about a year
I was an accountant for a big firm until my daugter was born, so now Im a SAHM trying to start a cake business 
I agree!! I have only been at this about a year and wish I had found my passion sooner!! The majority of my business comes from family and my coworkers ( I work fulltime at a large school). Though the possibility of a long term contract for cakes/cookies for a realtor who wants them for her open houses may be in the works for next year!! I am keeping my fingers crossed for that one to pull through!!
Well, I did cakes here and there since high school. Got into it more when DS was born, but didn't get "serious" until my best friend asked me to do her wedding cake. Then I took Wilton course 1. Still haven't taken any more due to time constraints, but I enjoy it more.
Melissa
Mine started about 4 years ago when my sons pre-school asked for cakes for a cake sale and they raffled my attempt as they thought it deserved it.
I think my children are trying to challenge me by asking for more and more unusual cakes. 
I decorate cakes as a hobby and love it.
It was a year in November and we were busy right away!
I've been baking for 10 years and love it but it was only in the last 5 years that I got serious. BUT I'm still very afraid to do wedding cakes. I'm hope one day I can get over my fear - the thought of presenting a cake for over 100 guests makes me nervous....so for the moment I'll stick to fun cakes. 
I have been baking cakes for sale since Feb 2005. I brought cake for my co-workers and have been selling cakes since. I was then asked to do decorated birthday cakes, so I signed up for classes and finished in Nov 2005. I still work full time and bake and decorate when I get home. I too wish I had found my passion sooner. I am still fearful of the stacked cake, but I will get over it because I have a wedding to do in June 07, stacked cake with drapes. Never done drapes before Yikes!
Hi! I have been doing cakes since January of this year. A cousin who had a cake decorating business in my town (pop. 3400) retired and asked if I wanted some of her stuff. I took a couple of classes at a community college in a town where I work and was a little disappointed. So I just tried a few things with those practice books from Wilton. I then started making 'freebies' for different departments where I work at Valentines Day, etc. I then started making birthday cakes for family and finally entered a cake in the county fair in my town last August and won 1st place and best in show (there were only 2 cakes entries 
After that I started getting calls for birthday cakes. I received a wonderful gift for my 40th birthday (next week- 
) to take the Wilton Master course next summer in Darien, IL. I made my first wedding cake (my own) this past October and I have signed up for a booth at the first county bridal show next month. I have so much to learn and most of which I learn from you all on CC! I am so glad I found this site. I too wish I would have figured out this passion much earlier in life!
I took the three Wilton courses in March, April, and May, and had my first paying job (a smash cake for a co-worker's daughter's 1st birthday pictures). After that, it snowballed. I offered my co-workers (I work for a huge law firm) a discount for a couple of months while I built up my portfolio, and now am charging "full price" and going strong. I only wish I had known for years that this was a talent and passion for me. All that college...
I've been decorating cakes for 3 months now. I wish I had decided to do this sooner .I always wanted to be a pastry chef but my parents talked me out of it so I majored in business in college. I have one more year of college left (business management) but after I'm done I decided to go to culinary school, despite what my parents say. They are more accepting of it now, I guess they realize how happy I am that I know what I really want to do.
I started decorating cakes in March of this year when I signed up for the Wilton's course 1 class.
I learned basics from my grandfather who was a cake decorator for 35+ years. Then DH bought me a beginner's set for Mother's Day and I do it when I get time.
I really enjoyed reading all the reply's...I to wish I had found my passion with baking earlier. I am a mom of 2 boys, wife and caregiver for elderly. I have not been able to do cakes like I would like to. I have wanted to do the wilton classes but never took the time. I have learned from looking at books, internet, etc. I have decided I will be quitting my job no longer than Spring so hopefully I will be able to get more serious about baking.
I've been decorating for about 8 years now but when i started everything was with the star tip. I think i've done over 500 cakes but don't have a digital camera and besides about 400 of them were working for bakeries. I'm still trying to get all the supplies i need.
Well for me hit and miss for over 25 years, I did my kids cakes took off about 15 years then started grandsons cakes now. Also now I'm started to sell out of my home with spare time and I'm finding just how behind I am with all the new stuff out there. I love it though, I kinda wish I would of pushed it more earlier in life.
I started decorating when my son was about 3. He is 16 now, and I love decorating, and I do get a few paid jobs, but just for special occasions (birthdays, graduations). I never took lessons, just learned from books, videos and the internet. I have never done a wedding cake, and I don't know if I ever will. I do plan on making my own anniversary cake, and I would like to make a 3-tier. It will be our 25th wedding anniversary next year!
Five years (off an on) but my cakes have grown in the pass two years so I always say two years.
Never had any idea or interest that I could do this when my kids were growing up. They came up on bakery brought birthday cakes and boy, let me tell you, those ladies could make some great tasting cakes...to bad they retired
I learned the basics when I was a kid, my mom and grandma both had done some. It wasn't until about 2 years ago that I did more than a cake for Christmas and the kids' birthday cakes. Mostly I did the shaped pans until last year when my youngest saw a 3d dump truck and just had to have it. 
I have sold a few cakes and cookies once but mostly do it for home or just to practice.
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