Last year, I shared how my first year baking bread from home brought in $36,000. In my second year running my home-based microbakery (2024), porch pickups alone brought in $61,000.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!Going from a single-income household to this was life-changing.
When I first started selling sourdough, I thought, If I could only cover groceries, it would be such a help to our family. Then when I passed that, I thought, If I could make a modest full-time income, it would change everything.
As my confidence and capacity grew, so did my vision. I knew in my heart I wanted to be home full time with my babies, so working outside the home wasn’t an option, no matter how tight money got.
In one year of hard work and intentionality, I built a modest full-time income from my kitchen table. I never thought this was possible for me. And now I want every girl, woman, mother, and grandmother to know: what you can do with your hands, the ideas you carry, the way you can provide… it’s more than you probably imagine right now. The small, quiet skills you have can grow into something you never dreamed. You are capable of more than you know!
How I Built My Microbakery Customer Base
Most businesses take time to build a steady customer base. My first year running my microbakery was heavy on marketing. My second year was steadier! Word-of-mouth started working for me, and customers began bringing their friends and family.
Here’s exactly how I marketed my home bakery:
Facebook Marketplace
Some of my very first bread orders came from Marketplace posts. Free, and easy! I made sure to use good quality photos (this does most of the marketing for you), I’d drop my Hotplate ordering link into the listing, and it brought in consistent traffic.
Tip: use a food photography backdrop and natural lighting near a window!
Free Loaf Giveaway
One afternoon, I pulled a wagon around the neighborhood with 40 free loaves. People still talk about it, and order because of it. (Here’s the video.) Was it a big giveaway? Yes. Was it intimidating? Yes. Did it work? Absolutely.
$10 Bakery Gift Card for First Orders
It’s generous, but it works. About 75% of customers who receive it place a second order. (Example below.)
Social Media + Location Tagging
Documenting my bakery journey and tagging my city in every post made it easy for locals to find me. Social media is still my #1 source for new customers. People don’t just order bread… They want to be part of the story I am telling!
Investing in the right tools made a big difference. Here are two tripods I reach for:
- Tripod A: Great for vertical and overhead shots, but it does take up more space.
- Tripod B: My go-to for most filming. It’s compact, easy to carry, and ideal for vertical shots (just not exact overheads).
My 2024 Microbakery Income
- Porch pickup revenue: $61,000
- 2023 comparison: $9,000
- Net income after expenses: about $30,000
(I run all my porch pickups through Hotplate—a text-based ordering system that sells you out without all the back-and-forth.)
The Game-Changer: Hiring Help
I put about 20% of my revenue toward a baking assistant. They took over things like making cookie dough, dividing and weighing dough at shaping time, packaging the baked goods, and (biggest of all) cleaning.
It cut about 10 hours off (altogether) my prep and bake days each week. That time meant I could focus on my customers, keep up with marketing, and make sure the microbakery could run long-term. It also meant more rest and more time to actually be present with my family, which is my #1 priority anyway!
Menu Inspiration for Your Microbakery
I have found that a consistent menu keeps people coming back, while seasonal specials keep it exciting.
Core Breads: sourdough boules, sandwich loaves
Sweet Bakes: cookies, cookie dough, scones
Additions: pizza dough, pizza crusts, compound butters
Seasonal Specials: pumpkin bread, hot cross buns, seasonal focaccias, cinnamon rolls, specialty boules, pull-apart breads
Remember, every region has different cottage food laws, so make sure to double check what you’re allowed to sell.
Tools I Use for Bulk Baking
If you’re running porch pickups or baking in volume, the right tools matter. My favorite dough tubs, proofing baskets, trays, and more are linked in my Amazon Storefront – these are the exact tools I use every bake day in my microbakery.
One item that stands out as a true game changer is my kitchen scale.
What’s Next for 2025
Workshops have made a comeback! This is an incredible stream of revenue for cottage bakers. If you’ve ever wanted to host your own, my Workshop Masterclass walks you through everything I’ve learned – pricing, planning, how to actually teach a class, marketing, printable guides and resources… nearly 400 bakers have enrolled, and I’d love for you to join, too!
You can use code BREADFRIEND for a discount.
The Takeaway
Going from $9K to $61K in porch pickup bread sales in one year came down to consistent marketing and building trust with my customers.
Start small. Bake one loaf. Then another. Let it grow. Scale back if you need to (I have, many times).
Resources I Use & Love:
- Hotplate – for porch pickups
- Amazon Storefront – bulk baking tools I use every week
- Workshop Masterclass
Happy Baking!
Sarah Grunewald
