Patisserie shopfront with in-house baking

Local walk-in customers, office workers, people ordering celebration cakes and cafes or caterers buying wholesale.

Counter sales of individual pastries, cakes and drinks, plus higher-value custom cakes, event orders and some wholesale.

• Professional pastry training or experience
• Managing stock, costs and waste
• Customer service
• Early-morning production planning

• Food premises registration and fit-out requirements are set by your council and state, so check before signing a lease
• Food safety supervisor requirements, check your state rules
• Lease terms and fit-out costs, which can be a big part of startup spending
• Workers compensation insurance once you hire staff
• Long early starts and unsold stock at the end of the day
• Public liability and product liability insurance

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $40,000 to $160,000, depending on your premises, lease terms and fit-out. Fit-out can be a big part of spending, so check lease terms carefully before you sign.

Food premises registration and fit-out requirements are set by your council and state, so check before signing a lease. Also check food safety supervisor requirements in your state, and arrange public liability, product liability and workers compensation insurance.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue is typically around $10,000 to $50,000, depending on your location, range and trade customers. Plan for at least about 40 hours a week. Early starts are common, and unsold stock at day's end can add to costs.