| One of the reasons people don't start | | | | rockets. There are lots of books that |
| their own home-based business is the | | | | teach you the basics of specialty |
| misconception that every business | | | | baking. The best way to learn though, is |
| requires a substantial amount of | | | | by practice. For a start, you could |
| start-up capital. Many stay-at-home moms | | | | always take on simple jobs from friends |
| struggle to make ends meet when they | | | | and family and once you feel confident, |
| actually have one skill that they can | | | | you could market your skills on a wider |
| turn into a money-making home based | | | | scale. Not everyone can be a specialty |
| business - COOKING. Every Mom knows how | | | | baker. There's a fair amount of artistic |
| to cook at least ONE dish that's simply | | | | ability involved but if you've got the |
| to-die-for, so here are five home based | | | | flair and skills, there's a money making |
| food business ideas that require zero to | | | | niche waiting for you. |
| very little capital to start. | | | | Home-made Food |
| Home Catering | | | | Everything that you can make at home, |
| This is a daily catering service where | | | | can be made to sell - jams, preserves, |
| you cook (one or two meals) daily for | | | | cookies, sauces, pasta, candy - the |
| your customers. This is a much needed | | | | list goes on and on. What you want to do |
| service for busy people who are too | | | | is find THE one recipe that you can cook |
| tired to cook when they get home but | | | | really well and concentrate on it. Give |
| still want a wholesome home-cooked meal. | | | | free samples to your friends and family |
| Customers who need your services will | | | | and let them know that you're taking |
| pay you in advance for the month. That's | | | | orders if they'd like to buy some. If |
| the beauty of this business. You realize | | | | you're ready move on to a bigger scale, |
| your profit even before you do anything. | | | | then you might want to consider |
| What comes after that? Well, at first it | | | | supplying your home-made food to your |
| will be like cooking for an extra couple | | | | local grocery stores or even setting up |
| of family members. These "family | | | | a stall at your local market place. |
| members" will pop by in the evenings and | | | | Are These Really Low Cost Ideas? |
| pick up their meal. Things start to get | | | | When we first started our home catering |
| hectic when your customer base reaches | | | | business we just used whatever we had in |
| twenty. Then, it's like cooking for a | | | | our kitchen with a healthy dose of |
| small army everyday! | | | | ingenuity! We DID spend about fifty |
| Bake to Order | | | | dollars on flyers but that was it. |
| Everybody knows there's nothing like | | | | However, when your business starts to |
| home-baked apple pie, cookies and fruit | | | | grow and your profits start to roll in, |
| cake. If you're really good at baking, | | | | you WILL need to invest in equipment to |
| then you could spread the word that you | | | | increase efficiency and productivity. |
| bake anything to order. Your customers | | | | Before our home based catering business, |
| will need to order in advance (time | | | | we were a one-refrigerator family. Six |
| frame would be up to you) so that you | | | | months down the road, we were a 2 |
| can prepare and time your baking to your | | | | refrigerator, 3-freezer family - and we |
| customers' agreed pick-up appointment. | | | | haven't even begun to include fryers, |
| Party Catering | | | | ovens and stoves. And yes... we now buy |
| Catering for small parties is a simple | | | | stuff like sauces, eggs and flour by the |
| yet profitable money maker you can do | | | | crates! |
| part-time. You do need a more | | | | The secret to making money with these |
| comprehensive menu for this, but you'll | | | | ideas |
| find most people tend to stick to | | | | The secret to finding success with these |
| favorites like fried chicken, | | | | ideas is simple - persistence and |
| sandwiches, salads and the like. | | | | quality. You need to keep working at it. |
| Catering for children's parties is even | | | | Just as there are all sorts of people on |
| easier - burgers, hot-dogs and fries | | | | this planet, there will always be |
| will always be favorites but you'll need | | | | different taste preferences. There will |
| to be flexible to meet your customer's | | | | ALWAYS be people who like your cooking |
| budget. To market your business, you | | | | some who don't. Be encouraged by the |
| could place your calling cards on the | | | | compliments, but don't let the |
| buffet tables for guests to pick up. | | | | criticisms get to you. Keep at it long |
| Since most of your business will | | | | enough and your customer base WILL grow. |
| probably be during the weekends, you | | | | Of course, being persistent means |
| could get your family to pitch in and | | | | nothing if you don't maintain a high |
| help out with the preparation. Most | | | | standard of quality. Nothing will kill |
| caterers request a fifty percent payment | | | | your reputation faster than inferior |
| upon confirmation of order and the other | | | | quality or dirty food. Everybody needs |
| fifty upon delivery of the food, so you | | | | to eat and a home based food business |
| don't need to fork out any of your own | | | | will always make you a nice sum of |
| funds to cover your costs. | | | | money! |
| Specialty Baker | | | | Don't be afraid to give these ideas a |
| This is a good money making idea for the | | | | try. You don't need to know a thousand |
| expert baker who knows how to bake cakes | | | | ways to make money with your cooking. |
| of different shapes and designs - | | | | You just need ONE good recipe... cheers! |
| anything from racing cars to Pokemon to | | | | |