Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy

Available Episodes

5 of 55

From Solo to Staffed: Tips For Hiring Bakery Employees [Listener Question]
Episode Description:Thank you to Margaret for submitting a question for this week's episode!In today’s episode, Meg tackles one of the biggest (and scariest) growth decisions bakery owners face—how do you know when it’s time to hire? If you’ve ever found yourself stretched thin but nervous to bring on staff before the revenue follows, this episode is for you.Key Takeaways:How to spot the signs that you're outgrowing your current role—and what that means for your business.Why it's sometimes normal to take a short-term financial hit when you're scaling—but how to do it wisely.How your break-even number can be your best friend when making hiring decisions.Simple ways to start systematizing your bakery now, so you're not scrambling when you do hire.Real talk from Meg and Molly’s own hiring journey—including what worked, what didn’t, and what they learned the hard way.Resources Mentioned:🎧 Break-Even Number Episode – Learn how to calculate your break-even point and use it to guide smart financial decisions.📓 Tech Stack Episode – Learn about tools that help scale your business and support your team.📝 Delegating To Your Team Episode - Setting up your new employees for success & getting comfortable delegating important tasks as a small business owner📘 Bakery Finance Essentials Course – Our flagship program to help you run a financially strong bakery (includes hiring calculators and templates).Join the Conversation:Got a question you’d like Meg to answer on the show? Send it in or join our free Facebook group to connect with other bakery owners and get support.
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13:44
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13:44
Trends + Truths: What 2025 Is Teaching Us in the Bakery Business
We're halfway through 2025—and wow, what a year it's been! In this episode, I'm pulling back the curtain on the trends and patterns I'm noticing in the baking industry. From price sensitivity to labor market challenges, catering wins to AI tools—we're covering what's shifting and, more importantly, what’s actually working right now. Whether you're "feeling the pressure" or simply want to stay ahead of the curve, this one’s for you!🔑 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Why customer price sensitivity is rising—and how to adapt without racing to the bottomWhat’s helping us navigate high turnover, especially in entry-level rolesHow catering is boosting revenue (it’s easier than you think to get started)Creative ways to bring people into your shop through events and promosThe power of holiday planning and systemizationQuick-hit trends in subscriptions, co-packed goods, and low-lift, bakery-friendly AI tools📌 Resources & Mentions:Learn More about Bakery Business AcademyEpisode: Prepping For The Holidays: The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year!Episode: How Chickadee Bakeshop Built A Sustainable & Profitable Subscription-Based Bakery BusinessJoin our Facebook Group to keep the conversation going
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15:30
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15:30
The Tech Tools That Power Our 7-Figure Bakery Business
Ever wonder how a small bakery team can consistently generate over $1 million a year in revenue—without burning out? In this behind-the-scenes episode, Meg shares the exact tech tools that help her and co-owner Molly run a lean, efficient, and profitable bakery operation. From point-of-sale systems to payroll, email marketing to order automation, you’ll get a peek into the tools that power their bakery’s success—and learn how to start streamlining your own business, one smart upgrade at a time!Key Takeaways:The full tech stack we use to run our bakery on part-time hoursHow automation helps us reduce admin work and increase efficiencySpecific tools for POS, accounting, marketing, payroll, timekeeping, and moreWhere to start if you’re overwhelmed and want to implement just one changeWhy choosing the right tools (not the most expensive ones) can be a game-changerResources Mentioned in This Episode:ShopifyZapietSeal SubscriptionsOrder PrinterA2X for ShopifyMailchimpQuickBooks OnlineBill.comGusto7ShiftsGoogle WorkspaceZapierAsanaZoomLastPassLinktreeJoin the Conversation: Got a favorite tool of your own? Want help figuring out what systems to implement first? Join our free Bakery Business Academy Facebook Group or reach out via email—I'd love to hear from you!
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22:18
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22:18
Leading Indicators - A Simple Weekly Scorecard to Keep Your Bakery Profitable and On Track
If you've ever pulled your sales report and thought, "We did okay this week... I guess?" — this episode is for you.In today’s solo episode, Meg walks you through a simple but powerful tool to help you track what’s really going on in your bakery — without fancy software or a finance degree.We’re talking about the Leading Indicator Scorecard — a weekly habit that gives you more clarity, more control, and fewer surprises at the end of the month. You’ll learn how to identify the metrics that matter most (beyond just sales), so you can catch issues early, spot new opportunities, and build toward your goals with more confidence.Whether you’re just starting out or looking to get more strategic with your numbers, this episode offers an easy first step.In this episode, you'll learn:The difference between leading indicators and lagging indicators, and why it matters for your bakerySimple weekly data points that can tell you whether you’re trending in the right directionMeg’s step-by-step advice for building your own scorecard using tools you probably already haveHow to use your numbers to make more informed decisions around staffing, production, marketing, and moreInfo on how to start a repeatable, low-lift habit that helps you stay focused and in control of your business performanceEpisode Resources:KPI Tracking Episode (Throwback!) Book Mentioned: Traction by Gino Wickman POS Systems Mentioned:Square for RetailShopify Hotplate (I kept calling this tool "Hotjar" in the episode ... Hotjar is a different software tool ... the POS system is called Hotplate!)
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23:10
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23:10
Break-Even or Bust: The #1 Number Every Bakery Owner Needs to Know
Episode Summary:In this episode, we’re breaking down one of the most important—yet overlooked—numbers in bakery business success: your break-even point. Whether you’re feeling stuck, wondering if you can keep your doors open, or just want to make smarter decisions for your bakery’s future, understanding your break-even number is the first step. On this episode, Meg shares why “busy” doesn’t always mean “profitable” and a simple, actionable method to calculate your break-even—even if you’re not a “numbers person.” She also shares real-life stories from Spilt Milk and other bakeries, and practical tips you can use right away to start running your business with clarity and confidence.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why so many bakery owners struggle with making ends meet, even when sales seem strongThe difference between “busy” and “profitable”—and why it mattersWhat the break-even number is, and why it should be your business’s North StarHow to quickly calculate your own break-even (with simple examples)Common pitfalls to avoid when doing these important calculationsTips for estimating monthly sales if you’re brand new or have seasonal swings in your revenue numbersHow your break-even number can guide decisions on hiring, pricing, and growthWhy monitoring your numbers regularly is absolutely key to staying profitable******************************Did you enjoy this episode? If so, we'd be very grateful if you'd leave us a rating or review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify!Have a question or topic you want covered on a future episode? Send me a message—I loves hearing from you!
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30:10