FSBDC Success Story | LadyCakes Bakery

LadyCakes Bakery

Big successes often start out as small ideas. For Bess Charles, baking cakes was something she did in lieu of buying cakes; a cost-effective and more creative way to celebrate events with her growing family.  

As Charles’ creativity and passion for baking and decorating cakes soared, so did her client base. Soon, she wasn’t just baking for her children’s birthdays. She had a customer base of friends, family, and more – all interested in a homemade cake, lovingly created by Charles. 

Business was booming, but it was beginning to take over Charles’ home life. The line between personal life and work was blurring, and Charles knew that if her business was going to continue growing, her workspace needed to, as well. 

“It wasn’t working anymore,” Charles says. “I turned to my husband, Jeff, one night after decorating a cake and told him we needed a storefront.” He wholeheartedly agreed, and the plan to expand was in motion. 

To make their dream a reality, Bess and Jeff put everything they had into their business: money, effort, and trust. Going into a new venture was exciting but came with a lot of questions that needed answering. Both Bess and Jeff had some previous business experience, but they felt that they needed more direction with their newest endeavor. 

With the help of the SBDC, Charles and her husband opened LadyCakes Bakery in Cape Coral, FL, in 2014. 

“When it comes to growing a business, we are so thankful that we found the SBDC,” Charles says. “The SBDC has been there whether we want to go over an idea, get additional resources to help us continue our growth, or look over financials. We couldn’t ask for a better consulting team.”  

Combine hard work, professionalism, and dedication and you have the perfect recipe for success. 

For information about LadyCakes Bakery, please visit https://iloveladycakes.com.