I'm a legal cottage food operation. Ive been doing cakes for years on the side but now its the "real" deal. Ive been thinking about getting a Ipad just for the business to run credit cards on keep my calendar, expenses, inventory and do promotion from. i was wondering if anyone was doing the same? 

I use a samsung, not an iPad, I'm an anti-apple snob :P I prefer an android system.

I love using the tablet though, I also keep my portfolio on it, as well as all my contracts, (which are signable, and automatically e-mail to myself and the customer.)

As well as scheduling, expenses, budget, etc. The only thing I don't do is inventory, and that's just because I'm too attached to the ridiculous pad of paper stuck to my fridge that I've been using for 5 years.

This would be a good place to share any apps that you use for your business ipad or android. 

I have my portfolio on my ipad as well pdf documents but would love to hear any thoughts on apps you guys use.

Yes, I use square for my credit card processing.  You get a free card reader and if on an iPad it has a full POS system with the square register app.  I love the reports.  But at the moment there isn't an inventory section, but they are working on that.  The reports easily download to Microsoft Excel.  I use Cake Boss to keep my orders organized.

AWhat is Cake Boss? I looked for it but didn't find anything.

Well since you asked about apps :)...My husband has developed two apps for iPad, iPhone and iPod touch. TieredCaker and SheetCaker can be found on the iTunes Store. You can also read a very detailed review of the apps on the A Cake to Remember blog. (Not sure if I'm allowed to post links but you can google it.) Kara is a cake central member and if you have never read her blog it is awesome! She also has lots of great reviews of the craftsy classes too!

The two apps that are already released are getting some major updates in the near future and he has plans for an entire suite of apps that will cover every need of the cake artist!  He really focuses on making a user friendly interface that will save precious time. Which as a decorator myself, time seems to be my biggest enemy! He is always open to comments and suggestions and honestly he may know as much about cake as I do now haha!  

I run almost everything on ipad, except accounts. PDF expert I use for signable contracts and delivery notes, Adobe Ideas I use for sketches as you can import pictures, trace over them and then remove the pic, speeds things up a bit sometimes :-) You need a stylus or both apps tho really, but they're super cheap on ebay or amazon. I can't remember the name of the spreadsheet app but its a free one that lets you do basic spreadsheets so you can tot up prices just to be sure before you give a quote. I bought a photo album app just for my portfolio as I wanted it completely segregated from personal pics (which are 99% of the cat!) that comes across more professional in my opinion.

Ajenbug1.. please thank your husband for his apps. They are wonderful!!