Solar Oven Bakery

When people think of bakeries, they think of soft pillowy mounds of melt in your mouth breads, gooey cakes and beautifully decorated cookies. They do not often think of the type of energy that goes into baking those creations. However, many bakery owners have thought about the type of energy and many of them are unable or unwilling to remain in business with the rising costs of their fuel sources. For many, turning to solar ovens was not only the most eco-conscious thing to do, it was the only thing keeping them from closing their doors for good. Running a solar oven bakery is not that much different from running any other type of bakery because in the end, it's all about the cookies.

What skills do I need to run this type of business?

A bakery manager or owner is typically a baker as well, so baking should be a basic skill to start with. You should also have some business management skills. Having knowledge about how a solar oven and solar panels works is crucial as well.

What licenses and permits do I need?

To make and serve food in most areas of the country, you have to have a food vendor's license. In addition, many locations require a secondary, business permit as well. You may also need to have your business inspected and certified as green if you plan to advertise that, although you can mention your solar oven without green certification in most cases.

Who are the biggest competitors?

Other bakeries, whether they are green or not will be competing for business with you as will the in store bakery of the major grocery stores. Other sources of competition will be the mass produced bakery goods usually found in convenience stores, gas stations and in the grocery stores.

Who is the targeted audience?

Your target audience will have three major components: those who are coming because they prefer higher quality baked goods, those who are there because they prefer a more eco-conscious business and those who are there because they are curious. With all three, the quality of your products is a make or break- so make sure that they walk out clutching tasty treats that will have them back again and again.

What is the best location for this business?

Any area that does not already have several bakeries in place (outside of the in store bakeries) or is not located near a major bread baker or snack cake company (the prices will kill you in the open market). A location with a lot of older adults would be ideal because they are more likely to want to have good quality, freshly baked breads and cakes.

Green Entrepreneurship Resources
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• *Starting Green: An Ecopreneur's Guide to Starting a Green Business from Business Plans to Profits