I made a cake for my hubby's job the other day, well due to snow yesterday he didnt go in and I wasnt taking the cake there without him being there. So I take the cake today. He just called me to tell me that his company wants me to make all of the cakes for the company! I don't want to stir up the pot about in home bakers, but I was doing this for fun! How do I do this without getting in over my head? Do I charge them or just give them to the company? Thanks Megan
What a great opportunity!
Couple of questions:
1) How many cakes do they need? Are they looking for just b-day cakes,or very extravagent cakes for special events also?
2) Was payment brought up? Or are they assuming you'll be doing these for free since your husband works there?
I definately wouldn't give them for free, that is gonna be expensive! If you feel uncomfortable charging them full price, maybe see if they'll be willing to pay for the supplies.
And just tell them that you are limited with how many cakes you do. I would try to get whatever you agree upon in writing, People tend to take advantage of the situation.
Good luck!
Well the cake I did over the weekend was a dump truck ontop of a 1/4 sheet cake. It was a red velvet cake with cheesecake mousse and cream cheese icing. The dump truck was carved out of pound cake. According to mu hubby they want the same cake for confrence meeting and the big wig meetings they have every so often. He did tell my husband that he would pay me for the cake and time, I am just alittle worried about taking payment from my husbands company! Just to clear it up it is a BIG corp. But I was talking to my husband and he said that I should do my next one with a dump truck and bulldozer ontop of a full sheet cake! I don't think hubby realizes the time it takes to do these cakes. Thanks for you input on this one out of 40 views!
When I had a full time job, I did the monthly birthday cakes for the office and the warehouse. Two 12x18 cakes every month. I invoiced them and they paid me like any other vendor.
Your cakes will be much more involved than the simple sheet cakes I did, so I'd be sure they understand how much advance notice you will need .... that these types of cakes can't just be "slapped together" at the last minute.
Well see I was thinking about making the dump truck & bulldozer ahead of time and freezing them. That way I had the hard part when I needed them. I would make one of each and when I had to use them I would start all over and keep rotating them out of the freezer. Does that make any sense to do it that way?
I would charge them - they charge their customers & don't feel guilty about it.
I'm sure you could say you are flattered & would love to do them - and would they like an estimate for an equivalent cake?
That way, you can have a clear consious going forward, because they are aware of what they are asking for going into this.
Good Luck & congratulations!
Definately charge them! You don't work there and this is your thing not your hubby's. I make all the B'day cakes for the company I work for and charge them just like anyone else would. It's not part of my duties to make cakes, it's something that I do for myself.
Well see I was thinking about making the dump truck & bulldozer ahead of time and freezing them. That way I had the hard part when I needed them. I would make one of each and when I had to use them I would start all over and keep rotating them out of the freezer. Does that make any sense to do it that way?
I think that would be a great idea, poundcakes freeze very well. Anything you can do to save some time. Whatever they are paying, you still don't want it to eat up all your time. Congrats! 
i would like to add in this bit of info. My husband works for a big corp too. And it is against the corporate policy for the company to pay anyone working in our family for services or goods, even cakes. For instance, if my husband worked for a company that built houses, and I worked for a company that sold blinds. They would not be able to purchase from me because my husband would be getting a benift from them buying from me. It si called a conflict of interests. And since my Dh is HR I asked him if that was a standard in big companies. He said yes. Now, my DH is out to make money at any opportunity so i had an order for $2000 worth of cookies from his company. But he checked the policy and the lawyers said no. So there went my 2K.
I think it is a great opportunity I hope you can do it. I just wanted to warn you so you can check. Because my guess is your cake salary would not make up for your DH salary should he get in trouble.
Currently i make cakes for my Dh's work and give them to them free. I get practice, they get free birthday cakes. he won't even tell them my phone number. He just refers them to my website and that is it.
Best of luck to you and I really hope it works out for you.
Julia
"Cheesecake mousse" you say??? Gosh, that sounds good!! Where can I find the recipe??
As far as charging them: Yes! For sure, do charge them. Ask them what their budget is and let them know what they can get for that amount. Let them know what the retail price is for the cake that you gave for "free."
Freezing the pound cake is a great idea! Let us know what happens!!!
I have to agree with LSawyer - I want the cheesecake mousse recipe!
I do hope this works out for you. My sister works for a large govt. firm, and they usually buy their cakes from the local grocery. But alot of the folks there that do "department" gatherings, strictly for the people in their department, buy their cakes from me. We do have to tread carefully due to the conflict of interest. The fine line here is they pay out of their own pockets, sis and I don't live in the same household, and her paychecks affect me not.
I am so keeping my fingers crossed for you. Perhaps if the group wanted to pay you out of their own pockets, not company money, and you deliver the cake off company property, have someone meet you, you may be able to skirt around it.
I can't go on gov't property, I am not badged, so someone always meets me.
I hope some of this info is useful
Best of luck to you!
Bump_ on the cheesecake mouse filling, sounds really yummy!!
Thanks for all the help here on this ify situation! I have a few more questions for you all. Thanks again everyone.
1. How much do you charge for a full sheet cake with cream cheese icing & cheesecake mousse filling?
2. How much for a sculpted caked, like the dump truck in my photos?
And yes the recipe for cheesecake mousse is in the recipe section. It is one package of pudding to 2cups of whipping cream!
i don't know about the pricing but if the person has the authority to decide where items will be purchased i would think that they already know whether it is a conflict of interest to purchase from you. they sent the offer to you. i say go for it and good luck. who knows...it may very well lead to other companies asking you to do their cakes 
I agree, glory, if the company is coming to you then they should be aware of their own policy. It might also be that while the company has anti-nepotism rules, there may be a minimum dollar amount.
I say make them, charge them, and duct tape hubby's mouth so that he doesn't actually mention brilliant ideas in front of the work folks before checking with you 
. "Sure Mrs. Vice President, my wife can make a working cotton gin out of red velvet and fondant!"
Well I do have to say it was my idea to make the dump truck 3D! Hubby wanted me to just do an outline of the dump truck and I said I wanted to try and do a 3D cake! I told hubby I could do a sheet cake with shadows of the machines on them instead of the 3D truck. He told no that they want they 3D truck. Me and my brilliant idea! One more question for you all.
What is a heavy cake to use instead of pound cake?
i don't know about the pricing but if the person has the authority to decide where items will be purchased i would think that they already know whether it is a conflict of interest to purchase from you. they sent the offer to you. i say go for it and good luck. who knows...it may very well lead to other companies asking you to do their cakes
Actually this is not always true in a large organization. My Dh works for a HUGE company and he is the general manager for three states and still he had to check to make sure. HIS boss thought it was a great idea, but then my dh checked (because he heard of it at last company).
Each company is different and I am sure they know what is best for them. I just thought it was important to know. The company my Dh works fires people for this....and this is a large retailer....Best Buy, whom he worked HR for 8 years, also had the same policy.
Not everyone knows all the rules in a large organization. It is impossible.
However, I am just providing information do with it what you will.....
Julia
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