I have recently decided to start decorating cakes for a living, in order to continue being home with my children. Currently, I run a home daycare keeping 8 to 10 children full-time - 10 hours a day with no help and physically I cannot do it anymore. My oldest child is 5, my son is 4, and my youngest is a 1 yr. old girl. With that said, do you have any advice for me that will help me along the way in the huge world of cake decorating? Suggestions... on baking, icing, decorating... I am new to it all. It was a passion that I only enjoyed from afar now I am jumping in and have no experience. I look forward to your advice, opinions. Thank you

Check out the Cake as Business forum. There are legalities just like the day care industry. If you are doing this as a business, you might want to take some classes to brush up on techniques. Many instructors have lots to add and some of the new ways of doing things may help you be more efficient or improve your product. When I first took Wilton classes in the late 70's, specialty flowers were all done by eye. Now, there are templates that fit the nail and take the guesswork out.

Happy decorating and good luck!
Junebuggey

Congratulations on your decision to start a new business! I would call your local Michael's and see when their classes are...it's a great way to get your feet wet and see if this is something that you want to pursue. Best of luck!

Seriously, you'd have to do an awful lot of cakes to make "a living" from it. 90% of cakes are for weekends. You'd be doing most of your work on Fridays and Saturdays. I started doing it on the side 24 years ago. Once I had children, I stopped. I just did it for a few people. I began building it again when my youngest was about 11. I do about one to three cakes a week. It puts gas in the car.

My biggest advice is to stick with Cake Central. The people on here are so helpful - jumping in with advice when needed. This is the place you can come to with questions, advice, worries and concerns. Welcome to what will become your home away from home (or as a lot of people say - your legal addiction!!!).

I have been taking classes from a mother and daughter team that are well known around here. You can take a look at their work at www.cakesbymomandme.com. This is something that I definitely want to do as a side job because of all the kids I keep I start losing them this year to kindergarten, so I will not have as many kids and I do not want to add kids. So, this is something I enjoy doing and want to pursue cake decorating further.
I appreciate all who take the time to read my e-mail and offer me advice. I agree cakecentral is the best!!!!!

One of the members on this site runs a daycare out of her home too, she had to have a separate kitchen for the daycare and one for her cake stuff. But definetely check with your local health department.

dmaam: Thanks for that website. Their cakes are awesome!