Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy

Of all the things we do in our business each month, there’s one thing in particular we find is always worth the time we spend on it — the month end financial review.   In this episode, we’re sharing our month-end financial review process and sharing how it allows us to put together a strong game plan based on facts based on data. We get into: What exactly goes into our end-of-the-month financial r...

It’s time to celebrate! Spilt Milk has been in business for six years and we’ve got plenty of reasons to jump for joy. We opened our retail shop in 2016, and it’s always fun to take a look back at the journey. In this episode, we’re reflecting back on some lessons learned, friends made along the way, keeping a business running throughout a global pandemic, and our very favorite memories.  Thank yo...

Whether you’re making mind-blowingly gorgeous pastries or out-of-the-world ice cream, many of the principles of running a small business are the same.  On this episode, we sit down with seasoned pastry chef turned entrepreneur and owner of Pretty Cool Ice Cream , Dana Cree. Dana shares her journey and the lessons she learned along the way, including: Figuring out parenthood as a small business own...

Knowing your numbers is a critical piece of bakery business success, but how do you take action to stay on top of things when you notice some gaps in where your money is going?  In this episode, we’re sharing how we’ve approached tracking slow leaks in our budget. We get into: How reviewing your weekly KPI report will help you notice small leaks before they turn into massive holes.  Why your refun...

When it comes to money management, sometimes you just want to bury your head in the sand and avoid it — but friends, it’s time to take a deep breath and rip off the bandaid! In this episode, we sit down for a chat with financial educator & all-around cool gal Sarah Becker for some real talk on effective money management.  After ten years as a wedding photographer, real estate investor, and sma...

In a time where the cost of ingredients is steadily climbing, can you run a bakery AND still make a profit? In this episode, we’re tackling this question from a community member. We talk about: •How to adjust when you don’t have a lot of wiggle room in the budget •Why closely monitoring your budget is critical to profitability •How to look for opportunities to “do more with less” •Plus more tips o...

When you run a bakery business, you can always expect the unexpected. In this episode, we sit down with Connie Brown, owner of The Brown Cow Ice Cream Parlor and Creamery , who successfully made the transition from corporate marketer to ice cream shop owner.  We talk to Connie about:  The desire to create a gathering place for the community. How she grew her business and what that evolution looked...

Competition is a reality when you run a bakery business.  But should you really be worrying & wondering what your competition is up to? In this episode, we get real about how we deal with “competitors”, as well as sharing: Why competition in your area is actually a good thing! Why focusing on collaboration and support versus competition is a win / win Some key questions to ask yourself when yo...

As many of us head into the holiday season, we’re ramping up for a high volume of pre-orders. So how do you make sure you’re ready for the onslaught? In this episode, we’re talking about how to get your processes for pre-orders nailed down so that you can avoid extra headaches during what is usually a busy time of year.  We share our experiences (and pitfalls), as well as: Why nailing your pre-ord...

Running a bakery business can be a profitable venture, but before you start whipping up your favorite treats, you need to have a plan. In this episode, we tackle the need for a business plan and why if you want to have a sustainable, successful business, putting in the leg work for a business plan is a must.  We also talk about: Why having a business plan is a key ingredient of success. Why revisi...

Being a parent and running a bakery business can sometimes feel like your very own three-ring circus.  In this episode, we’re serving up some real talk on how motherhood has impacted us and how we’ve worked to find the right balance that allows us to excel as both parents and business owners.  We also share: Our own journeys becoming parents while running our business. Some of the hurdles we’ve ha...

When you run a bakery, there are various places where money that you may have planned as part of your profits ends up going out the door.  In this episode, we’re discussing how discounts, waste, refunds and more can all have an impact on our bottom line. We talk about: Which parts of your profit and loss statements should be monitored most closely every month when tracking waste Why your food budg...

The holidays can be a fun and joyful time to be a bakery owner — as long as you keep your wits about yourself and do some planning in advance. We’ve had plenty of highs and lows over the years - so let’s talk about lessons learned! In this episode, we’re sharing some of our biggest tips & tricks from running our bakery through the holiday season. We’re getting real about some of the challenges...

As sisters who run a bakery business together, we often get questions about what it’s like to work together. Do we always get along? How do we make it work without killing each other? In this episode, we’re sharing our own experience working with family and some of the ups and downs we’ve had along the way. We also talk about: How to keep it professional in the workplace. Breaking out of your fami...

When Dick and Jane met over a cookie years ago, they had no idea that years later an idea to put education on an animal cracker would change their entire career trajectory! In this episode, we’re joined by the founder of the Dick and Jane Baking Company — Dick Held. He shares how a passion for combining nutrition and education went from idea to implementation, and they managed to get their product...

Running a bakery business isn’t all sugar, spice, and everything nice. But whether the business is in a slow period, you’ve got personal issues going on, or you're just having a plain old bad day, you still have a business to take care of. So how do you walk in and show up for yourself & your team with a good attitude? In this episode, we’re talking about how to find your motivation when...

Branding is one of those things that’s necessary for your bakery business, but if marketing isn’t in your wheelhouse, you may have no clue where to begin.  In this episode, we’re having a chat with our friend, photographer Tina Harle of Tina Harle Photography who’s built a thriving business focused on food-related businesses. She shares some of her tips for what bakery owners should pay attention...

As a bakery business owner, you’re a creative soul and probably have lots of ideas about what you’d like to offer your customers. So … how do you narrow down the choices and figure out what makes the final cut on your menu? And more importantly, how do you make sure your menu is profitable? On this episode, we’re answering a common question we often get asked — how do I decide what goes on my menu...

Running a successful bakery requires more than just making fabulous baked goods. Timing, location, marketing, vendor sourcing, staffing and SO much more all need to be taken into account.  On this episode of Kitchen Notes, we’re joined by our friend, Cindy Summers. She’s the former owner of Sugar Fixé in Oak Park, IL, and now owns Flourish Cake Design - a premium custom cake studio in Chicago.  We...

Getting help in your bakery business is really exciting, but it can also be fraught with anxiety. With the right processes in place, you can ensure your business is set up for new employees to thrive! This week we’re tackling a listener question: How do you get comfortable delegating important tasks to your employees? Here’s what we cover in today’s episode: Why documenting all your recipes is an...

Are you chasing that next big sales goal? Do you want to achieve that next level of success with your financial goals in your business? If so, this is the episode for you! As a bakery business owner, you’ve already got a ton on your plate, so finding the time to investigate new marketing ideas or come up with plans to help you meet your financial goals can feel completely overwhelming. In this epi...

With the price of goods rising, and supply chain issues bogging us all down … profit margins are getting smaller (if not disappearing altogether) .  So - how do you maintain your profit margins, without upsetting your customers?  In this episode, we’re chatting about this important & timely topic - How do I raise my prices?! We’ll be getting into: The reality of the current climate and the imp...

Do bookkeeping and handling the finances for your bakery business feel like a huge chore? Do you feel intimidated trying to make all the numbers work from one month to the next? If so - we’ve been there too! And one of the best decisions we’ve ever made in our business was to hire an expert to assist us with money management! In the episode, we’re sitting down with Daliah Fritz, CEO of Fritz Finan...

“What should I charge for these chocolate chip cookies?" "What you would pay for a 6" custom cake?" "Can I price these croissants at $4?” In this episode, we’re talking about the number one question we hear from our community, and it’s probably no surprise it’s about pricing your products !  We also give you the rundown on: The fact that there’s no one right and easy answe...

Ever wondered what KPIs are — or why they matter for a bakery business? Let's talk about K ey P erformance I ndicators! During this episode, Molly and Meg share how whether it’s turning a profit, saving for unexpected expenses, paying off business debt, or paying yourself regularly, knowing your numbers makes all the difference in meeting your goals.  In this episode, we talk about: Why makin...