Kitchen Notes: A Podcast by Bakery Business Academy

Meg Svec
  • 5.0 (29)
  • FOOD
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

A show for bakers and food entrepreneurs who want to build profitable bakery businesses that make an impact in their communities.

  1. 2D AGO

    Stop Waiting Until It's Perfect — Start Selling Now!

    If you've been spending more time on your logo than on actually selling your baked goods … this episode is for you.  Today, we’re getting real about the "overengineering" trap that keeps so many bakers stuck before they ever make their first sale — and I’ll be sharing exactly where your energy needs to go instead (especially in those early days). Key Takeaways: Your brand colors, website, and Instagram aesthetic aren't what's going to make your bakery profitable The story of how Spilt Milk went from a scrappy farmers market table to a seven-figure business — and what we didn't spend money on along the wayThe three things every baker should focus on before worrying about branding or polishWhy getting in front of real customers early is the most valuable market research you'll ever doResources + Links: Recipe Costing Essentials - our beginner-friendly recipe costing system that’ll have you accurately & easily costing your recipes in an afternoonFree Bakery Profit Audit — a 15-minute financial check-in for bakery owners: [Link in show notes]New York Times article on successful home baking businessesGot a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.comJoin our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation

    25 min

  2. FEB 27

    Why Your Bakery Feels Busy, But You're Still Broke: A Simple Bakery Profit Audit

    Episode Show Notes: Are you actually profitable in your bakery business — or just busy? In this episode, I’m walking you through a simple 15-minute Bakery Profit Audit designed to help you stop guessing about your numbers. If you’ve ever felt exhausted, fully booked, and somehow still unsure whether you’re truly making money… this one’s for you. We’ll talk about why “busy” doesn’t automatically mean “profitable,” the hard lessons I learned scaling wholesale, and the four financial checks every bakery owner should be able to answer with confidence. And yes — I’m sharing the exact framework you can use to run the numbers yourself in about 15 minutes! Key Takeaways: Why being busy is not the same thing as being profitable (and how that mistake nearly cost us big)The 4 simple financial checks that reveal what’s really going on in your businessSubsidizing your bakery’s bottom line with your own unpaid labor makes your bakery look more profitable on paper than it truly isAvoiding your numbers prevents progress in your bakery businessHow to stop treating tax season like the only time you look at your P&LA free 15-minute tool you can use to audit your profitability today Resources + Links: Download the free Bakery Profit Audit and work through the framework yourself. It’s a quick financial checkup designed to help you answer one powerful question:Got a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.comJoin our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I’d be very grateful if you'd leave 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 love hearing from you!

    29 min

  3. FEB 12

    Want to Make More Money this Year? Don’t “Brick” Your Customers

    You’ve dialed in your pricing. You’ve built your budget. You understand your labor and food costs. Now what? If you’re trying to grow your bakery this year — more weddings, more catering, more foot traffic, more wholesale — your online presence can’t afford to be a brick. In this episode, we're breaking down one of the most overlooked revenue leaks in small bakery businesses - and it's not an ugly website, haphazard social media strategy, or even rude customer service... It's a broken or unclear customer journey.  In 2026, having an online presence is no longer optional — it’s the center of your sales engine. And if customers can’t figure out what to do in the first few seconds of landing on your page…they’re gone. And someone else gets the sale. Stop "bricking" your customers this year! Key Takeaways: Why pouring gasoline on your marketing efforts should come after your bakery’s financial foundation is solidWhat “Bricking Your Customers” really is — and how it’s quietly costing your bakery thousands of dollarsWhy your online presence should be the center of your customer journey in 2026The simple 3-second rule that determines whether customers stay or bounceHow to do a super lightweight, no-cost online audit of your bakery business (no tech skills required!)Where to look first if business feels slow or inconsistent Resources + Links: Use AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude to help audit your website copy and customer journeyNeed help dialing in your financial foundation first? Check out Bakery Finance EssentialsWant help walking through your customer journey together? Email me about scheduling a personalized marketing audit for your bakery business before I go on mat leave! You can reach Meg directly at: hello@bakerybusinessacademy.comGot a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.comJoin our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I’d be very grateful if you'd leave 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 love hearing from you!

    22 min

  4. FEB 2

    From Market Tents to Milwaukee’s Best Bakery: How Amy Gorski Built an Award-Winning, Community-Focused Shop From the Ground Up

    Episode Description: In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with someone very near and dear to my heart — Amy Gorski, owner of Poppy Bakery in Milwaukee, WI, and a former kitchen manager and head baker at Spilt Milk. Amy has had one of the most intentional, inspiring, hard-won journeys to bakery ownership I’ve ever seen, and in this conversation she opens up about the decisions, discipline, and deep commitment to quality that have shaped her business. From her years of working in some of the Midwest’s most respected kitchens, to her methodical plan for gaining the skills she needed, to the realities of farmers’ market life, to launching Poppy Bakery and earning Best Bakery in Milwaukee within months — Amy shares it all. This is an episode full of honesty, heart, and so many takeaways for any baker dreaming of their next step. Key Takeaways: The mindset shift that allowed Amy to confidently move from “someday” to opening her own bakeryWhy she chose not to pursue wholesale — and how that decision transformed the consistency, quality, and guest experience at PoppyHow 14 years of working for other chefs became her greatest asset (and why she believes young bakers should avoid management too early)The surprising tough-love realities of farmers’ market life — and how those long, grueling weekends prepared her for brick-and-mortar successWhat helped Poppy Bakery grow a loyal community fast and earn city-wide recognition within months of opening Resources + Links: Poppy Bakery - Check out Milwaukee’s best new bakery!Follow Amy on InstagramGot a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.comVisit Bakery Business Academy's website for more information about our courses, programs, and private coaching with MegJoin our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation

    57 min

  5. JAN 21

    Revenue Dip? Your 5-Step "No Panic" Plan to Rebound When Sales Are Down

    If your bakery is feeling the post-holiday sales slump right now—you’re not alone. In this episode of Kitchen Notes, Meg walks through a calm, strategic 5-step plan to help you assess the dip, figure out where it's coming from, and create a realistic game plan to recover revenue without panic or burnout. Whether January is slow for you, or your dip hits in July or October, this episode will give you a framework you can return to any time the numbers feel off. Key Takeaways: Why seasonal dips are normal (and even predictable) in bakery businesses—and how to plan for themThe first number you must know before you can rebound from a sales dipHow to analyze which parts of your business are underperforming so you can stop guessingCreative, low-effort promo ideas that can help you quickly fill the revenue gapThe one action step that most bakery owners skip when they’re feeling stressed or discouraged—but that can make or break your momentumResources + Links: Bakery Finance Essentials – our self-paced online e-course course designed for bakery owners who want to get more confident with their numbersGot a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.comJoin our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I’d be very grateful if you'd leave 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 love hearing from you!

    16 min

  6. JAN 13

    The #1 Bakery Profitability Tip You’re Probably Overlooking

    Episode Description: In today’s episode, we’re answering a listener question that came up during one of our recent live workshops — and it’s one I hears all the time: What’s your top cost-saving tip for bakery owners? If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed trying to make your bakery more profitable, this episode is for you. I'm shares the real, often overlooked secret to improving your margins — and it’s not about cutting labor, finding cheaper ingredients, or slashing your rent! Whether you’re just getting your bakery off the ground or you’ve been in business for years, I hope this simple & powerful reminder helps improve the way you manage your bakery’s finances this year and beyond. Key Takeaways: Why profitability isn't about one magic fix — and what it is about insteadThe slow, sneaky “leaks” that drain your profits (and how to catch them early)A simple routine that can help you make better, faster, and easier financial decisionsHow staying close to your numbers reduces stress and increases confidenceMy practical recommendation for checking in on your finances — even if you “hate numbers” Resources Mentioned: Bakery Finance Essentials – our self-paced online e-course course designed for bakery owners who want to get more confident with their numbers🗣️ Got a question you'd like me to answer on the podcast? Email me! hello@bakerybusinessacademy.com

    17 min

  7. 12/29/2025

    Beyond Resolutions - Real Talk About Setting Intentional Bakery Goals for a Stronger 2026

    Episode Description: It’s that quiet, cozy week between the holidays and the New Year—a natural time to pause and reflect. In this episode, let's walk through a gentle (non-hustle-y!) approach to year-end reflection and business planning. Instead of racing into 2026 at full speed, I invites you to slow down, look back with honesty, and begin the new year with grounded clarity about what’s working—and what’s not. Whether 2025 was your best year ever or a bit of a blur, this episode offers a calmer, step-by-step framework to assess your numbers, your energy, and your goals—so you can move into the new year with confidence and intention. Key Takeaways: Rushing into New Year planning can backfire—here's what to do insteadThe three simple numbers to look at before setting any 2026 goalsWhy “how the year felt” is just as important as analyzing your profit margins!A practical framework to reflect on 2025 without the overwhelmAvoiding “hope and pray” planning in 2026Resources + Links: ➡️ Register for the Free 2026 Planning Workshop on January 12th ➡️ Join our Bakery Owners Facebook Group to connect with fellow bakers and continue the conversation

    19 min

  8. 11/18/2025

    Black Friday Preview: Your 2025 “5 Days of Deals” Sneak Peek

    Episode Show Notes: This week on Kitchen Notes, we’re doing something a little different — and very exciting. For the first time in years, we’re bringing our biggest sale of the year back to Black Friday Week… and today, you’re getting a behind-the-scenes preview of everything coming your way. After selling our bakery this fall, I’ve finally had the headspace to revamp, rebuild, and expand many of the tools, templates, and programs inside Bakery Business Academy. And next week, we’re rolling out a curated lineup of offers designed to help you: ✨ streamline your production ✨ understand your numbers ✨ start a bakery with clarity ✨ price for profit ✨ build stronger systems ✨ and make 2026 your most profitable, organized, sustainable bakery year yet In this episode, I walk you through how the 5 Days of Deals will work, what you can expect each day, and how to plan your week so you don’t miss the offers that support your goals. Whether you’re dreaming of opening a bakery, knee-deep in production chaos, or ready to level-up your systems and profitability — there’s something coming for you. On this week’s episode, we’re talking… What “5 Days of Deals” looks like and how to plan for itThe types of problems each daily offer is designed to solveWhat to expect in terms of pricing, timing, and availabilityWhy some offers are extremely limited (👋 maternity leave!)How to decide which deal is right for your goals, stage of business, and budgetMORE INFO: Our Black Friday Week sale starts: 🗓 Monday, Nov 24 – Friday, Nov 28 ⏰ New deal goes LIVE each morning at 6:00am CST ⏳ Each offer is available THAT DAY ONLY from 6am-midnight! 💸 Biggest discounts of the year 🎯 Tools + trainings designed for bakery owners at all stages None of the purchase links activate until the morning of each deal — but you can preview the entire week right now! 👉 Preview the full Black Friday catalog and daily schedule here: https://www.bakerybusinessacademy.com/black-friday-2025 Not sure which offer fits your goals? If you’re torn between two programs or want help choosing based on your stage of business, send me an email! I’m happy to help you pick the best fit. ****************************** Did you enjoy this episode? If so, I’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 love hearing from you!

    18 min
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A show for bakers and food entrepreneurs who want to build profitable bakery businesses that make an impact in their communities.

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