orders??
All of a sudden, I'm getting lots of orders. Everyday, it seems like someone is contacting me about ordering a cake. Don't get me wrong, I love it but I'm afraid I will forget about one or something...
How do you all keep orders organized? I bought a daily planner but that doesn't seem like enough space to keep it all organized in either. Should I get one of those giant wall calanders??
Do you have order forms for your cakes? I'm about to start writing out an order form on Word so I can at least have a uniform ordering system. My husband came home yesterday with a pre-paid order for a bday cake this coming Sunday for someone at a restaurant he stops at after work sometimes. It was written on a drink napkin! lol
eek! I'm excited and scared all at once. 
OH wow!! Congratulations on your recent business! Sounds like you will be doing a lot!
I would definetly to a write up of a form for yourself. Get one of those cork boards so that you can pin it up and see exactly what you need to do. Keep up with the planner so you can manage your time as well.
If you are getting LOTs of orders I would start asking for a down payment to get some of your supplies. That way you aren't in the hole when going out to buy products!
GOOD LUCK!!!Remember...Have fun! 
One word---- CAKEBOSS. The best system ever for cake decorators. I need to get a laptop so I can keep it in the car so I'm not writing on napkins. I went out to run some errands the other day, and came home with 4 orders.
Check into the CakeBoss Program. It keeps track of customers, orders, invoicing, etc.
http://forum.cakecentral.com/cakeboss-new-software-for-cake-ftopicp-2701913.html#2701913
1. Just a note in the calendar ("Smith wedding"; "Jones Birthday")
2. Electronic (excel) order forms with the details.
3. All forms stored in individual computer folder.
4. Each order has it's own folder, in date order. (2007-05-05 Smith, Carol)
5. An Excel spreadsheet, in date order, for a quick-glance reference. It tells me date, bride's name, dollar value, whether it's cake only or buffet.
When I get an inquiry, the first place I check is the excel spreadsheet, which shows me booked events AND how many inquiries I've got for that date (indicates popularity of the date).
the cake boss sounds interesting. I forwarded the demo to my mom (business partner/bread baker) to see what she thought of it as well. I just don't want to get in over my head and start drowning, especially with the farmers market season starting next weekend! We'll be doing two weekly markets and one monthly market so will be very busy with that alone, not even counting orders! I've told my mom that there might not be as many cookies, cakes or scones for the market because I might end up busy with cake orders...at least her bread is the type of thing that people go to farmers markets for anyway...I'm so glad we bought the 20Qt mixer!
1. Just a note in the calendar ("Smith wedding"; "Jones Birthday")
2. Electronic (excel) order forms with the details.
3. All forms stored in individual computer folder.
4. Each order has it's own folder, in date order. (2007-05-05 Smith, Carol)
5. An Excel spreadsheet, in date order, for a quick-glance reference. It tells me date, bride's name, dollar value, whether it's cake only or buffet.
When I get an inquiry, the first place I check is the excel spreadsheet, which shows me booked events AND how many inquiries I've got for that date (indicates popularity of the date).
Those are all good ideas, indydebbi. I might have to see about using excel. I'm not sure if I have it on this computer or not. Mom has it but I hate to use her computer. I have my own and everything is organized the way I like 
I think I'm going to give my husband some order forms to keep in his car for when someone does request a cake. He told me someone he works with is interested in a graduation cake next month as well...might as well have him ask all the right questions up front instead of having to go back and find out what frosting, cake, message, etc etc...
I use the Cookie Matrix (listed in the cookie forum) for some things and Cake Boss for others. Unfortunately, they are on two different computers! Put Cake Boss on my son's computer which doesn't have Excel (Cookie Matrix) and the Cookie Matrix is on hubby's computer which has Excel. I think I need my own computer! Hee hee.
If my orders started coming in I would get CakeBoss. Loved the lay out and thier way of organization.
I did forget one about a year ago 
. (Someone told me they needed a cake while we were at church and I couldn't write it down) I went straight to the store, bought a binder and some card stock to make dividers. I now have a book that is separated into months so that I never forget. AND if someone tries to give me an order and my book isn't in front of me, I ask them to call me at home!! I learned my lesson that is for sure!! Luckily I had just enough time to get it to them!!
I was using a date book but have since changed to an appt book more room to right in.
I have a date book, that I write a small explaination.
As well, I have a folder for all the months in the year. And I put all my order forms in there in date order. Then I just look at my calender and then go find the order form.
Because it is written in 2 places, I'm not worried about loosing anything.
I add orders to my Outlook calendar (color coded for cakes). Then, I fill out an order form for every cake. z[put it in a folder and keep all the folders, in date order, in a graduated slanted file holder on my desk. I can see all the tabs at a glance. On each folder tab, I put the name, date, type of cake and how many servings so I can tell at a glance if I can book more cakes for that weekend or not.
After the cake is done, I file the order form in a binder and place a clean label on the file folder so I can use it again.
I also keep all cake orders and pictures, by client, in a Word database-type document.
I bougth a big board at walmart and a sales book when ever I have a order I write it in my sales book and with a pin a put it in my board. I write their name,telephone num,when they want the cake, and what kind.As soon I am done with a cake I throw away the paper, and I keep the copy in my sales book.
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