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Where can I gain experience running a small cafe or bakery?
Want to know how to run a small cafe or bakery, wondering what specific skills are useful in this field.
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9 answers
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Dr’s Answer
Alright, Jumah, happy to see you're back at it again! You want to know where to gain experience running a small café or bakery, that shows You’re basically asking, “How do I become a caffeine-and-carb overlord?”—which is a noble pursuit. I am gonna share with you a few advices from my colleague who runs a small Cafe with sneaky backdoor hacks which I hope to help get you where you need to be.
1. The Traditional “Work Your Way Up” Path.
If you want to run a bakery or café, the best way to learn is by doing—preferably while getting paid. Here’s how:
... Get a job at a café/bakery – Start as a barista, cashier, or bakery assistant. Yes, even if you plan to own one, you need to understand how they actually run.
... Intern or apprentice – Some bakeries offer hands-on training if you ask nicely (or bribe them with free pastries from your home experiments).
.... Shadow a manager – If you’re already working in the industry, ask your boss if you can learn some management skills, like ordering supplies, budgeting, or dealing with Karen-esque customers.
.....Temp work & seasonal gigs – Holiday seasons mean bakeries and cafés need extra hands. They get help, you get experience. Win-win.
2. The DIY “Fake It ‘Til You Make It” Path 😎
Maybe you don’t want to work for someone else (understandable, corporate overlords aren’t for everyone). So instead!
... Start baking or brewing at home – Sell your creations to friends, family, and local pop-up markets. Treat your kitchen like a test lab.
.... Run a pop-up café – Rent a small space for a weekend and test your concept before committing to a full business.
... Farmers' markets & local events – These are goldmines for gaining experience without the overhead costs of a full café.
....Offer catering for small events – Build your reputation by supplying baked goods or coffee for meetings, parties, and networking events.
3. The Academic “Let’s Get Some Book Smarts” ofcourse.
... Take business and hospitality courses – You don’t need a full degree, but learning about inventory, pricing, and marketing will save you from financial heartbreak.
... Enroll in culinary school – If you’re hardcore about the baking side, a pastry or barista certification could help.
... Watch YouTube & online courses – You’d be shocked at how much free information is out there. MasterClass, Skillshare, Coursera, and even TikTok can turn you into a bakery ninja.
.... Join a mentorship program – Organizations like SCORE (www.score.org) offer free business advice from successful entrepreneurs.
4. System!
.... Network like a caffeine-fueled extrovert – Go to industry meetups, chat with café owners, and get insider knowledge. Sometimes, they’ll even let you shadow them.
.... Find a business partner – Maybe you’re great at baking but suck at finances. Team up with someone who balances your weaknesses.
.... Leverage social media – Document your baking/café journey online. You might attract customers before you even open a business.
.... Freelance as a café consultant – Learn everything, then help other small cafés optimize their operations while you build your own dream.
Jumah, Be ready to work long hours – Owning a café is like having a child that never grows up and keeps demanding more sugar.
Master the art of customer service – People come for coffee but stay for the vibes. Happy customers = returning customers.
Start small, dream big – Don’t go broke on day one. Test, learn, adapt.
Have fun with it! – The best cafés and bakeries have personality. Make yours an experience people remember.
Now go out there, Jumah, and build your empire—one latte and croissant at a time. And when you open, I expect an invitation 😉. All the best mate! 🤗
1. The Traditional “Work Your Way Up” Path.
If you want to run a bakery or café, the best way to learn is by doing—preferably while getting paid. Here’s how:
... Get a job at a café/bakery – Start as a barista, cashier, or bakery assistant. Yes, even if you plan to own one, you need to understand how they actually run.
... Intern or apprentice – Some bakeries offer hands-on training if you ask nicely (or bribe them with free pastries from your home experiments).
.... Shadow a manager – If you’re already working in the industry, ask your boss if you can learn some management skills, like ordering supplies, budgeting, or dealing with Karen-esque customers.
.....Temp work & seasonal gigs – Holiday seasons mean bakeries and cafés need extra hands. They get help, you get experience. Win-win.
2. The DIY “Fake It ‘Til You Make It” Path 😎
Maybe you don’t want to work for someone else (understandable, corporate overlords aren’t for everyone). So instead!
... Start baking or brewing at home – Sell your creations to friends, family, and local pop-up markets. Treat your kitchen like a test lab.
.... Run a pop-up café – Rent a small space for a weekend and test your concept before committing to a full business.
... Farmers' markets & local events – These are goldmines for gaining experience without the overhead costs of a full café.
....Offer catering for small events – Build your reputation by supplying baked goods or coffee for meetings, parties, and networking events.
3. The Academic “Let’s Get Some Book Smarts” ofcourse.
... Take business and hospitality courses – You don’t need a full degree, but learning about inventory, pricing, and marketing will save you from financial heartbreak.
... Enroll in culinary school – If you’re hardcore about the baking side, a pastry or barista certification could help.
... Watch YouTube & online courses – You’d be shocked at how much free information is out there. MasterClass, Skillshare, Coursera, and even TikTok can turn you into a bakery ninja.
.... Join a mentorship program – Organizations like SCORE (www.score.org) offer free business advice from successful entrepreneurs.
4. System!
.... Network like a caffeine-fueled extrovert – Go to industry meetups, chat with café owners, and get insider knowledge. Sometimes, they’ll even let you shadow them.
.... Find a business partner – Maybe you’re great at baking but suck at finances. Team up with someone who balances your weaknesses.
.... Leverage social media – Document your baking/café journey online. You might attract customers before you even open a business.
.... Freelance as a café consultant – Learn everything, then help other small cafés optimize their operations while you build your own dream.
Jumah, Be ready to work long hours – Owning a café is like having a child that never grows up and keeps demanding more sugar.
Master the art of customer service – People come for coffee but stay for the vibes. Happy customers = returning customers.
Start small, dream big – Don’t go broke on day one. Test, learn, adapt.
Have fun with it! – The best cafés and bakeries have personality. Make yours an experience people remember.
Now go out there, Jumah, and build your empire—one latte and croissant at a time. And when you open, I expect an invitation 😉. All the best mate! 🤗
Thanks, Leo Nine! You’re too kind. Let’s keep pushing the boundaries and making an impact, one thoughtful step at a time. Keep doing great things!
Dr H
Updated
Alex’s Answer
To succeed, it's important to have both practical and educational experiences. Start by working at a busy bakery, even if it's in a grocery store. This will give you essential skills that you'll always remember. If you're in culinary school, this experience is still valuable. Next, work at the small shop you dream of owning. Discover what makes it unique and be clear about your goals there. Aim to learn about management and to understand the financial side of things. Your personal touch will attract customers, and your knowledge will help you stay profitable. It's a challenging field, but you can definitely succeed. Good luck!
Updated
Bright’s Answer
Gaining hands-on experience in the cafe and bakery industry can be achieved through various methods, including working in cafes and bakeries, interning in culinary or business programs, volunteering at community kitchens or food-related events, taking online courses and workshops, practicing at home, and developing essential skills such as customer service, food and beverage preparation, business skills, teamwork and communication, time management and organization, and adaptability and problem-solving.
Working in cafes and bakeries can provide valuable experience in entry-level positions such as barista, bakery assistant, and cashier/front-of-house. Internships can be offered by some cafes and bakeries, while volunteering at community kitchens or food-related events can provide some experience in food handling and customer service. Online courses can teach fundamentals such as food safety, sanitation, coffee brewing, latte art, baking and pastry techniques, and business management.
Home practice can also be beneficial, as it allows for experimentation with recipes and techniques. Essential skills include customer service, food and beverage preparation, business skills, teamwork and communication, time management and organization, and adaptability and problem-solving.
Key advice for a successful career in the cafe and bakery industry is to be proactive, learn from experienced staff, focus on customer satisfaction, be prepared for hard work, and network with industry professionals. By combining hands-on experience with continuous learning, a strong foundation can be built for a successful career in the cafe and bakery industry.
Working in cafes and bakeries can provide valuable experience in entry-level positions such as barista, bakery assistant, and cashier/front-of-house. Internships can be offered by some cafes and bakeries, while volunteering at community kitchens or food-related events can provide some experience in food handling and customer service. Online courses can teach fundamentals such as food safety, sanitation, coffee brewing, latte art, baking and pastry techniques, and business management.
Home practice can also be beneficial, as it allows for experimentation with recipes and techniques. Essential skills include customer service, food and beverage preparation, business skills, teamwork and communication, time management and organization, and adaptability and problem-solving.
Key advice for a successful career in the cafe and bakery industry is to be proactive, learn from experienced staff, focus on customer satisfaction, be prepared for hard work, and network with industry professionals. By combining hands-on experience with continuous learning, a strong foundation can be built for a successful career in the cafe and bakery industry.
Updated
Chef Veena’s Answer
First, go around your neighborhood bakeries and see if you can get a job or an internship. Meanwhile, learn about how to run a business from You tube. There are several free resources you can look up and learn. Believe, knowing about finances is very vital to run any kind of business. Think of a catchy company name and register your company with the state. Apply for an EIN number. Build a website, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok page for your business. Then, you look for a affordable rental kitchen/ Commissary kitchen to start baking. Start baking and start selling in the local Farmer's markets so get your name out and start a following for your own.
Good luck and best wishes!
Good luck and best wishes!
Updated
Tony’s Answer
You should first learn how to do all of the jobs (hourly positions) before trying to get into a Management position. Having the knowledge about all job functions will make you a more effective Manager or Leader. Start at the bottom, being a Busser, Food Runner, Host or other position. Then get promoted to a Supervisor and learn in the 'real world' how to Manage and Lead people. Also, there are various organizations (Boys & Girls Clubs of America, etc.) that offer programs in the Culinary Arts.
cliff wener
Consultant, trainer, mentor food processing, entrepreneurship, hospitality managment
1
Answer
Updated
cliff’s Answer
Where are you living now? refer to www.score.org. USA government department that has mostly free resources for small / startup businesses.
You must have: Human Resources skills, marketing skills, accounting and financing skills.
You must have: Human Resources skills, marketing skills, accounting and financing skills.
Updated
Muhammad’s Answer
If you want to gain experience running a small café or bakery, start by clarifying your focus. Do you want to specialize in baking, café operations, or both? Next, determine whether you need management skills (such as budgeting, marketing, and customer service) or kitchen skills (such as baking techniques, menu planning, and food safety). Once you've identified your goals, consider enrolling in a culinary or hospitality school that offers relevant training. Finally, gain hands-on experience by working as a trainee or apprentice in a local café or bakery. This will help you understand real-world challenges and develop the skills needed to run your own business successfully.
Updated
Jason’s Answer
Hay Jumah, Your question is simple but the task of running or owning a cafe is very complicated. You need to have a lot of tools in your box because a cafe encompasses a lot of different skills and RealWorld experiences to operate.. Think of it as owning a big restaurant but with limited space and very few workers. You first have to think about location, expenses, rent, menu, staffing, storage, purveys, decor and more. You're going to have to be a chef, pastry chef, tenant, business man, boss, financial management, a very personable and customer friendly and a jack of all trades. I am not trying to make it sound impossible but it can be done with the right attitude and support from people around you. Most small cafes have a special Nitch in the Neiborhood and so if you have a great idea with interesting menu then everything will fall into place. Get as much experience in all the areas that you think you need and always ask and take advice from people you know and trust. It's not going to be easy but with your determination I am sure you can do it. Good luck and always smile for customers and they will come back.
Updated
Paul’s Answer
First you need to want to bake and or cook. Then if no school is available seek out bakeries that will help train you.