Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Janeth Garcia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Janeth, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

It all started out of necessity, really. I was working a regular office job, juggling bills like everyone else, when I realized I needed to bring in extra income. At the same time, I had this creative itch that just wasn’t being scratched in my 9–5. I’ve always loved cooking! I worked as a cook in local restaurants before but I found myself back in the kitchen in a different way: baking cakes!
There was a moment where I asked myself, “Why not make money off of my creativity?” I began experimenting with flavors, and decoration techniques. The more I created, the more I realized I wasn’t just baking; I was building something that felt like me. The beginning wasn’t easy. Baking is a whole different world from cooking—it’s scientific, precise, and there’s little room for improvisation. There were a lot of nights filled with trial and error, a lot of “back to the drawing board” moments.
What kept me going was the realization that I was offering something different something people were genuinely excited about.

Janeth, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Hi! I’m Janeth Garcia I’m the owner and creative behind Cakes By J LLC. A home-based cake business where I specialize in custom, made from scratch cakes that are just as bold in flavor as they are in design. I started this journey not out of a long held dream, but out of a mix of necessity, curiosity, and creative drive. I was working a regular office job, with a culinary background in savory kitchens, when I realized I needed extra income & something more fulfilling.

What began as a hobby quickly became a form of self-expression and a source of pride. I fell in love with the process of baking, even though it was completely different from the world of cooking I came from. Baking is precise, scientific, and filled with little details that can make or break your final result—but I was hooked. Slowly but surely, I taught myself everything I needed to know: the fundamentals of baking, decorating techniques, marketing, client communication, and how to run an at-home food business.

What truly sets me apart is the flavor, the intentionality, and ME! I’m not just making cakes—I’m creating edible pieces that carry meaning. I focus on flavors that reflect my culture, my creativity, and what I personally would want to eat. I don’t follow trends just to follow them I create from a place of authenticity.

Also, I prioritize transparency. I’m clear with my clients about pricing, what they’re paying for, and what goes into their order. Custom cakes aren’t just “cake”—they’re time, labor, talent, design, ingredients, and a whole lot of energy. I take pride in educating my clients so they understand and respect the craft.

I’m proud of the fact that I’ve built this from scratch. No loans, no investors, no formal pastry training—just me, my kitchen, and a whole lot of trial and error. I’m proud that people trust me to be part of their milestones. And I’m proud that I’ve stuck with it, even through the tough seasons. My business has allowed me to be apart of so many special moments. As well as many business collaborations with other small businesses owners in my city.

I want people to know that my brand is rooted in creativity, culture, and care. I’m not just here to make pretty cakes. I’m here to create memorable experiences, both through flavor and design. I’m constantly evolving, and my business grows as I grow. If you support my work, you’re supporting someone who truly loves what they do, someone who’s still reaching for bigger goals, and someone who values every single client interaction.

This isn’t just cake it’s art, it’s energy, it’s intention. And I’m just getting started.

We’d love to hear the story of how you turned a side-hustle into a something much bigger.

Yes, it did & honestly, it still feels surreal some days. I started baking as a side hustle while working full-time office jobs. At first, it was just a hobby something creative to do after work, something that made me feel excited again. I’d post my cakes here and there, and little by little, people started noticing. Friends and family would place small orders, then friends of friends, and before I knew it, I was juggling cake orders on weekends while working 40+ hours a week.

Eventually, I hit a point where I realized I couldn’t give both my job and my cakes the energy they each required. I had a decision to make: stay where I was comfortable, or take a leap of faith and pour into this thing I had built from scratch. I chose the leap and it’s been one of the most CHALLENGING, rewarding, and transformational decisions I’ve made.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I learned that I had to earn the trust from the public. You can make anything on social media look good but is the real question is “are the products themselves good?” I think what really helped me build my reputation was staying consistent with quality and being unapologetically true to my creative style. From the beginning, I made it a point to treat every order no matter how big or small with care and intention. The growth didn’t happen overnight. It took consistency, learning from mistakes, and a whole lot of late nights.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://instagram.com/cakesbyj_kc_?utm_medium=copy_link
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cakes-By-J-102713474788813/

Image Credits

Photographer: Tania Sosa Photo