Because Cara, it opens a huge can of worms. Friends mean well. Mine have done the same thing to me. They don't realize that I have to have my kitchen inspected and be licensed to be able to sell cakes. They just think that "oh, you're cakes are great, you should sell them!" and then someone at that party sees the cake and wants one just like it and it snowballs. Once you start playing "pretend business" with friends and family, friends of friends start calling you and you think, wow, this is cool... I'm making money... but you're doing it illegally.

Eventually, there are consequences to doing things we shouldn't do. I speak from experience. I started making things for friends and family and they did just like I described. So I started getting emails, "oh this friend of mine loved your cake and wants, blah, blah, blah...." It's hard to say no especially when your family needs the money to pay the rent. I'd rather stop while I'm ahead and not have to pay those consequences, I've had enough of those for a lifetime.

LOL! Kiwi! Well, I would prefer to keep it to dinner, or treating to a movie and popcorn!

Yeah, I have a strict, if you are not an immiediate family member, (Dad, stepmom, sisters, nephew, my kids and hub) or a bestie (only 2 of those) then no cakie for you! But I think if my friend turned around a month after I made the cake and said, well that cake cost a lot for you to make and a lot of time, how bout I treat to concert tickets, I am not going to say no. I don't see that as business. I see that as being friends and being nice.

[quote="Caralovescake"]If it is a close friend why can't they just give you money? It is not like they will turn you in to the cake police. I think you would only not sell to people you don't know.[/quote]

Here's why that may not work. You don't know who else, besides your friend will be at the party/dinner/event where the cake will be served.

You want to know how I got caught without the proper license? (I had a license but not the correct one for selling cakes.)

Cake is being served, and if i remember correctly it was a carrot cake. Guy asks, "mmmmm who made the cake?" Answer was my name.

Unfortunately the guy who asked was also a health inspector in real life.

I got a call the next day.


And this is why I will ALWAYS and FOREVER warn each and every poster that selling cakes without a license is risky business.

exactly Leah, I've been terrified that the wrong person would be at an event where I've made the cake, and my well meaning friends give them my name. I don't think any of my friends actually know anyone who works for any organization that would "bust" me, but because I feel guilty about it, it's enough for me to want to stop- unless it's my gift or they've brought me the ingredients and I've accepted no money. I barter with the girl who does my kids photography and we have a separate arrangement as well that isn't for cake, but I wouldn't do that with anyone else.

I know of two other bakers in my area who are selling illegally and they advertise, I've never advertised AT ALL. Everyone who has contacted me has been a friend or past acquaintance, or friend of a friend. It's only a matter of time before something blows up in my face though.

I am looking into what it would take to convert half of my mom's extra garage into a kitchen for me to be able to legally sell. I could sell from home if I didn't have indoor dogs, but my son's therapy dog isn't going anywhere so that makes it a "no-no" for me.

Cakesdivine, I know I didn't do it. lol I just feel terrible about people being so obnoxious and idiotic. My almost 3 year old DD does the same thing. If I'm combing her hair and I pull she says sorry to me. Poor thing. LOL

Wait, so I can't even give a cake to a friend to serve at a party? Now I am soooo confused? So, is is that only purchased cakes can be sold at a party? Or am I missing something. I thought someone said that you can't even give a cake away if other people are going to eat it.

Why, why, why do these threads turn ugly?

It isn't anyone's business if she is legal. She's selling a cake to a good friend. She wanted our advice for that-not on making 30 cakes a week to everyone in town.

I'm a bit tired of how ugly these things turn.

And yes, I'm a former lurker as well, cammyblake.

This thread doesn't sound ugly to me. It just seems like folks with good business acumen are trying to help. Just because they're not babyhanding the OP doesn't necessarily mean that they're being abusive and mean.

Costume, youre in rare form today! Luv it!!

Geesh, Im going to start collecting these types of examples for a book, since Im always voicing my anguish at women who feel GUILTY and WORRY about people LIKING them so they wring their hands and give away their product and then wonder why they cant make it in business and why no one takes them seriously.

Geesh!

OP, one thing to watch with a round/square/round tiered cake is the size of the square cake. Lets say you were going to do a 6/10/12 or even an 8/10/12. A 10 square is 10 from side to side BUT! Its 14 from corner to corner. This means the corners will overhang the 12 cake by an inch or so. Even an 8 square will BARELY fit on a 12 round. Based on the wilton serving chart, which is what I used to determine PRICING, a 6/8/12 will serve 12/24/56 = 92 servings.

How many servings does your friend need?

For edible rhinestones n such, here is a link to Country Kitchens jewel molds: http://countrykitchensa.com/whatshot/hotmain.aspx

And OP, dont worry about all the static about the legal or illegal question. Many people are not aware that its illegal to bake and sell out of their home, so its just common info that is shared all the time. In my time on this site, Ive found that those who get all pi$$y about it are those who want to do whatever they want with no regard for the rules, so they hate being told what the rules are. These are the same folks who probably stomped their little foot and stuck out their bottom lip when mommy wouldnt give them a cookie before dinner . Their tantrum worked back then so they think it works now.

K8 didn't get banned. She changed her name and stopped posting because she felt (as I understand it) that she was very misunderstood and being ganged up on. And I, for one, miss her.

My sister-in-law fell into some bad luck and was recieving foodstamps for a time. There's no way she could afford a cake on her limited income, but she's a wonderful seamstress and made me an adorable bag for my knitting projects. I think we both felt good after the exchange.

I like the idea of trading favors for cakes. But beware that one friend in publishing that chooses to make business cards for you! What a waste of paper and ink.