Start by taking baby steps.....

I started a nationwide baking mix company ten years ago, and perhaps I can help. I am sure that Betsy started recipelink.com by taking baby steps, and look at where she is today.

I would start by taking a Wilton decorating class. Even though you are experienced, it will get you started and out there with potential customers. You can also see how they successfully teach their classes and recruit students.

Start advertising where you know people---advertise that you have a class in your local newspaper or at the church or temple where you belong or at the high school, etc. From experience, one baby step leads to another and pretty soon you gain confidence, and the classes build from there. It's easier to expand from small successes then to do too much and fail, and try and get people to come back.

Have the class curriculum start small, as well. For instance, have your first class on just using a pastry bag, which is touble for over half of us, and then learn the basics. Or, have your friends or neighbors take the first class, paying only for the materials, so you can work out the kinks with them. I know that something on paper works very differently in reality.

In the future, you can open a small website, etc. But, always start small and with something familiar to you. I guarantee that everything will build from there.