My First Year as a Microbakery Owner: Lessons, Numbers & Honest Insights | Episode 82

mikalonte
May 8
3 min read

Looking back on my first year of running a sourdough microbakery, I can see just how much happened in a short amount of time. From one Facebook post offering a few extra loaves to nearly $50,000 in revenue by the end of year one, it was a year of learning, stretching, and figuring things out as I went.

In this post, I’m sharing what that first year really looked like—mistakes, wins, and the small choices that helped me build a sustainable business without burning out. Whether you’re starting your own microbakery or dreaming about turning your bread hobby into a business, I hope these insights encourage you and give you something practical to carry forward.

How It Started

My microbakery began with one simple post in a neighborhood Facebook group.

I had extra loaves.
I offered them up to neighbors.
They sold quickly—and people asked when I’d bake again.

That moment planted a seed. I didn’t have a business name, a plan, or fancy packaging. I just had bread, a kitchen, and a willingness to show up.

Building Slowly & Learning As I Went

The first few months were full of experimentation.

I took preorders for porch pickups.
I figured out how many loaves I could bake in one day.
I learned that my oven, mixer, and fridge would all need upgrading.

It wasn’t perfect, but it was progress. Each week gave me more clarity about what worked, what didn’t, and what needed adjusting.

Revenue & Top-Selling Products

By the end of year one, I grossed nearly $50,000 in sales.

Here’s what sold best:

Classic sourdough loaves
Cinnamon rolls
Brownies
English muffins

Keeping my product lineup simple helped me scale without getting overwhelmed. I didn’t try to offer everything. I stuck with what people loved and what I could handle consistently.

7 Key Lessons from Year One

Looking back, these were the biggest lessons I learned:

Start simple. You don’t need 20 products to launch. A few well-made items are enough.
Your community wants to support you. Show up consistently, and they’ll keep coming back.
Pricing matters. Underpricing will wear you out. Charge what’s sustainable.
Invest in tools as you grow. Upgrading my oven and mixer made a huge difference.
Boundaries protect your energy. Saying no (or “not right now”) is necessary.
Don’t compare your chapter one to someone’s chapter ten. Stay focused on your growth.
Done is better than perfect. People just want great bread—not perfection.

Small Shifts That Made a Big Impact

Halfway through the year, I realized a few things needed to change.

I switched from single cinnamon rolls to pans of four to simplify packaging.
I added a recipe calculator to help me batch prep more efficiently.
I reduced the number of different bread flavors I offered each week.

These tweaks protected my time and made bake days smoother—without sacrificing sales.

Balancing Family & Business

Running a microbakery from home meant the kitchen wasn’t just a workspace. It was still our family’s space, too.

I learned to:

Plan bake days around family rhythms.
Communicate clearly with customers about pickup windows.
Give myself permission to slow down when needed.

The goal wasn’t just to build a business—but to build one that fit my life.

Final Thoughts

Year one wasn’t perfect, but it was full of growth, clarity, and small wins that added up. I didn’t know it all when I started. I didn’t have everything figured out. But I kept showing up, kept learning, and kept baking.

If you’re in your first year—or thinking about starting—know this: you don’t have to do it all at once. You don’t have to wait until everything’s perfect. Just take the next step. Your people are waiting.

Resources & Links

Get the Profitable Pricing Calculator at carolinebower.com/calculator
Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more here!
Follow me on Instagram for more microbakery tips: @carolinebower_sourdough
Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!