The Cottage Cakery

The Cottage Cakery is a women-owned bakery founded by Ellen Culwell, offering custom, handcrafted cakes and specialty desserts designed to make every occasion memorable, a business that grew quickly from a home-based, part-time venture into a promising enterprise rooted in creativity, quality, and a genuine love for baking. What began in 2024 as a small cottage food operation soon revealed its potential as demand increased and Ellen’s vision for her work became clearer. At its core, The Cottage Cakery is driven by a simple mission: to bring joy through beautifully designed desserts made with care in every bite. 

As the business gained momentum, Ellen found herself at a crossroads. She wanted to pursue baking full-time, but doing so required careful planning around finances, growth, and sustainability as she considered moving from a cottage operation into a commercial kitchen and, eventually, a physical storefront. She turned to the Tennessee Small Business Development Center for clarity, guidance, and confidence to ensure that growth would be intentional rather than overwhelming. 

Working with lead consultant Dave Dessauer, the TSBDC provided hands-on assistance to analyze Ellen’s business model and map out a realistic path forward. Support included a detailed review of expenses, revenue, and sales trends to determine what full-time operations would require, along with projections to evaluate future growth and the timing of hiring her first employee. This data-driven approach helped Ellen break complex decisions into manageable steps, transforming uncertainty into clear, informed action. 

The results were transformational. With TSBDC support, Ellen successfully transitioned The Cottage Cakery from a home-based business into a brick-and-mortar bakery by moving into a commercial kitchen, opening a physical storefront, and becoming a full-time business owner, while also creating a new job through the hiring of her first baking assistant. Today, the business not only offers baked goods and decorative desserts but also hosts unique events that create memorable experiences for the community, all while maintaining the quality and creativity that define the brand. 

The TSBDC continues to support Ellen through monthly check-ins that include financial reviews and strategic guidance as she works toward her next goal of expanding into a larger, more prominent location. Looking ahead, Ellen is energized by the possibilities for continued growth and expansion, guided by her creativity and a strong foundation built through thoughtful planning. Reflecting on her experience, she shared, “Working with the Tennessee Small Business Development Center gave me invaluable peace of mind. They helped me build my business from the ground up—starting with clarifying what I wanted my business to look like and then providing the tools, resources, and connections to make that vision a reality. As my business grew and I reached the point of hiring my first baking assistant, the SBDC walked me through the numbers and the hiring process step by step. What initially felt overwhelming became manageable and confidence-building. Their support made growth feel possible instead of intimidating. I have big dreams for my bakery, and with the confidence I’ve gained from working with the SBDC, I know I’ll achieve them. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for The Cottage Cakery.”