Getting started
Gluten Free Bakery Online Ordering: 5 Steps to First Order
Set up gluten free online orders that get paid without extra fees eating your margin.
On this page
What to remember
- Keep the menu short and the rules clear.
- Set a pickup window and an order cutoff.
- Price from ingredients, labor, and overhead.
- Take payment through your own account.
- Confirm every order in writing.
Gluten free bakery online ordering works best when the menu is short and the rules are clear. Customers want to know what is safe, what it costs, and when they can pick it up. If you want the full path from setup to sales, start with the getting started guides.
What do you need before you take online orders?
You need a shop name, a short menu, and a pickup window. You also need a way to show which items are gluten free and how you keep them separate. A simple order form that captures name, phone, date, and notes is enough to start.
Write down your bake days and your cutoff time. If you take orders until Friday noon for Saturday pickup, say that on every post and every order page. Clear dates stop last minute requests and help you plan shopping. If you are still building the business, read how to start a home bakery online before you open orders.
Decide if you offer delivery or pickup only. Pickup is easier because you control the handoff. If you deliver, set a small radius and a flat fee. Write the fee into the order total so you are not surprised by gas.
Keep allergen information in one place. Write the exact wording you will use on labels and in messages. Use the same wording every time so customers can trust it.
How do you set up gluten free bakery online ordering?
Write a short menu
List five to eight items you can bake well. Give each one a clear name, a price, and a short description.
Set your rules
Say pickup days, times, and cutoff. Explain how you reduce cross contact and how orders are packed.
Make an order form
Ask for name, phone, pickup date, items, and allergy notes. Keep it short so people finish it.
Take payment
Use your own Stripe or Square account, plus Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, or cash. Ask for payment before bake day.
Confirm every order
Send a short message with the total, pickup time, and any notes. Repeat the order back so nothing is missed.
You can run this from a paper list at first, but a simple shop page makes it easier to update prices and dates. A bakery online ordering system can hold your menu, dates, and payments in one place.
What should your shop page say?
Your shop page should answer three questions fast: what can I order, when can I get it, and how do I pay. Use your own photos and your own colors. Your shop should be yours to customize, with your own web address. Keep the pickup address and instructions easy to find on a phone.
Add a short line about your kitchen and your process. Tell customers if you bake wheat in the same space. Offer sealed pickup and separate bake days if that is how you work.
Make the order button easy to find. On a phone, the button should be visible without scrolling. If people have to hunt for it, they will message you instead and you will lose time.
Show photos of real orders. Your own photos build trust faster than stock images. Add a short line about portion size and storage.
How do you price a gluten free order so it pays?
Price from the full recipe, not the bag. Add ingredient cost, your labor, packaging, labels, and a share of monthly costs. Then check the price against what local bakeries charge. For a full walkthrough, see the bakery budget example.
For example, using round numbers, a dozen gluten free cupcakes might use $9 of ingredients and $12 of labor. If you pay yourself $15 an hour, that is 48 minutes of work. Brevl costs $20 a month with no cut of your sales, so at 20 orders that month, overhead is $1 per order. Charge $34. Your margin is $34 minus $9 minus $12 minus $1, or $12 per dozen.
Overhead is not just your shop fee. Add a share of your phone, internet, packaging buys, and drive to the store. If you bake at home, still count a small amount for power and water. Brevl includes recipes with real costing, ingredient inventory, and a weekly planner, so you can price and plan.
Raise prices in small steps. A one dollar increase on a dozen is easier for customers than a five dollar jump. Watch your order count for two weeks before you change again.
What mistakes cost gluten free bakers money?
The biggest mistake is taking orders after your cutoff. Late orders push you into late nights and wasted batches. Another mistake is vague labels. Write exactly what is gluten free and how you store and pack it.
Do not promise more than you can control. If you share an oven or cooling rack with wheat baked goods, say so. Offer clear options like sealed pickup and separate bake days. Honest labels protect your customers and your business.
Do not take custom orders without a deposit. A deposit covers your ingredients if the customer cancels. Say the deposit rule before you start baking. Keep receipts for ingredients and packaging so your real costs stay clear.
How do you get your first online orders?
Start with friends, local groups, and your phone. Post a photo, the price, the pickup window, and a link to order. Ask each happy customer to share your shop. For more places to post, read free ways to promote your bakery.
Ask for reviews after pickup. A short photo and a kind word help the next customer say yes. Save the best photos and use them in your shop. Keep a simple list of every order, payment, and pickup so you know what really sold.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
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Common questions
Do I need a separate kitchen for gluten free orders?
You do not need a separate kitchen to start, but you must control cross contact. Use clean tools, separate bake days, and sealed packaging. Tell customers exactly how you reduce risk. If you cannot keep wheat flour away from gluten free orders, say so on your shop page.
How much should I charge for gluten free items?
Price from the full recipe, not the flour bag. Add ingredient cost, your labor, packaging, labels, and a share of monthly costs like your shop fee. Then compare with local bakeries. If the price feels high, shrink the item or simplify the recipe before you cut your own pay.
Can I take orders on my phone?
Yes. Your shop should work on a phone so you can update the menu, check orders, and message customers from the kitchen. Brevl works on a computer and on a phone, with a full desktop workspace, not a phone only app.
What payment methods should I offer?
Offer what your customers already use. Brevl takes card payments through your own Stripe or Square account, plus Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. Keep the total and pickup time in the confirmation. Ask for payment before bake day so there is no confusion.
Do I need to ship gluten free baked goods?
You do not need to ship at the start. Pickup and local delivery keep costs low and freshness high. If you ship later, check rules and packaging costs first. Read the [bakery online shipping guide](/blog/bakery-online-shipping/) before you add a shipping button.
General information, not legal or tax advice.