10 things I wish I knew before starting a cake business - Part 1

I’ve been designing and making cakes for over ten years now. 

Do I know it all now? - No, probably not. 

But do I know more than I did when I first started out? - Absolutely, yes!

I wish I could go back to the very beginning and tell myself these things.  Do you relate to any of these?

1)      You can say ‘no’.

You do not have to say yes to everything.  If something does not excite you, or you can sense a customer is going to be high maintenance from the beginning, you do not have to take the order.  Unless financially, you need to, it is perfectly ok to say no. Remember, not everyone is your customer.

2)      Don’t undersell yourself.

Even in the beginning, do not price your work too low.  It will make it very hard for you to price your work properly, when you very quickly realise that you are not making enough money for all your hard work and need to put up your prices. 

Do not be a busy fool and do not be ‘the cheap cake’ person in your area.

3)      Never make anything until you have been paid.

Until the money is in your hand, the oven does not go on.  No matter how ‘nice’ the customer seems, and how much they ‘promise’ you that they will be there on Saturday at their allocated time to collect their cake – does not mean they will!

I have seen and still see, many a cake maker being burnt because of this.  Trying to sell off a bespoke cake that has not been collected – or paid for.  It happened to me once in the beginning – but only once.  Never again!  Always have your business head on.

4)      It will take time and patience to get to the skill level you want to be at.

Do not overpromise and then under deliver.  The art of cake decorating takes time.  Things do not just happen, they take practice, practice and more practice. 

If you are approached to take on an order that is out of your skill set, assess first – just ‘how much’ is it out of your area of expertise?  Be honest with yourself – can you pull it off?  Or is it just a step too far for now?   Again, don’t be afraid to say no, or also you could down sell to something you feel confident doing and doing well.

5)      Don’t take on too much work.

There are only so many hours in a day and only so many days in a week.  If you take on too much work for the time you have available, it only leads to one thing – potential disaster. 

Late nights, early mornings and eventually, burnout.  No cake is worth that.  Do not overbook yourself!  Be honest with how much time you have and what you can do in that time.

Click here for part 2 of 10 things I wish I knew before starting my cake business.