I do not have a cake decorator license yet but wanted to create my own website to display cakes and info. I only make 1 or 2 cakes a week at tops, and I only have two wedding cakes to my credit. Will a website get me in trouble?
So are you a home-baker?? If so, your home must be inspected with the state before advertising. Some, states don't allow home-based bakeries. This topic has been asked alot on CC. You could search your question and get lots of answers. If I didn't have a license, home-inspection & Ins. I would never advertise. The health dept will be all over you. IMO.
HTH
Stephanie
This question is debatable!!!! I hope it doesn't get heated up!!!
I think it depends on your state as to how much trouble you could get in. I had a website for several years before I got licensed but then its legal here to home bake and the health department does not oversee nonperishable baking businesses here. So I didn't have much to worry about. I am licensed now though.
Some states are harsher so just see how your state is about it. Alot of decorators "fly under the radar" until they are sure their business will take off once they get licensed.
i agree with stephanie that a website would be an easy way to be found by a health inspector. stephanie, aren't we lucky b/c we can bake out of the home in NC (if we are inspected, etc.)?! i believe in GA, they have to have a sep. entrance, oven, sink, etc. and the list goes on...they can't bake out of the kitchen they use everyday.
OP, i'd just be careful if i were you. i know a certain caker in NC that bakes from home, has a websites and hasn't been inspected at all. she's begging to get caught.
i forgot to mention that my inspector told me that he goes on the website after he does the inspections just to make sure people aren't advertising something the shouldn't (cheescakes, fat-free, nut-free, etc). so i have a feeling he and other inspectors might browse the websites beforehand as well...just a thought!
Thanks a lot everyone. I live in an apartment, and I do need a separate kitchen, so obviously right now I am unfortunately in no position to get licensed. I would love to get licensed, but it is hard right now to know if there is enough business out there, and in order to find that out I need more people to know about my cakes, so it's kind of a catch 20 I guess or whatever that expression is .
Another thought, what if I don't get my own domain name, and then I could just have this website to give to people who are interested? Am I making sense? Something to wouldn't automatically pop up in google if someone searches cakes in Augusta? It's tiring answering the same questions over and over again and a website would just be very helpful.
You could do a personal blog, alot of people do that...
I do have one, and that's helpful but it's still not as convenient for people to see all my cakes at one time and to also get cake information.
I'm the odd one out here..but a website doesn't mean anything one way or the other.
It's not against the law to have a hobby and showcase your work.
People hire underage babysitters all of the time and you don't see them getting reported for breaking labor laws.
Just saying.
i just checked out your facebook page and your cakes are beautiful! you'll have business girl! but being in an apt. is tough b/c your hands are technically tied, unless you go full throddle! you could always "rent" your church kitchen...or a place that's only open at night, etc. and use their oven. that way, you'd be covered, i think...again check w/ your state's laws.
just wanted to tell you your cakes look awesome...good luck
Definitely like what I'm hearing from CakeForte And that's what I was wondering, I've only done two wedding cakes, I make next to nothing with cakes right now, I have a full time job, it's purely a hobby, so if I make sure I present it as a hobby in the website, I'm ok... maybe...?
i just checked out your facebook page and your cakes are beautiful! you'll have business girl! but being in an apt. is tough b/c your hands are technically tied, unless you go full throddle! you could always "rent" your church kitchen...or a place that's only open at night, etc. and use their oven. that way, you'd be covered, i think...again check w/ your state's laws.
just wanted to tell you your cakes look awesome...good luck
Thanks so much for the encouragement! Unfortunately, I've quit the church thing, darn! haha, but now that I think of it, I do know a lady who has a party planning business and has a bakery license I believe. I should check into that, but so often the most convenient time for me to work on cakes is late at night.
Okay so are you just planning having a website just to show case your cakes only? Your not going to talk about prices or anything "businessy"? If your just talking about your cakes, no business aspect to it, then why not. If your going to mention prices and when to order by dates, how you do your tastings and anything like that, then your crazy. This is such a no brainer.
yeah, labellaflor is right on that...purely information should be fine! and i hear ya on the working late at night. i work out of my home (i'm totally legal) but i have a 10 month old and a 3 year old, so caking happens after 8pm...hence my name UpAt2am
your cakes are awesome! if you decide to do this legal i dont think you will have any problems. my only advice would be to be careful about advertising when your not legal yet. the quote about asking for anyone to pass your name onto 2010 brides could be deemed as advertising-IMO.
i hope you decide to go legal i think you have potential to be very successful.
best of luck to you!
The only thing is....if you are not licensed and someone turns you in...it's REAL easy for the powers that be to look you up on the net.
Jen
It depends on the purpose of your website. If it's to showcase your creations - sort of demonstrate what you can do , that's okay. YOu are simply a hobbyist proudly displaying her work. But once you talk about pricing and ordering information you cross over into being a business person advertising her services. Not cool, not wise. This is when you can get into trouble.
I agree with Cakeforte, one has nothing to do with the other. You can have a website, anyone can have a website, it has nothing to do with being legal or not. If you sell from the website, then a problem can arise. But if you want to just get out there, do the website and maybe add some wording to the effect that you are working toward licensing so stay tuned. I had a website way before I got legal.good luck
Ok, thanks everyone. I'm working on the site now, and I will make sure to keep anything business-like out of it. I will hopefully post the site soon, so I can get feedback on whether it seems legal and safe.
While I'm at it (I don't mean to be tiring), I've been wondering about the realistic possiblities of going full-time with cakes. My husband and I depend on my teaching salary, and I don't know if it's realistic to think I would ever make the same kind of money with cakes (not to mention I would have to make more money to pay for the benefits I would be losing).
Do people make a decent salary making cakes out of their home or do you need a storefront? Location is probably an important factor, right?
Storefront is all about location, location, location, but if your good word gets around and people will find you. At home, which I'm not sure is an option for Georgia, is easier to start then a storefront, but has it's own drawbacks. You can only produce so much and you have to make sure you market and sell accordingly. Can you make money? Yes. Will you be the next Sylvia Weinstock with her income? Not likley or anytime soon. Does it have the potential to make up your lost income. Sure. Sit down, crunch numbers, do some math, research, look at you area, all that good stuff and then ask yourself is it possible. We can't give as clear an answer for you as you can find for yourself looking at your area, your area cost, you current income, and your personal life expenses. By the way, I've seen your blog. very nice, but you may want to remove the part about reccomending you to brides. That definelty sounds like advertising for business. Good luck.
Thanks Beautiful Flower! And yeah, I should probably remove that comment. It hasn't even helped me! No weddings booked yet for this summer, oh well!
Just to add, you can also add a gallery on your blog. I did it on mines although I don't sell cakes.
Love the pictures btw. Awesome cakes.
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%