Hi all,
I've been toying with actually having a cake biz. I'm told that I am talented, but truth is, I know I need practice. That being said:
1. how can I start a portfolio that is not costly and allows me to practice different techniques?
2. how often should I add a cake? Once a week? Once every other week? I have a full-time job, as well as being a single mom. I don't have the time or energy to work on practice cakes every night. Perhaps a couple of nights during the week and half the day on Sunday?
3. how do I figure pricing? I anticipate that my market area will be requesting kids' birthday cake (mickey, frozen, lego, etc...) Should I set a minimum of $50-$75 and price higher if they want more tiers, etc??
I really appreciate all of your help :)
Nadia Henry.
doing character cakes gets into copyright issues -- i'm sure you never thought about that because so many do it -- but so many of us speed too kwim -- but it's illegal to do copyrighted character cakes and basing a business on that is risky right?
running a business takes a lot of energy separate and apart from making cakes -- let me suggest that you peruse the business section on here for a while -- run searches up there in the search field about opening a business -- you will get a lot of information that you need --
you should literally double those prices from what you've told me -- if you're a single mom your time is needed with munchkins and you should get paid at least double what you're quoting here to give up kid time for cakes -- i can appreciate that you could use the money too -- so take a deep breath and learn about what you need to know --
question, what state are you in? are even in the states?
best to you
As far as practice cakes depends on what you need to work on. If you have your recipes down and just need to work on decorating and learning new techniques maybe dummy cakes would be a good option for you and something I'm looking into now bc we like to decorate for fun outside of orders but don't need or want any cake.
Pricing will be very specific to your costs and location. Pricing is a very important to running a cake business there is more in cost than ingredients and materials. You have to factor in licensing, insurance, food permits if required in your area and all the other bills water, gas, electricity ohh and profit you'll definitely want that worked on there too. There are pricing guides available for purchase as well as many threads on here about pricing. There are also copyright laws for character cakes that I would highly encourage you to look into as well.
I have the administrative side of the biz down pat. I ran my dad's general construction business up until he passed unexpectedly. I ran my brother's cleaning business until he decided to dissolve. I know the business side. I've formed sole proprietorships, incorporations and LLC's...changed the corporate structure and dissolved it. I'm not required to hold insurance or permits seeing as how this falls under the cottage laws of FL. I'm a home baker. As far as the copywrite/trademark infringement concern...the law applies to like merchandise/services and open to interpretion as far as edibles go. Since there is no case law on edibles and trademark/copywrite infringement, proving intent on my behalf is not difficult. I spoke to 2 trademark attorneys today. Initially, I'd be served a cease and desist, in which I would simply remove the pic from my site. I don't need help with starting a business...that's just a matter of paperwork and getting all your ducks in a row. What I'm finding difficult is building this business. I know how to advertise, but I need to have something visible/tangible to advertise. So...how does one decide to create a portfolio? Do I go all out with a 3 tier blinged out wedding cake or a cute smash cake, or a character themed cake...what about a nautical cake...the ideas are endless, but not very conducive to my schedule. Don't get me wrong, I fully get that I'll be up many sleepless nights and it would be worth it at that point cause I'd be getting paid. But I'm not getting paid for a portfolio cake...that's my quandary...
check out dallas foam online and buy yourself some dummies -- cover and decorate each half differently so can get twofers -- and fourfers etc. 'cause you can redecorate on top of that and change the configurations --
you want a nice display of primarily weddings and birthdays as time goes by add in some baby & bridal shower cakes then after that do some seasonal things for each holiday --
i strongly recommend going generic with kids cakes -- think of the ages to get a good variety -- for infants, toddlers, and so on -- trains, dinosaurs, trucks,
but if you can pop out the weddings the orders will come
get some short tiers and double tiers when you gather up your dummies -- what I did was buy foam insulation sheets and a foam cutter and cut and glued my own dummies together -- buying already made is easier -- but foam cutting is fun --
don't start out with lower prices as you build this portfolio -- you'll be creating the wrong clientele and you'll have to start over if you raise prices -- you typically price per serving -- if you want to survive you'll want to price at a minimum of fourish dollars give or take --
sleepless nights on a creative endeavor is usually a waste of time -- keep track of your time just as if you were on the clock -- don't get lost in the creative side of your brain -- it leads to burn out --
oh and when you get an order you want to ramp up just for the purpose of taking a picture --you could give 'a portfolio discount' but of course give them an invoice that shows the correct price and the discount -- avoids confusion --
thanks @-K8memphis This is a great help to me! I was reading some older posts about dummy/styro cakes. Many users balked at it because they said the styro cakes are not realistic? But those posts are from 2008 to 2011, have the times changed? Is it ok to make styro cakes for a portfolio now? I hear ya on the pricing. Yes, I don't want to build the wrong clientele. Is there a way to bridge the gap for those who can't afford a beautiful custom cake and those who can afford the super custom cake? I guess it'll be a learning experience. I like the idea of a discount for a portfolio cake too! That's awesome! I was thinking about taking a few Craftsy clasess and using those cakes too. My neighborhood consists of families - not the young, getting ready to be married crowd, which is why I was thinking about kids' cakes. You've been doing this for a very long time, so I'll take your advice on wedding cakes...perhaps once a month or every 6 weeks.....or when I'm just tired of making princesses and dinosaurs 
As far as the sleepless nights....great advice!!! I think I just need to slow down my thought process and take it one step at a time. Thanks again @-K8memphis
cool
like the bridge from not as expensive cakes to high end kaching kaching cakes is an interesting point -- a lot of people distance themselves from cheaper cakes -- but it's a tough tough market out there -- every penny counts --
because while you are investing time in the big buck cakes you can handily pop out lower end (in time and price) cakes that are nearly effortless -- you'll increase your hourly take home pay for nanoseconds -- it all usually happens on the weekends --
when you are doing a tier cake -- make extra batter and icing -- bam -- keep it limited to certain sizes like they do in the grocery stores that fit perfectly in the easy peasy packaging --bake 'em off slap on the buttercream -- use easy peasy ready made decor and away you go --
what you'd want to think about going forward is booking x amount of higher end cake per week and x amount of the easy ones -- so you don't get bogged down either way --
as far as how many you need in your portfolio -- it's just personal choice -- a few dozen would be nice don't you think
oh now i see what you mean by how sometimes we pooh pooh dummy cakes -- that's just because some people work on a dummy for several months and do things to it that cannot be done in real time on a cake -- brides/clients see it/want to order it and it just can't be done --
but no using dummies to build your portfolio is a great way to go --
i'd start with some classics and go from there -- a tree bark cake, quilted, monogram, ruffles, roses all over, simple ribbon bordered, put a cascade on it, take off the cascade do scrolls, etc. but plan the dummy from plain on up and put one design on one side and another design on the other -- check out martha stewart and do a couple of hers -- do the one with the one huge flower on it -- ombre cake
keeping in mind you will be re-creating these for brides so make 'em pretty make 'em real
omg have you seen the lace molds you can get at hobby lobby be still my beating heart? they are seriously inexpensive -- get you a 40% off coupon for the $15 pot of powder to make the lace -- omg so much fun so easy so breathtaking-- you could get going there with lace for like twelve dollars -- but don't let me get you bogged down with buying stuff :)
restaurant depot often has good/low prices for fondant if you can get in the door there --
some people get all wadded up about copying cake designs but there's no copyrights on that -- be my guest -- that's why people print cake books --
the following quote was taken from a post entitled "how to properly terminate a cottage food business"
there is a ton of very pertinent information in it that resounds across the nation every day so be advised -- and carefully weigh every dime penny you spend -- successful small businesses are often penny pinchers and cake decorating warmly strongly invites spending --
Quote by @KMKakes on 16 hours ago
...-I am operating as sole proprietor and may income became under $100-$150 per month with other cottage food businesses opening in my small town, and with individuals not registered as a legal business of any sorts grossly under bidding mine and others pricing. I cannot compete when some of the individuals actual complete decent work. The nearest town/city is 35 minutes away. I have sold in those areas, yet people feel like I am being "put out" to have to deliver or meetup with them from so far. I have tried bazaars, farmer's market, etc. with sales and exposure to be minimal. However, I will sell out at those events and people love my products (cupcakes, cookies, pies, etc.) enough to come back at the next event to purchase from me. I have even posted flash sales on various social media outlets to make money off of the sales yet i have had some clients mention that they will only purchase when the prices and quantity are lowered during a flash sale-to which they wonder why are the normal prices so high. So all of that was said to reflect that it is a sad and bittersweet breakup. If only I lived 35 minutes from here to have a somewhat more prosperous business. I feel like it is costing my family more paying insurance, license fess, etc. When hardly any funds are being made each month...
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