how do I keep customers out of my personal area?

I think most likely Maxis will patch in door locks soon. I just opened a bakery that also sells decorated Easter eggs and a few paintings. The cupcake machine is on the back patio, and there's a separate enclosed kitchen area on one side with oven and fridge, with a couch and book nook for my own Sims to use. The rest of the store to the front is all display cases for baked goods with two tables and chairs where customers sit, chat, and eat free samples.

I had my Sim bake everything the night before and put them for sale in the refrigerated display cases. Next morning she opened the store at 9:00am. Since she didn't have to bake, she was able to spend all her time out front chatting with customers. Her boyfriend was also there to help ring up sales. As long as at least one of my Sims was out front helping customers, no one even entered the kitchen area. They all stayed out front. Darn if her boyfriend didn't get abducted though, when they got home that night, so now he's expecting! Oh well...she'll have to hire someone else to help out at the bakery now. :p

Your store sounds awesome! Mines fairly similar, but customers follow my Sims to the back! If no one goes back there, customers won't, but if any of my household Sims go in the back for food or a shower, 4 customers will immediately follow, and then I just kick them out of my store as punishment.

Trying putting a shower into one of the regular public restroom areas (closed off by its own door) instead of your Sim's back room, so customers won't want to follow your Sim in there. Have you tried putting free baked samples out on the tables? That seems to keep the customers occupied in my shop. They should be busy either browsing or chatting with each other. Be sure that when your Sim goes to the back room, that you cancel any chat bubbles in the queue they have going with others. And be sure at least one Sim stays out front to greet and talk to customers. Hope that will help! :)

Okay, I'll try those!! I don't have free samples out either.. I'll start doing that at least, maybe putting a vending machine up front too might help a little even...

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Hi, guys, I think you can cook in one room and hire the salesclerk in another room. Meanwhile, put dishes in salesclerk's room so that customers will bother the sales clerk instead of you.