Under what name did Domino's Pizza chain get its start?

How to start a cupcake business? please READ/COMMENT!?

• Ok well, I've been wanting to start a bakery for quite sometime. I'm 18 but I've loved to bake since I was little, and everyone had said that I should go to baking school (which I'm looking into after I finish senior year).. but I also want to act for films and such, so this will be my back up plan if that doesn't work out. But anyways... I've been trying to frost my cupcakes "Professional looking" and it took me a couple tries to figure out how to do it. And mind you I'm only using a zip lock bag for now until I go to Michael's and get some decent supplies. Anyways, I was wondering how I should go about doing this? Because I just want to run a small little bakery, hopefully they'll turn into a chain like Sprinkles Cupcakes.. or like the girls from DC Cupcakes (Georgetown Cupcakes) who I look up to a lot in the baking world, along with Duff Goldman. I've been watching his show since I was 12, and he was the one who inspired me to bake mostly. I really want to start my baking business early now. So I can save a lot of money for myself in the future. My parents have a lot of organizations that they say I could donate cupcakes too, which I think is a good start; plus the organizations have known me since I was like 1 so maybe they'll let me do it and maybe pay me $25 dollars or so for about 2 dozen cupcakes. Also they also do movie night once a month so I was thinking of donating some first (because it's like a pot luck snack type thing where everybody brings something) and than after a couple of times doing that maybe I could charge $1.50-$2.50 for 1 cupcake. (is that a lot?) My parents think that's a lot for one cupcake. Also I know this resturante owner who I've known since I was 5 that I go to a lot. And I was thinking of possibly selling maybe a dozen to him and then have him pay me back and we share 50% of the profit if it goes well. Do you think this is a good idea too? I'm trying though to make my cupcakes look commercial first before I do this. Out of the dozen I've frosted last night, only two looked good enough (w/ frosting on them) to sell. Is that normal for a beginner? How can I learn to frost better? Also I'm learning all of this on my own even though my parents will help me with the business side of things. But I'm also stuck on a name. So here's my list- Name Ideas for Cupcake Bakery: -Confetti Cupcakes (based around what would be our signature flavor, also could Sprinkles Cupcakes sue me for that? Is that also to close to Sprinkles Cupcakes? Again, just want to start a small little business but hopefully grow into a chain. But I want to start small first) -Creative Cupcakes -Cupcakes Couture -Couture Cupcakes -Cupcake Queen -Charmed Cupcakes (Would that be too close to Charm City Cakes, like the show owner from Ace of Cakes, Duff Goldman? Could they sue me for that? I just want to run a small little cupcake business. But I do want to sell great cupcakes, and people tell me all the time when I bake that I bake great bakery items and should look into a business even though I'm only 18. But I want ONLY to sell cupcakes) I also am only an 18 year old girl for crying out loud who just wants to start her business early in life, and make some extra cash for my self for the future :) I don't want to get sued before I even get started. Also what other name ideas that have 2 c's like "Creative Cupcake's" or something so that it'll be catchy and most importantly people WILL remember! And which name out of mine do you like the best? SERIOUS ANSWERS ONLY PLEASE :) P.S Sorry this is so long, but I'm really REALLY serious about this. And hopefully making this my career and I want to start early. Also my dad says I have to get a DBA for each city/location I want my bakery to be in even though it might not be there yet. But it has to be there in order for someone else not to take my business name. Is that true? And how much is a DBA? I also already know about the Commercial Kitchen which I have prepared and that was inspected by a health inspector. And that's not what I'm asking here if you going to tell me that. (Just saying)

• Answer:

  Hey, at first I was like woah, kinda long, do I actually want to read this and answer it? But then as I began reading, I wanted to answer. I like the names Creative Cupcakes and Cupcake Couture. Around where I live (Los Angeles, CA), there are Crumbs, Sprinkles, and Lil' Cakes. The last one mentioned is a gourmet doughnut shop. I think you have a lot of really good ideas. For instance, selling to people and organizations you know and who've known you since you were a lil tyke. What got me going into the cupcake shops in my area when they first opened up was word of mouth, because I'm honestly not that big of a cupcake fan. I try to stay away from sweets as much as I can for health reasons. However, the times I did try Crumbs cupcakes, I've been lured the the window display and colorful cupcakes. I tried a couple and most were wayy too sweet for my tastes. But hey, when you're craving sugar, cupcakes are perfect. I don't know what else to say other than keep trying your best, and you'll get there.