In this episode of The Bread Winner Podcast, Caroline dives into the important question: Is running a sourdough micro bakery the right business for you? Whether you're just thinking about starting or you've already begun, Caroline shares a series of insightful, reflective questions to help you decide if this path aligns with your goals, lifestyle, and values. She explores the motivations behind starting a bakery, the time commitment required, and the often-unseen challenges that come with turning a passion into a profitable business.

From the physical demands of bulk dough preparation to the balancing act of family life and running a bakery, Caroline offers honest advice on what it really takes to succeed in this niche business. She also provides tips for staying connected to the joy of baking, even as you grow. If you're wondering whether a sourdough micro bakery is the right fit for you, this episode is packed with guidance to help you gain clarity and move forward with confidence.

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Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery! 

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Episode 24

There's no right size for your business. The right size is what serves your life.

But just. Make sure that regardless of the size of business, you are trying to grow. That you're ready to commit the time that it will take to get there.

Welcome to the Breadwinner Podcast. This is the show for sourdough micro bakery owners who are building a sustainable, successful, profitable business from their home. If you are already in business or if you're dreaming of starting one, this is the place for you. I'm your host, Caroline Bower. I own a successful in home sourdough bakery, and I am here to share everything I've learned that works and that doesn't, plus everything that I'm researching along the way so we can build thriving businesses together.

Hello, and thanks for being here for another episode of The Bread Winner Podcast. It's Caroline here, and I'm excited to chat with you today.

So it's a good one to listen to whether or not, you've already begun your sourdough micro bakery.

I absolutely love getting on a call with a fellow micro bakery owner. And helping you reach the next level in your business, whether that's getting your first order. Or whether that's reaching new customers or anything in between, if you were feeling stuck anywhere along the journey, book a call with me and let's get you unstuck.

All right, that said, let's go ahead and get started on the upside. So the question we're asking today is how do I know if this is the right business for me?

So the purpose of today's episode is to share a whole bunch of key questions that you can reflect on for yourself.

To help you get clarity on whether or not a micro bakery business is aligned with your goals, your values, and your lifestyle.

So these questions are designed to help you think through some of the challenges and the realities that aren't necessarily shown on social media. But don't let these questions hold you back from taking action. The last thing I want is for you to get overwhelmed and scared and stop moving forward. This is just meant to share some reality and the flip side of the glamorous romantic side that we're seeing on Instagram.

So ask yourself. Does the idea of spending hours perfecting a loaf. Does that excite you? Or does it sound like a chore?

I have friends who've taken my sourdough workshop. And they love baking a low for two here and there for friends and family. But they see me in my videos, folding a huge batch of bulk dough. And they're like Nope. That's not for me.

Do you enjoy the idea of creating a bulk batch of dough or do you see that? And you have no desire to actually do that part.

If you start selling your bread and treating, baking as a business, will it still bring you joy? It's so important. That you make sure that monetizing your passion doesn't take the love and the fulfillment out of the process for you. There are some ways to make sure that you don't lose this. For me, it's setting aside intentional time to just recipe test, try new recipes, play around. Throw something together without a recipe. Just get my hands in the dough right now. I have a bowl right next to me. I've just two little loaves that I'm mixing up just for the joy of it. Often I do this on Mondays. Which is the day of the week that is not dedicated to bakery work.

So if you're finding that your motivation comes from a deep love of the craft. That's great. But if your motivation is about finding the easiest path to a full-time income, sourdough is probably not the easiest path.

Now the next thing to think about is how this business fits into your lifestyle. So running a sourdough micro bakery is not your typical nine to five job. It involves early mornings. Or in sometimes some late nights or both. And a rhythm that ebbs and flows with your dough and with the seasons. And if you really do want to earn a full-time income with this, you absolutely have to expect to put in full time hours. So here are some questions to consider. Number one.

Are you comfortable with the unique hours and the schedule that baking demands? Does it make sense with your schedule to start your day at 4:00 AM? Sometimes.

I have taken over most of our front dining room with my bakery. And so you just have to know that this is a business that takes up space just by the nature of. Meeting to spread out. And so make sure you have physical space and mental space in your home.

But there is the reality that it's a very hands-on process and there certainly are stretches of time where you need to be home.

And so you can schedule that around your rhythms. But are you ready to. Organize your schedule in a new way if needed or.

Balance this work with the other commitments in your life.

Now baking does take a lot of time. Especially as you grow and especially if you're going to be trading it as a full time job to earn a full-time income. So the next question is, are you ready to commit the hours that it takes to generate significant income? Now, perhaps, and I've talked about this in other episodes, perhaps you don't want full-time income, which is totally fine. Perhaps you're trying to cover extracurriculars for your children, or you want a little bit of spending money for yourself or you're paying down debt or reaching financial goals. Whatever it is.

But just. Make sure that regardless of the size of business, you are trying to grow. That you're ready to commit the time that it will take to get there.

Now if you have just a couple of very certain, very specific set hours each week. Take some time to evaluate whether or not the process of preparing your dough of

fermenting it a baking fits into the time that you have allotted or see if you can rearrange. Just. Take a good hard look at your schedule and make sure that it will all fit well together.

All right, this next set of questions is evaluating your financial goals and needs.

That is beautiful and wonderful. Just make sure that you can take that home after factoring in the cost of ingredients and supplies and. Just sit down with your numbers, make sure that the work you're putting in is worth it to you for the outcome that you're receiving.

Are you comfortable with the initial investments required? Whether it's equipment ingredients. Marketing costs supplies. You really don't need a whole lot to get started.

The more you grow, the more expenses you'll have. So are you comfortable with that? And do you have a strategy for setting aside a percentage to reinvest in the business where those costs.

Now can you handle the financial ups and downs that come from running your own business? Bakery is a seasonal business. And it generally picks up around the holidays and it definitely tends to slow down around January and over the summer.

Another crucial factor is understanding your capacity for growth and change. All small businesses are constantly evolving and growing.

And running a sourdough micro bakery is certainly no exception. And not only will your business evolve, but you will, to your lifestyle, the rhythms of your household will likely evolve. Are you ready to adapt to the challenges and the opportunities that will come with that?

So here's some things to consider. Are you willing to learn new skills, whether it's marketing accounting or customer service.

You're not just baking, but you're creating the social media marketing content. You're managing your financial books, your recipe developing, you're providing customer service. You're washing the dishes and so much more.

So are you willing to wear all the hats, knowing that the work is really hard, certainly rewarding, but you're going to go to bed worn out at the end of the day, sleep like a rock and sometimes wake up way too early the next day to get up and do it all over again.

The skills you develop are invaluable, but also you have to be really dynamic and scrappy and ready to put in the work and do the research to learn the skills that you need to. Succeed in this business.

Are you comfortable with the idea that you might have to pivot. adjust or even changed directions completely at some point. If the market evolves, if your lifestyle changes, if the demands of the customers change, if the preferences or the desires of the customers change. Are you comfortable with the idea of just entirely shifting or are you completely married to your certain set menu. Are you willing to adjust and change your menu if needed.

Growth is inevitable. And being open to change is key to sustaining a successful business.

You received some. Negative or critical customer feedback, maybe your kid has to stay home from school and you have to totally drop everything that you needed to do today.

So ask yourself, how do you handle setbacks or unexpected changes? Are you able to stay calm under pressure and find solutions quickly? Do you enjoy solving problems or do you feel overwhelmed when things don't go as planned?

As with any small business, especially if you're a solopreneur, you're making up the rules as you go. If you're able to do that well, if you're able to quickly come up with a solution, if you'd love to problem solve. Create more efficient processes. Then you may absolutely love this.

So there you have it. Some key questions to help determine if running a sourdough micro bakery is the right fit for you.

So reflecting on your passion, your lifestyle, your financial goals, your capacity for growth and your resilience. All of this will give you clarity and confidence in your decision.

With a growth mindset and a willingness to adapt and to lean into opportunities and to be flexible and to just continue growing as the customers have continued to show up for me. It has been an absolutely beautiful experience and I know that it will continue to be so over the future coming years. So all of this gets you really excited and you're like, yes, bring on the challenges, bring on the growth, bring on the curve balls. Then go ahead and get started.

I am so excited for you.

If you're not totally committed. And lose the joy for baking. So make sure that you protect that first and foremost like I mentioned before.

If you're feeling ready to take the next step. Or you need some guidance. You can book a one-on-one call with me through the link down in the show notes.

I would love to help get you rolling. Get you a strategy to get your first sales or if you've already started and you need guidance for the next steps. I am here for you.

If you are not already following the show, make sure to subscribe or follow.

So you don't miss an episode. And if you haven't already left me a review, it would make my day and it would help other people find the show. If you would take a minute to rate and review the show. I will be back very soon with another episode as always, they drop on Mondays and Thursdays. But until then happy baking.."