Equipment and Other Tips for Opening a Bakery, Part 1

If you’re looking to open a new bakery or are already partway along this path, the team at Dough Tech is here to help. We offer a huge variety of retail, industrial and commercial baking equipment products, and have assisted numerous clients with getting their new bakery off the ground by providing quality equipment that will stand the test of time.

And while our primary service here is for various pieces of baking equipment, our team of professionals is also here to provide tips and expertise in several other areas. We’ve been through the process of ramping up a new bakery hundreds of times, and we’re happy to pass on much of what we’ve learned to you to help your bakery start off on the right foot. In this two-part blog series, we’ll go over a variety of tips we can offer on opening a successful bakery, from equipment needs to several other areas.

Bakery Type and Location

First and foremost, you want to think about the kind of bakery you’re looking to run. Will this begin as an online-only bakery, or will you have a storefront from the jump? Will you bake only certain kinds of specialty goods, or will you be serving a wide variety of needs? If you plan to have a storefront, will it contain tables and chairs or just basic counter space?

Also vital for your early-stage planning is determining the location you want to be in – if you’re going with a storefront, of course. If you’ll be renting or leasing a space, you will need to assess your finances and consider whether you might require financing to make this happen. Shop around and be diligent in your comparisons before selecting a location.

Quality Equipment and Financing

Once you have your basics accounted for, it’s time to consider your bakery equipment in detail – and the costs to attain it. Our professionals will be happy to sit down with you and detail your precise needs in the bakery, from bread moulders and mixers to dough dividers, oven racks, silos, water meters and numerous other pieces of equipment we offer.

If you require financing for these items, be sure you apply for it using business credit lines. Do not use personal credit cards, bank lines or personal capital, which should be saved for individual needs.

Build Customer Base

As you’re getting started with the business, look for organic and low-cost ways to build your customer base. Inquire about working various events or getting your samples into popular areas; for an even more grassroots approach, bring treats to your local shopping area or a similar location and give them out with fliers or other little reminders of who you are and how people can find you.

Wait on Branding

While you might be tempted to immediately spend big dollars on branding efforts, we recommend holding off on a full-scale effort here during your early stages. Think about it: If you take the time to print hundreds or thousands of branding items, from boxes and bags to cards, shirts and others, what happens if you decide soon after that your logo or some other branding area needs to change? Instead, give yourself some time to form a true brand identity, then capitalize on it through marketing efforts when the time is right. For now, focus on the grassroots efforts we mentioned above.

For more on opening your own bakery, or to learn about any of our bakery equipment, speak to the staff at Dough Tech today.