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

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

Baking has been part of my life since childhood. As a young teen and through grad school, I would have a baking marathon over the holidays to bake thousands of cookies, bars, and treats for all of our family and friends. Around 2010, it was my banana bread that became my signature item, baked all year round, in addition to the holiday marathon. Over the next decade, I perfected the banana bread and started to experiment with different additions to create new flavors. I always brought banana bread to work, parties, and gatherings, and it was always a huge hit! At every gathering I was asked if I’ve thought about selling it, but for many years my reply was always, “not right now, maybe someday”. Well, after experiencing two layoffs in two years, I felt the universe nudging me toward something greater. Severance Baking Co. was born from that leap of faith, turning a lifelong passion into a business built on flavor, craft, and heart. I started this business as a home micro-bakery, licensed as a Cottage Food Operation. I have a big vision for this, and as I grow I plan to sell to coffee shops and other business, in addition to directly to my customers, and expand the menu to offer other elevated classics.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Sarah Severance, and I’m the founder of Severance Baking Co., a small-batch micro-bakery featuring specialty banana bread and other elevated classics. I’ve been baking most of my life for friends and family and finally decided to create a business!

I am a traditional home-baker who loves to experiment in the kitchen. Baking became a way for me to express care and bring people together. My banana bread is what I became known for in my social circles, and what has brought joy to so many over the years. So, when I decided to start a home-based micro-bakery, it was fitting to launch with my speciality banana breads.
Today, Severance Baking Co. specializes in unique, flavor-forward banana breads and baked goods that blend classic comfort with unexpected combinations. My signature flavor, Coconut Butterscotch Banana Bread, has become a customer favorite, alongside other creations like Lemon Blueberry, Cherry Chocolate, and Coffee Chocolate Banana Bread.

What I think sets my work apart is the blend of traditional and unexpected. I care deeply about creating products that feel personal and memorable. I’m inspired by the idea that something as simple as a loaf of banana bread can become part of someone’s morning ritual, dinner table, gift to a friend, or favorite comfort food.

What I’m most proud of is taking the leap to build a business from something I genuinely enjoy, and that brings so much joy to others.

From my kitchen to customers everywhere, every loaf is a labor of love, and I’m excited to share it with you!

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

Word of mouth referrals, and networking! When friends rave about my banana bread, others are eager to try it! Networking sounds oversimplified, because it’s definitely a lot of work, but showing up in the community, making genuine connections, and being open minded have resulted in some amazing opportunities!

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

Creating this business itself was resilience. I experienced a layoff after being with a company for 8.5 years, and then another one shortly after. With a tough job market, I wanted to at least try paving my own way and creating something that was mine.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://severancebakingco.com
• Instagram: severancebakingco

Image Credits

Headshot photo and overhead shot of banana bread on a cutting board were done by John Dole Photography