The story behind Butterbase
How one developer's encounter with spreadsheet chaos sparked a revolution in baking business management.
Sometimes the best solutions come from watching others struggle
I'll be honest—I'm not a professional baker. I dabble in baking here and there, but I've never tried to make money from it. However, I have multiple family members who run successful baking small businesses, and I've watched them struggle with the same problems for years.
Spreadsheets that break when you look at them wrong. Manual price tracking that's always outdated. Customer orders scattered across text messages and social media DMs. Invoice creation that takes hours instead of minutes.
Then came the wake-up call: Bake Diary, a platform that many bakers relied on, announced they were shutting down on May 30th. Suddenly, thousands of bakers were scrambling to find an alternative—and finding nothing that truly filled all the gaps.
That's when I realized: this isn't just my family's problem. This is an entire industry that deserves better tools.
The Bake Diary Crisis
Platform closing May 30th, 2025
The Opportunity
What Existing Tools Miss
- Platforms that shut down without warning
- Tools built by non-bakers who don't understand the workflow
- Generic business software that doesn't fit baking needs
- Expensive enterprise solutions for simple cottage businesses
- Fragmented solutions that don't talk to each other
What Butterbase Delivers
- Built by someone who's seen the problems firsthand
- Designed specifically for baking business workflows
- All-in-one platform—no more juggling multiple tools
- Affordable pricing that respects cottage business margins
- Reliable platform you can depend on for years to come
Meet the Founder
The developer with a front-row seat to baking business struggles
Chris Watson
Founder & CTO
"I may not be a professional baker, but I've watched my family members struggle with terrible tools for years. When Bake Diary shut down and left thousands of bakers stranded, I knew I had to step in and build the platform they actually deserve."
Chris brings 14 years of software development experience and a unique perspective—he's seen the problems from the inside, through family members who run successful baking businesses. This isn't theoretical; it's personal.
Our Mission & Vision
Filling the gap left by failed platforms and inadequate tools
Our Mission
To be the reliable, comprehensive platform that bakers can depend on for years to come— no more scrambling when platforms shut down or finding out tools don't actually fit your workflow.
Born from witnessing real struggles and real business needs, Butterbase is built specifically for bakers, by someone who's seen what doesn't work and what you actually need.
Our Vision
A world where bakers never again have to worry about their business tools disappearing, breaking, or simply not understanding how they actually work.
Where the transition from hobby to business isn't blocked by inadequate software, but supported by tools that grow with you and actually make your life easier.
The Opportunity
The home baking industry is experiencing unprecedented growth
Home baking market size by 2027
Cottage-food operators nationwide
Of US adults bake regularly
The Problem
Despite this massive growth, most bakers are still using tools from 2005. Spreadsheets, text messages, and manual calculations are holding back an entire industry of passionate entrepreneurs.
Our Values
The principles that guide everything we build
Simplicity First
Complex problems deserve simple solutions. We believe powerful tools should be intuitive to use, not require a computer science degree.
Built for Bakers
Every feature is designed with real bakers in mind, solving problems we've witnessed firsthand in the baking community.
Always Improving
We listen to our community and continuously evolve based on real user feedback. Your success drives our development.
Beta Is Full - Join Our Community!
While we can't take more beta testers right now, join our forum to connect with other bakers, share recipes, and be the first to know when we're ready for more users.
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