I have a bit of a dilemma. I'm just starting out. I work a full-time job, as I'm not able to quit that and do my business full-time, nor so I have enough business to do so. I also have a toddler to care for when I'm not working. So, most of the jobs I'm committing to are usually weekends. I had someone request something for mid-week, but I can't get the time off, and I wouldn't have the time to do it even if I didn't take the time off. So, I had to turn it down. Isn't that bad?? Aren't I supposed to be taking anything and everything, just to get my name out there? I thought it may have been a bad move, but I have my life too. Advice?
Don't worry about turning business down, it just makes you look more
in-demand! 
You don't have to say you're busy with your other job, either...just say that your schedule is already full for that date, or that you're already booked 
Don't worry about it...I'm sure she understood and it didn't sound bad to her.
Just think of it as practice for when you're talking to a total stranger
Isn't that bad?? Aren't I supposed to be taking anything and everything, just to get my name out there?
No, it's not bad. It's actually good. It trains your customer and customers-to-be that you are in demand, which means your cakes are good and you are a talented decorator "......so if you want her to do a cake, you better book her right away!"
No you dont' take "anything and everything". I turn down stuff that's not profitable and not worth my time; I turn down stuff that I dont' feel I'm qualified to make; I turn down stuff becaues I'm booked solid. When I can, I refer them to another caker in the area (I have 3 CC'ers close to me who I can send them to).
Do not fall into the trap that you have to become a yes-man to everyone.
I turn down stuff that's not profitable and not worth my time; I turn down stuff that I dont' feel I'm qualified to make; [/quote]
What are you not qualified to make? I seriously want to see what you turn down for that reason.
Even if you did not have the family and the other job, you can still say no for any reason or no reason what so ever. When you start doing orders and feel you do not have the time for it, your work will suffer and you will begin to hate your artform. JMHO
What are you not qualified to make? I seriously want to see what you turn down for that reason.
I haven't done hardly anything in the carved cake category, so I tread cautiously along those lines. (and I think that's one of the worst grammatically structured sentences I've ever seen! 
). I've also never done a TT cake .... I'll happily experiment on a family member's birthday, but not on a bride!
Even if you did not have the family and the other job, you can still say no for any reason or no reason what so ever. When you start doing orders and feel you do not have the time for it, your work will suffer and you will begin to hate your artform. JMHO
Absolutely agree!
I'm in the same boat. Work a full time job and about to move into a commercial setting to become legal. I know I will have to turn down lots of orders because I cannot physically do the job. Until I get profitable enough to hire someone to bake, make icing, etc, that's the way its going to be. I already kind of have the reputation of "if you want Susan to do the cake, you better call early because she stays booked up". Not necessarily a bad thing! LOL!!!
I turn down stuff all the time. Even when I'm not busy. My biz is not here for anyone's convenience but my own.
And convenience takes on many definitions, family time, down time, vacation time, and doing nothing watching tv time.
Yeesssssss....That's what I say about the telephone, too. It's there for MY convenience, otherwise the answering machine is there for my convenience!
I totally understand where you are coming from and you have no reason to feel bad at all! I teach 2nd grade 4 days a week, and run a small home based business as well. On my website I have an availability calendar. If I know I am going to be busy writing school reports or something similar, than I just block out those dates on the calendar. That way, people know not to bother making an enquiry. If people call me, I always check my calendar, to make sure I can fit the job in. If I can't, Then I just say "sorry I am not available that day" or "I am fully booked for that date". No other explaination is neccessary, and my customers are always fine with that I've even had a few loyal customers change the date of their function so I could do their cake. People are always very understanding, don't worry! You'll get used to saying "no" it will save your sanity!
I've had the same problem! But I've finally learned to say "I'm booked solid for that week"! I did 6-8 cakes per week all summer (and didn't really start doing cakes until the end of May), all b/c I was afraid to say no and me just starting out! But I have quickly learned that I can't keep that pace up! Not while working my "real" job, too! And like others said, quality above quantity! That was part my my deciding factor to cut back!
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