Sandicakes, aka The Guilty Baker

For a few years now, I've harboured a secret dream of becoming a full-time home baker.  I do love the process of baking, and I especially love the decorating part.  Making birthday cakes for people makes me happy.  I love experimenting and trying new things, and springing the results on my family at our weekly dinners.  Don't worry.  I haven't killed any of them yet.  It can be stressful and hectic, but I love it.

When working through a bout of work malaise a couple of years ago, John asked me what I wanted to do.  My answer was to bake and to do freelance voiceover work,  They were both jobs I could do from home where I am definitely at my happiest.  I mean, that's where the dog is!  And it involved doing two things I love.  I'd never thought about the particulars of either one.  I'm not really a 'think about the particulars' kind of girl most of the time.  In my jobs, I'm fantastic at details.  When it comes to my own life, I am a dreamer.  John is the detail guy.  Thank goodness I've got him!

But, if your dream is to be a home baker, you kind of have to think about the particulars.  And John was on top of it.  'Where would you sell your baked goods,' he'd ask.  'How much do your supplies cost?  What do you charge people?  What about materials?' Dude was really harshing my buzz.  But he was right.  These are all things that would have to be considered.  And I hate considering it.

After all, until very recently, I've undercharged for every cake, cupcake, cookie, or square I've ever made.  When someone asks me to make them a cake, and asks how much it is, I literally pick a number out of thin air.  Well, almost.  I do know how much butter costs and how much it is for a cake box.  And I've done some rudimentary math to figure out my cost, but every time the question comes up, I think, "I can't charge them much!  They're a friend/cousin/colleague/acquaintance!"  The guilt!  Oh, the guilt of charging someone a lot for a cake!

And then, if you add in my pathological lack of self-esteem (what if my baking is not that good?) it stops me from charging the going rates for things.  When I ordered my wedding cake a few years back, I didn't mind paying what she asked, because she is an artist with amazing skills!  I would never put my baking in the same ballpark as hers.  When you spend years baking for family, you do have to wonder, 'Do they just say it tastes good because they feel like they have to?'

That's why I thought I'd wade into the big wide world and do a baking pop-up.  I thought, 'If I really want to do this, I've got to actually do it.'  I figured it would be a good test of my baking skills and my business skills (or lack thereof).  I actually calculated my costs (ingredients, overhead, materials, etc.). I even factored in a wage for myself, and priced each item accordingly.  I researched what other local bakers were charging for things as well, and I tried not to do that thing where I say, 'Don't charge as much as them, because they're REALLY good.' I tried to put myself in the same ballpark for a change.  And it went surprisingly well!

It was a bit liberating to finally know what I'm doing cost-wise and to give myself a little more credit.  I mean, I wouldn't get repeat business if I was terrible, right?  RIGHT??  I got some lovely feedback on my bakes from pop-up customers as well.  It was nice to hear.  But, I would really have to hustle and get myself out there if I have any hope of making a livable wage from baking.  I'm not that good at tooting my own horn most of the time.  So the prospect of really putting myself out there is a little daunting.

Being unemployed does give me a little time and space to try some new things, so that's what I'll try to do.  Expect a lot more pictures of baked goods in my social media feeds, and some of you can expect to be guinea pigs for new bakes.  And all of you can expect to pay a little more than you have in the past for cakes, because I've got an app now.  It tells me what it costs!  I'm still going to feel guilty about it, though.