastries, breads and desserts on site. When you look for wholesale baked goods, think outside the box. Look for bakeries that use local, fresh, and organic ingredients, have a trained pastry chef, and will work with business owners to develop new recipes, blends, and products that will really sweep your customers off their feet.

Maybe you've always had a love of baking and recently decided to start a bakery or wanted to supplement your income with a small baking business. While you may know enough to get you started, you may come across equipment, baking styles, baking techniques and even baked goods of which you have no knowledge. The goal of this guide is to get you started with a full understanding of the baked goods industry.

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Proof box

A proof box provides a controlled environment in a sealed space so that yeast dough can rise as desired for a particular recipe. A proof box has adjustable settings for temperature and humidity.

I recommend: The Practically Edible Food Encyclopaedia provides more information on the importance of a proof box, especially for professional bakers.

VelveTop

eTop is a trademarked product manufactured by Dawn Food Products. VelveTop is the brand name for Dawn's non-dairy icings, filings and toppings for baked goods, available in six colors and three flavors.

I recommend: Visit the Dawn Food Products website for more information about its VelveTop product.

Pavoflex

Pavoflex is a product line of 600 by 400 millimeter silicon molds manufactured exclusively for professional bakers. Their design allows for quicker mold preparations in any cooking environment, whether by freezing, baking or microwaving your creation.

I recommend: Kerekes has more information on this Italian baking product.

Leavening agent

A leavening agent is a baking ingredient that, when combined with a dough, will cause the chemicals in the other ingredients to react to each other and the dough to rise. There are several different leavening agents available. Among them are yeast, baking soda and baking powder.

I recommend: Compare the different types of leavening agents and what each of them do in the article on Orbital Central.

Meringue

Meringue is a mixture of egg whites and sugar. You beat the mixture until it is white, stiff and airy. The mixing process adds air bubbles to the egg whites. Bakers typically use meringue as a topping for pies or as a cookie.

I recommend: Cookthink provides a few more details on how bakers use meringue. Discover how to make a perfect meringue (because it's not as easy as you might think) from What's Cooking America.

Baguette

A baguette is a loaf of bread with French origins that bakers know for it's long stick-like appearance, crispy crust and slits cut into the top to aid with expansion.

I recommend: Baking Bites provides more details on the baguette, including a recipe. For more baking goods key terms, visit Pillsbury's or Better Homes and Gardens' baking glossaries.