Hi, I'm Michelle, the founder of Bakery Business School
Before the bakery, the million cupcake milestone and a successful wedding business, there was a stressed out litigator who argued for a living.
I spent my days in boring depositions and month long trials. I went to work early in the morning and returned late at night, missing a lot of important events in my three kids' lives. In that world, clients and trials took precedence over everything. Even though I was an expert at what I did, I felt boxed in, burnt out and uninspired. I didn't hate it, I just had done it enough.
I longed to do something creative. I wanted to spend more time with my family. I dreamed of living an inspired life, owning a food business and looking forward to each day.
I Started a Bakery. . .
I grew up in a small farming town and was raised by an Italian grandma who had me rolling pie crust on the counter before I learned to walk. I made my kids all their birthday cakes. I entertained just so I could bake dessert for a crowd. I obsessed over recipes and the Food Network. My sister and I decided to start a hobby baking together. We thought we'd just bake some cupcakes and sell them at the farmer's market. Then brides started to ask us to cater weddings. Then we decided to do more markets and events. Finally, we made a decision to go all in.
The Next Thing We Knew. . .
We Built a Shop
We made a lot of mistakes. We had never owned a bakery and we didn't have any bakery business mentors. We didn't know what we were doing. We didn't have a plan. But we had a desire to build a business and have fun doing it.
Then one night I realized I wasn't having fun.
On top of feeling like I was failing, I was starting to get burnt out too. But on this night, right before I was supposed to be leaving on vacation the next day, I realized I couldn't go because of work. That's when I realized that my systems and processes were wrong. Despite all the hours I worked, all the orders we had, the team we built, and all the passion that went into the business, it wasn't enough. The profit was small and the work hours were insane.
This is the truth of not having the right recipe for bakery business success.
Every business has a secret recipe. Since I didn't have one for a successful baking business, I decided to create it myself.
So I Did What I Should Have Done Before We Started the Business
- I got a business mentor, and
- I learned how to build a successful bakery business - then
- I fixed the problems that were holding us back from growth.
What happened When I Did That?
- The business had the right foundation
- I ran the business better
- The business grew
- I created the correct systems so the business ran even when I wasn't there
- The business made more money
- I made more money
- I spent more time with my family
- I got to do more of what I loved to do, meaning I had more fun
I Created a Recipe for Bakery Business Success
After I figured out the secret to bakery business success, I turned it into a recipe I could teach to others.
There are NINE ingredients in my recipe and if you follow it you won't just have a successful business, you will also have the life you desire. Because it's not enough to just be good at baking to have a successful business. It's also not fulfilling to have a business that doesn't pay you what you want to earn. There's no point leaving your 9 to 5 just to end up burnt out and broke---the whole reason you start a business is to get out of that awful cycle.
But wait, there's more!
Learn E-Commerce
Learn all about creating a shippable product and how to reach customers nationwide!
Learn the Wedding Business
Become a wedding vendor and learn how to expand your bakery into new revenue streams!
Learn General Business
Learn to gain raving fans for your business. Learn top notch customer service skills. Learn branding. We have classes for all of this, and the best news is they will apply to any business you start!
Why I Created
The Bakery Business School
After years of building and running a successful bakery business, I went back to my legal roots to consult for small business owners. I was sought out by food business owners specifically because I get what they go through. Then one day I heard something about extending the ladder to the new generation of female entrepreneurs.
I can do that.
I have been a lawyer for 25 years and the owner of a bakery for ten years. There are few mentors in the bakery industry who have my experience to help the new generation of bakery owners. I am passionate about giving useful advice that helps people change their lives.
Most importantly, I teach what I know.
I teach what I have personally done to build a successful bakery business. I advise about the legal business stuff. I give the nitty gritty details on everything about building and owning a business including my secret formulas for:
- winning raving fans
- being a good leader
- creating your story
- the bakery business success recipe
Also, all my legal documents and templates I have created specifically for people in the baking and events industries are uploaded for easy purchase in the Bakery Biz Docs Shop saving you hundreds if not thousands of dollars on hiring an attorney or HR consultant.
A little more about me
I married my high school sweetheart
I'm a mom to three young adults and two golden retrievers
I love to cook, travel and make homemade cocktails
I was a trial lawyer for 20 years and owned my own litigation defense firm where I was the managing attorney
I decided life is short and left to build my bakery and become an entrepreneur, not because I hated it but because it was time to do something different
I built a solo legal consulting practice helping small business owners. I've been business coaching since 2018.
My sister and I sing Kenny, Dolly and the Dixie Chicks on repeat while baking together.
Are You Ready?
If you're here then I know it's because you are looking for answers. I want to encourage you to take the leap into Bakery Business School---I know it will pay off for you. Although you don't yet know me, I want to help.
You'll learn how to set up your business in the right way and get ready for growth. You'll learn to do what you love while not struggling so much. You'll learn how to prevent burnout and create more time to do the things you love---which is why you wanted to start a business. You'll be encouraged to take bold action to live the life of your dreams. But most of all, you'll learn the secrets to creating profit so you can make more money.