Does anyone know if you have to have a degree to open your own bakery/catering service?
Asked by Rose S
I would love to open my own bakery/catering service in the small town I live in. There are no bakeries and no catering services here. Can anyone please help me on this.

Best Answer:
You don't have to have a degree to open a business, period (though some professions do require a degree and professional certification/licensing in order to -do- business.) However, it does come in handy if you're trying to borrow any money to get started. Small business loans are notorious for default, so bankers tend to make a lot of demands. On the other hand, it's maybe not the best idea to go out and borrow a ton of money to start up something new. Why don't you put together a small business plan to do catering for small events and try doing that for friends and family. If you enjoy it and you can see it's a viable business, then you could move forward on a larger scale. You'd also have experience to list on your loan applications.

You don't need to have any qualifications to be a baker or caterer if it's your own business. Some sort of certification may help getting you loans, etc. But in that business they wouldn't change much.
Answered by Joe

no, i have opened a restaurant with catering and i do not have a degree. however, i did take some home study courses on my own
Answered by treasabrown1957

yes honey you really do not need a degree, When i was 16 years old, my parents wanted me to get expereice in my own business, Soo i told them i wanted a donut and coffee shop, Well they rented a shop on a boardwalk in N.J. and I asked our local donut person to help me, she did, and I Ran that shopfor 4 years She baked the donuts, and I sold over 24 dozen donuts a day, And a friend who lived in connecticut made over 10 sanwhiches from a deli and some baked goods, and took her car around to truckers and she ended up catering to truckers, but you do need permit, and you need rent money You and your parents or someone that you trust, haved to go to a strip mall, then ask some of the business in there who do they rent the stores off of, then whoever they tell you, then, get a hold of them, But have a degree no, not for that,
Answered by trudycaulfield

No you do not have to college to open your own business, but I suggest going to the local college or chamber of commence and find a class on writing a business plan. I know you can buy packets off the Internet on writing a successful business plan. This will very helpful if you need to borrow money from a lending institution, but will help you understand some of the hidden costs of running a bakery/catering service. Catering is a business you can make a lot of money, but you have to be moble and carry a large inventoery of equipment.
Answered by rtichare

You probably just need a business license.
Answered by Sharon S