Chinese girl opens a private dessert shop at the age of 16, entrepreneurship and learning

At just 16 years old, Liu Huishan launched Helaine’s Bakery, making cookies in her home kitchen. During this past summer, she had a sudden urge to start her own business. As a high school student, she had been self-learning baking for the past year, dreaming of owning her own shop someday. Why wait? With her remarkable drive, she decided to put her idea into action immediately.

“From the moment I had the idea to applying for various permits and buying tools, it only took about a week or two,” Liu said. “If I hesitated, I’d start making excuses not to go for it.”

Now in its fifth month of operation, Helaine’s Bakery sells New York-style cookies entirely online, allowing dessert lovers from across the U.S. to enjoy Liu’s creations. Inspired by the famous Levain Bakery in New York, Liu combines her creativity with quality ingredients to craft large cookies that she describes as “a warm hug.” She revealed that at its peak, her bakery sold over a hundred cookies in a week, bringing in nearly a thousand dollars. While the initial costs of starting the business were significant, she is pleased to report that she has now broken even.

As a savvy young entrepreneur, Liu fully utilizes social media to boost her shop’s visibility. She shares videos of cookie-making and packaging on TikTok and Instagram, but she’s especially surprised by the impact her videos have on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book). “About 90% of my customers found me through that platform—they enjoyed my videos and decided to order cookies,” she shared.

“Many of my customers are young women in their twenties. It’s exciting to connect with them through this platform.”

Based in Irvine, California, Liu ships her cookies all across the country, reaching customers as far as Boston and Chicago. Her flavors range from classics like oatmeal raisin, chocolate walnut, and peanut butter to Asian-inspired options like matcha and salted caramel. Liu’s favorite flavor is a limited-edition cookie featuring salted egg yolk and red bean, which she launched during the Mid-Autumn Festival, combining her American identity with her Chinese heritage.

Liu’s swift rise to online fame not only stems from her frequent video posts but also from the curiosity surrounding her young age as an entrepreneur. As a high school senior, many wonder how she balances academics with her business. “I have a lot of faith in my time management skills,” she explained, mentioning that she created a new schedule specifically for her bakery.

Liu has always had diverse interests—she’s been playing the piano for 13 years and has published five novels. After deciding to pursue her cookie shop, she’s willing to sacrifice some weekend time, sometimes waking up early or staying up late to prepare and bake, typically dedicating about 10 hours a week to her business while ensuring her studies don’t suffer. “My parents often tell me that time is something you can make room for; if you really want to do something, you can always find the time,” she said.

Her parents have been incredibly supportive, allowing Liu to follow her passion. If they see her working hard in the kitchen for hours, they will help by washing dishes. Even though they worry about how starting a business might affect her studies, they give her the space to try. “They wouldn’t stop me if I want to pursue something. I’m really grateful for that.”

With less than a year until she heads off to college, Liu is preparing for a new chapter in her life. With excellent grades, she has applied to various Ivy League schools, but as a California native, she admits her top choice is Stanford University, where she hopes to double major in economics and music. Will she be able to keep her cookie shop up and running once her busy college life begins?

“I’m already so happy with what my cookie shop has achieved so far. I’m not sure how I can continue in the future, but I hope to keep it going during summer breaks. My mom is also very willing to take over!”

For those interested in Helaine’s Bakery, check out her online shop at helainesbakery.cococart.co.