What you bake
Website Making for Baking: $20 a Month and 0% Cut (2026)
A clear, step-by-step plan to get your own baking website running in a weekend.
On this page
What to remember
- Your own website costs less than a market stall fee.
- You keep 100% of what you sell.
- You can take card payments through your own Stripe or Square.
- A simple site needs only four pages to start.
A website is your shop window, open 24 hours a day. It lets you show off your best work, tell your story, and take orders without standing over a phone. Website making for baking does not need to be technical or expensive. You can have a site ready for your first sale in a weekend.
What a baking website needs to do
Your website has one job: turn a visitor into a paying customer. It does not need fancy animations or a blog. It needs clear photos, easy ordering, and a simple way to pay. Focus on these four pages to start.
A home page
This is your front door. Put your best photo here, your business name, and one sentence about what you make. Add a clear button that says ‘Order Now’ or ‘See the Menu’.
A menu page
List each item with a photo, a short description, and the price. Group similar items, like ‘Cookies’ or ‘Celebration Cakes’. Make it easy to scan.
An about page
Tell your story in a few sentences. Why do you bake? What makes your treats special? A personal touch builds trust.
A contact page
List how to reach you: an email, a phone number if you are comfortable, and your town or delivery area. You can also add a simple contact form.
How much it really costs
The cost has three parts: the platform fee, payment processing fees, and your own time. The platform fee is what you pay each month to host your shop. Payment fees are a small percentage taken by companies like Stripe when a customer pays by card. Your time is what you spend setting it up and managing orders.
Comparing where to sell your baked goods online. Your own website has a flat fee and no commission.
| Option | Monthly Cost | Sales Commission | Card Payments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marketplace (like Etsy) | $0 | 6.5% + listing fees | Through the marketplace |
| Social Media (Instagram) | $0 | 0% | Manual (Venmo, Cash App) |
| Your Own Website | $20 | 0% | Your own Stripe/Square |
For example, if you sell $500 worth of cakes in a month on a marketplace, you might pay over $32 in commissions. On your own $20-a-month website, you pay $20 plus about $15 in card processing fees, keeping over $465. You keep more money per sale as your sales grow.
Setting up card payments
Customers expect to pay with a card. To accept cards on your own site, you need a payment processor account with Stripe or Square. These accounts are free to open. They charge a small fee per transaction, usually around 2.9% plus 30 cents.
You connect this account to your website builder. When a customer checks out, the money goes directly to your Stripe or Square account, then to your bank. You control the money, and the customer sees your business name on their statement.
Three mistakes that cost you money
It is easy to waste time and money when you are starting. Watch for these common pitfalls.
Paying for features you do not need
Do not buy a $50-a-month plan for a blog or email marketing before you have regular cake orders. Start with the simplest plan that lets you sell.
Getting stuck on design
Your cousin’s friend’s wedding cake sold because it tasted amazing, not because the website had a perfect font. Pick a simple template, use your own photos, and launch.
Not testing the checkout
Before you tell anyone, place a test order yourself. Make sure the payment goes through, you get an order notification, and the customer gets a confirmation. A broken checkout loses sales.
Your first site will not be perfect, and that is okay. The goal is to start taking orders. You can always tweak the photos and text later. Learn more about the craft of running your business at our craft hub.
Your step-by-step launch plan
Pick your website builder
Choose a service like Brevl that is made for food, costs a flat monthly fee, and lets you use your own payment processor. Start a 14 day free trial.
Set up your payment account
Open a free Stripe or Square account. Connect it to your website builder. This step makes your site ready for sales.
Add your first four products
Upload photos of your best-selling items. Write clear names and descriptions. Set your prices. Use our pricing guide if you are unsure.
Test the entire process
Place a real order using a card. Confirm you got the order and the payment landed in your account. Fix any broken links.
Tell your first customers
Share the link with three friends or past customers. Ask them to try ordering. Use their feedback to make small improvements.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
- See a real example of a simple, effective cookie business website
- Learn how to promote your new website without paying for ads
Common questions
Do I need to know how to code?
No. Modern website builders work like simple document editors. You click, type, and drag photos into place. No coding knowledge is required.
Can I use my own web address (like mybakery.com)?
Yes. You can buy a custom domain name (usually $10-$15 a year) and connect it to your website builder. Many builders guide you through this simple process.
What if I already sell on Instagram?
A website works alongside Instagram. Post photos on Instagram, then direct people to your website to order and pay. This keeps your money and customer data in your own hands.
How do I get my first customers to the site?
Start by sharing the link in your Instagram bio, on Facebook, and in text messages to past customers. Ask friends to place test orders. Word of mouth is your most powerful tool.