In this episode of The Bread Winner Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on my very first year of running a sourdough microbakery—sharing everything I learned, the mistakes I made, and the strategies that helped me grow from a single Facebook post to nearly $50,000 in revenue.

Whether you're just starting out or casually selling a few loaves here and there, I want to give you an honest, encouraging look at what it really takes to build a business you love (without burning out). I walk you through the messy middle of figuring out products, markets, equipment, and pricing—all while balancing family life and learning as I went.

I’ll be sharing my actual numbers, my top-selling products, and the systems that made my business more sustainable over time. This episode isn’t about a one-size-fits-all blueprint—it’s about giving you insights you can adapt to your own business and your own goals.

If you’ve ever wondered how to go from hobby baker to microbakery owner, or how to build something that works for you (instead of the other way around), this episode is packed with encouragement and practical lessons from the journey.

Resources:

• Get the Profitable Pricing Calculator at carolinebower.com/calculator
• Follow me on Instagram for more microbakery tips: @carolinebower_sourdough
• Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more! www.carolinebower.com/links
• Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!

April was a whirlwind in the bakery, and in this episode, I’m sitting down to reflect on what worked, what I learned, and how I’m setting myself up for May and the summer ahead. From porch pickups and Easter bakes to market wins and saying no to burnout, I’m sharing the choices I made to keep things running smoothly—like scaling back my menu, planning ahead, and leaning on tools like my recipe calculator to simplify bake days. You’ll hear honest takeaways about revenue, product sellouts, and why consistency matters more than perfection.

I’m also giving a peek at what’s ahead, including slowing down summer bake days, shifting to one podcast episode a week, and launching the new Breadwinner Network for even deeper support. Whether you’re curious about batch planning, navigating busy seasons, or making space for family and rest, this episode is packed with encouragement and practical insights you can apply to your own microbakery journey.

Resources:

• Follow me on Instagram for more microbakery tips: @carolinebower_sourdough
• Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more! www.carolinebower.com/links
• Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!

In this episode of The Bread Winner Podcast, I’m joined by Elizabeth from Borges Family Homestead to talk about the power of niching down in your microbakery. Elizabeth shares how tying her bakery to her Portuguese heritage helped her grow quickly, stand out in a rural market, and build deep connections with her community. We talk about the challenges she faced in the early days, her creative marketing strategies, the importance of clear product descriptions, and how she balances sourdough staples with cultural specialties.

We also dive into lessons around managing time, scaling sustainably, and not letting fear hold you back when starting or growing your bakery. Whether you’re thinking about adding cultural products to your menu, refining your marketing, or dreaming about a future brick-and-mortar bakery, this conversation is packed with practical insights and encouragement. You’ll walk away inspired to build a business that feels both meaningful and manageable.

Resources:

• Follow Elizabeth on Instagram: @borgesfamilyhomestead
• Follow me on Instagram for more microbakery tips: @carolinebower_sourdough
• Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more! www.carolinebower.com/links
• Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!

In this episode, I’m bringing you behind the scenes into something really special—a bonus Q&A call that I hosted right after The Bread Winner Summit. The energy was so good and the questions were so thoughtful that I ended up scheduling an extra session just to keep the conversation going. Today, I’m sharing a few of those questions and my real-time answers, covering everything from bookkeeping and batch baking to building a loyal local audience and scaling your sourdough menu without burning out.

If you’ve ever wondered when to hire a bookkeeper, how to simplify your offerings, what to bring to your first farmers market, or how to market in your own neighborhood without sounding salesy—this one’s for you. These are the questions so many of us have asked, and this Q&A format gives you actionable ideas and honest insight into the daily realities of running a microbakery. Pull up a chair, hit play, and let’s dig in together.

Resources:

• Get the Summit Replay Bundle here : http://carolinebower.com/summitreplay
• Follow me on Instagram for more microbakery tips: @carolinebower_sourdough
• Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more! www.carolinebower.com/links
• Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!

If you’ve ever felt like your business was running your life instead of the other way around, you are going to feel so seen in this episode. I’m talking with Krista Hannah of Burnt Toast Bakery about the wild, honest journey of growing a microbakery while navigating burnout, motherhood, and an ADHD diagnosis. She shares what it was like to go from gifting loaves to running a full-blown bakery business almost overnight—and how that impacted her family, her mental health, and her love of baking.

We talk about the realities of burnout, what led her to take multiple extended breaks from baking, and the powerful reset she found after a trip to England to take a sourdough class. Krista opens up about the systems that now keep her business joyful and sustainable, why she keeps her menu simple, and how teaching workshops has brought a whole new level of fulfillment. Her story is vulnerable, validating, and full of practical insight for anyone building a bakery that fits real life.

Resources:

• Follow Christa on Instagram: @burnttoastbakery
• Learn more about Burnt Toast Bakery here.
• Follow me on Instagram for more microbakery tips: @carolinebower_sourdough
• Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more! www.carolinebower.com/links
• Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!

After the incredible energy of the Breadwinner Summit, I’m diving into one of the most important themes that came up over and over again: mindset. This isn’t about fluffy affirmations—it’s about the quiet, steady beliefs that shape the way we show up in our work. In this episode, I walk through five powerful mindset shifts that can completely change how you run your microbakery—from tackling imposter syndrome to letting go of perfection and owning the impact of your small business.

Whether you’re feeling stuck, stretched thin, or unsure of your next step, this conversation will give you the encouragement and perspective to keep going. I’m also sharing what’s next: an intentional, ongoing community where the inspiration from the summit turns into action. You’re not behind, you’re not alone—and the work you’re doing matters more than you think.

Resources:

• Join the Bread Winner Network Waitlist here! https://carolinebower.myflodesk.com/shf3qe4hlq
• Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more! www.carolinebower.com/links
• Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!
• Follow me on Instagram (@carolinebower_sourdough) for more microbakery tips! https://www.instagram.com/carolinebower_sourdough

If the idea of attending a two-day summit sounds a little overwhelming right now, this conversation is for you. In this episode, I’m walking you through exactly how to approach The Bread Winner Summit with intention, so you don’t just show up - you get something meaningful out of it.

I’ll guide you through how to identify your top priorities, decide which sessions to attend (and which ones to skip), and build in flexibility so it doesn’t feel like just another thing on your already full plate.

I’m also sharing how to take notes you’ll actually use, how to stay engaged even if you’re watching sessions on replay, and how to find accountability that lasts long after the summit ends.

Whether you’ve already claimed your free ticket or you’re still on the fence, this strategy will help you walk away with more clarity, more focus, and a plan you can actually put into motion.

Resources:

• Sign up for the FREE Bread Winner Summit → https://carolinebower.thrivecart.com/breadwinnersummit/
• Grab your All Access Pass here → https://carolinebower.thrivecart.com/all-access-pass/
• Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more! www.carolinebower.com/links
• Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!
• Follow me on Instagram (@carolinebower_sourdough) for more microbakery tips! https://www.instagram.com/carolinebower_sourdough

We are just one week away from The Bread Winner Summit, and in this episode, I’m giving you a special sneak peek into what you can expect.

I’ve pulled together a collection of audio snippets from several of our speakers so you can hear a taste of the incredible conversations coming your way. We’re diving into pricing mindset, wholesale partnerships, bartering with confidence, and simplifying your product strategy for growth—and that’s just the beginning.

These conversations are packed with wisdom, encouragement, and real-life experience from women who truly understand what it takes to run a microbakery.

Whether you’ve already grabbed your ticket or are still thinking about it, this episode will give you a clear picture of what The Bread Winner Summit is all about. My hope is that you’ll walk away from the summit with fresh ideas, new connections, and a whole lot of clarity about how to move forward in your business.

Resources:

• Sign up for the FREE Bread Winner Summit → https://carolinebower.thrivecart.com/breadwinnersummit/
• Find links to all of my sourdough microbakery favorites including packaging, pans, and more! www.carolinebower.com/links
• Download the FREE Guide and Checklist, Your First Steps to a Successful In-Home Bakery at https://www.carolinebower.com/checklist to begin building YOUR thriving microbakery!
• Follow me on Instagram (@carolinebower_sourdough) for more microbakery tips! https://www.instagram.com/carolinebower_sourdough