I'd love to know how you all are ready when your orders come in. Do you keep a bunch of RI containers around in different colors or do you make them from scratch?
Do you keep them in decorating bags? I'm looking forward to your answers.

Sure, I keep excess royal icing around...but I try to only make what's needed fresh per order. If I happen to have a few cups of leftovers, it can be saved until I next use it. At an ideal cool room temp, the thinned icing can stay out well-packaged and not in direct sunlight for about 4-6 weeks. (That's only IF you made the recipe with meringue powder, not egg whites!!)

When you open it up, give it a sniff. If it smells "alcoholic", just throw it out.

When stored, it will have separated into three distinct layers in your baggie/container. Untinted, the top layer is fluffy/spongey/marshmallowy, the middle is a pale yellow runny liquid and the bottom is thick/dense/solid.

It will have to be re-beaten at lowest speed in the mixer again with the paddle attachment, for about 8-10 minutes.

It shouldn't be stored in piping bags long-term, no.

If I have leftover RI I will rebeat and use it. I keep it refrigerated between times. I also freeze leftover BC and use that as needed too. Mostly I make fresh icing.

I schedule out my entire week as far as baking and decorating. I have extra refrigerators just for cake so I'm able to work ahead a few days and lock finished cakes up in the refrigerators as I go.

Doing this from home though my maximum is about five cakes or so per weekend, depending on size and complexity. With four boys, its about all I can manage.

Thanks for answering my question!!
I don't sell cookies but i do make them for friends and family occasions. I store my RI in the fridge as i find it stays fresher longer and i mix it every so often.
What i find hard is having all the colors that i would need for each occasion at a whim. Sometimes i'll have specific colors in the fridge and run out of white so if i don't have time i have to use those colors. I was just wondering if you guys keep containers of every color possible in the fridge or if you really do make it fresh for each order you have.

I make it fresh with every order(s) If I have leftover-not so much anymore as I am getting better about judging how much I need-I use it for sample cookies, cookies for the family, or royal decorations-flowers, ladybugs, hearts, etc... I hate to waste anything!!!