How Did You Get Started Selling To Family And Friends?
Decorating By Angelgirl Updated 10 Jul 2007 , 7:46pm by Angelgirl
I'm just curious how you all made the switch from giving your cakes away for free and selling them to friends and family. I'm not looking to really go into business (at least not for a LONG time!) but when people want cakes, it would be nice to make a little money from it for my time and effort. But, it seems that everyone is used to getting them for free. I had one friend actually get angry with me when I gave her a suggested price- which was basically just to cover the supplies for her cake!
So, how did you all make that adjustment? I think that my work has improved enough that I don't need to be just GIVING them away now. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Becky
Hi Becky,
It is exciting that you are ready to start charging for your cakes!
I honestly can't remember what my first paid cake was, but I do remember feeling that I couldn't do one more free cake!! I discussed with most of my close family/friends what my plans were and that I thought I wanted to start doing cakes for extra money. After that, they were all very supportive and would call and "order" a cake instead of ask for one. I still rarely charge family/close friends, but they always try to pay me.
I think you just have to talk about it before an actual cake comes up!\\
Good luck to you!
Oh, I hope you get some response. I'd like to know too!! 
I started out by just doing them for cost, but it seemed like I was always making everyone's cakes for them. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy doing cakes but I also work full time and have children. I decided to start charging for them and I just told everyone before they even ordered that there would be a charge for me making their cakes from now on. Met some complaining but they can always go to the grocery store or the bakery if they want to. I now charge everyone the same price except close family and close friends get a 10 percent discount.
Mine happened without my input... I did the baby shower cake in my photos, and the mother-in-law of my cousin was very vocal about making sure that the next time anyone needed a cake, they pay me fair market value for it. It took awhile to get her to understand that I CAN'T take that much money for them yet, but she said that they can darn well get me gift cards to the shops where I buy my stuff, or something, as a 'thank you' for doing it 'just for supplies'. And a gas card, for deliveries. She came up with some very creative ways for folks to see that I got compensated, without profit actually changing hands. Still not sure how I feel about that, though! 
However, off that one cake, I now have two more 'practice' shower cakes... one for August, and one for September.
But let us know how it goes when you do it.
Hi - I am just like you and new to this.
My first charged cake was to a very good friend, who I offered to just do for her at no charged when she asked me to do a cake for her family. She told me NO way that this was going to be a little business for me and said she would only do it if I let her pay me for it. She lifted my self confidence and now I will only give free cakes to my sisters and parents.
I will admit that I have a big problem with figuring out how much to charge people and must work on that, but I do make sure that I cover my costs at the very least.
It is really hard when you are starting out to figure out the price I have been told that I charge people to little. Any suggestions on making sure that You do not over price.
I'm just curious how you all made the switch from giving your cakes away for free and selling them to friends and family. I'm not looking to really go into business (at least not for a LONG time!) but when people want cakes, it would be nice to make a little money from it for my time and effort. But, it seems that everyone is used to getting them for free. I had one friend actually get angry with me when I gave her a suggested price- which was basically just to cover the supplies for her cake!
So, how did you all make that adjustment? I think that my work has improved enough that I don't need to be just GIVING them away now. Any suggestions?
Thanks!
Becky
Hi i was like you i didnt want to charge but so far i havent done to many free cakes A friend and me did a wedding cake back in Oct for this girl we work with her Dad got layed off at his job and we thought this was the least we could do OH boy was that a no no cause since then another girl was hinting at us doing the same thing we put a stop to that, We gave her a price and so far we havent heard from her Yet she still isnt married, So for friends i mean really close friends just charge them the cost of the cake and then if you delivery it then tack a few $$ on Hope this helps
I've been doing cakes for my immediate family for several years and I really loved it and wanted to make it my business some day. When my oldest started school, I started making cupcakes & cookies for her class and I also did cookie bouquets for her teacher for christmas and end of the year thank you. I also was very active in the PTO and donated cakes & cookies for different functions. Gradually the moms & staff noticed and they started asking about my baking. I also get a lot of word of mouth advertising from my aunt & grandma. I don't get tons of orders but enough to give me some extra cash.
it's funny.... now that i think about it i did one "free" cake and that got the ball rolling. i made a bridal shower cake for my sister's shower. didn't even take a digital pic of it! her future mil then asked me to make the cake for the shower she was throwing for my sis. so i made it thinking i was just making the cake and when i delivered it she handed me $$! i guess that's how i got started. i still do free cakes for my parents, sister & her hubby and our church bible study. i've warned everyone in these "groups" that they are my guinea pigs! 
Thanks for all of your suggestions. For the most part, my parents have always paid for my supplies when they have needed cakes- and always given me a little extra. But, I brought a couple of my cakes that I was trying new things on or my class cakes into work and now it seems I'm expected to provide cakes for people's birthdays. Even if they were going to pay for the materials and nothing else, I would be happy with it. I don't think that's too much to ask!
Next time someone asks for a cake, I'll offer a price to them. If they don't come back, then they probably aren't worth it!
Becky 
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%