Thinking of turning your baking passion into a small business? Starting a bakebox business from home is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to earn extra income. From birthday treat boxes to themed bakes for special occasions, the UK has a growing appetite for home-based bakers.
In this guide, we’ll show you:
- How to legally start your bakebox business in the UK
- What equipment and setup you’ll need
- How to price and promote your bakes
- How to use the Find A Treat app to attract more local customers
1. What is a Bakebox Business?
A bakebox business is a home bakery offering beautifully packaged boxes of sweet or savoury treats for delivery or collection. Think brownies, cookies, cupcakes, traybakes, and seasonal goodies.
Many successful UK bakebox brands started from their kitchen tables. With the right tools and support, so can you.
2. How to Start Your Bakebox Business (Step by Step)
Step 1: Register Your Business
- Register as self-employed with HMRC.
- Notify your local authority at least 28 days before you begin trading.
- Complete a Level 2 Food Hygiene Certificate (usually £15–£30 online).
- Check if you need public liability insurance and permission from your landlord or mortgage provider.
Step 2: Set Up Your Kitchen
- Keep your workspace clean, separate from household food prep.
- Invest in essential tools: baking tins, mixers, packaging supplies.
- Use airtight containers to store ingredients safely.
Step 3: Build a Bakebox Menu
- Pick your best bakes and test them.
- Price carefully: factor in ingredients, time, packaging, and delivery costs.
- Offer seasonal specials or themed boxes (e.g. birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s).
Step 4: Promote Your Business
- Use Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to show off your creations.
- Collaborate with local businesses or markets.
- Create a free listing on the Find A Treat app to appear on our UK-wide map of treats!
3. Get More Customers with the Find A Treat App
Find A Treat is a free app that helps people discover local treats, like you!
- 🍪 List your bakebox business for free
- 📍 Show up on the map when people search for bakes near them
- 🔔 Send pings to alert nearby users when you’ve got boxes ready to go
- ❤️ Build a following and get shoutouts across our TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook pages
Already over 7,000 customers are using the app to find treats. Let them find yours.
4. Why Now is the Perfect Time to Start
- Low startup costs
- Flexible hours from home
- Huge demand for local, handmade bakes
- Growing support communities of home bakers across the UK
Get Started Today
Ready to launch your bakebox brand? Download the Find A Treat app and register your business today. Then follow our steps above to start serving up treats that customers will love and can actually find.