Hi,
2yrs. ago I was in michaels browsing the baking aisle, when a woman also browsing the section turned to me and said "you look like you know what you are doing, do you mind if I ask you a question" I said no and she continued on saying " I'm making cupcakes for my nieces birthday, but I don't know what to do for the frosting ?" after I gave the information she needed she asked if I was a baker, and if I owned my own business. I said yes, and we hit it off. We traded contact info and kept in touch. A year passed, I'm sitting on the couch with my family watching tv, when I get a text from her saying that her boyfriend proposed and that I'm doing her wedding. I was overjoyed until reality came back, slapped me in the face, and I realized that I've got no idea what I'm doing. Don't get me wrong I've done cakes and cupcakes for birthdays, party's, family, neighbors, friends, I've gone around entire neighborhoods at a time stating my business and selling all kinds of cakes, cupcakes, even cookies! Ever since I was 6 yrs. old I've been doing this all from scratch, and not just the confections. I have a website that's nearly ready for publishing, I have business cards, I have the financial parts figured out, But what I don't have is the experience necessary to make a cake and cupcakes for a wedding. I may be 13 yrs. old, but I do know this, I'm not going to back down from this challenge, and I realize that this is a HUGE responsibility and task, but I'm going to let my client down. So, I'm asking all of you out there to tell me everything, big and small, you know about making wedding cakes and cupcakes. To everyone who responds, I'm eternally grateful.
You are only 13 years old and this woman wants you to do a wedding cake. Wow, what a big undertaking for you. Have you ever done tiered cakes before? You need to go on youtube and watch some videos about how to stack tiered cakes because you have to have dowels in the bottom cake to hold up each upper cake.
You have to make sure each cake is evenly cut so the cakes would not be crooked. Are you going to do fondant or just buttercream cakes? Personally, myself, I do not like anything fondant but others seem to love it. Check out the a couple of videos from youtube below. There are thousands of videos on youtube showing exactly how to make cakes but I can tell you that it takes LOTS of practice!!!! If you are determined you can do anything!!!! Good luck!! I don't have as much experience at wedding cakes but others here will be able to answer you when you have questions. Good luck!!
Here is another one below from deco pac
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cXyIHCswLgs&list=PL73He1rY3ZCrdmV-AHlF1W0Fnho-X5flK
Just think of it as a series of b'day cakes all put together :) one of the 1st thing you need to find out is the date, then how many people they expect/want to serve cake for; what flavor(s) of cake, what filling and what style. Once you have all that info you can come back here and we'll help you figure it all out :) In the mean time.......go to the library and borrow all the books they have on wedding cakes/cake decorating etc. Find pictures of cakes.....like all the ones on this site and others. Encourage the lady to pick out something simple but elegant. There are sooo many options I'm sure you two can find something. And BE SURE! you charge for it. Don't do this for free! It costs a lot to make a wedding cake - even smaller ones. You deserve to be paid for what you spend and your time and talent.
Wait what? When you were 11 she asked you if you owned your own business ?
Does she know you are 13?
I'm with coffeelover77 it doesn't sound right for an adult to think it is okay to exchange contact information with a minor. You should have all contact go though your parent or guardian. You may even need a guardian to handle the food under by law. Do not attempt to so something without your parent's approval.
Dear OP, There are many problems with being underage.
First all you must comply with state or provincial food regulations. You can see these requirements online. If somebody wants to get a home kitchen inspected/certgified, you must be an adult. In some places you cannot sell food from home at all.
Many event venues require a food handling certificate for all food brought from outside because of their liability insurance. Some venues require that an inspected kitchen be used. enues may asfor the certificate and inspection serial numbers to v erify them. I saw plenty of real stoopid food handling before these rules became widespread.
To get a food handling certificate you must be an adult unless you are a legitimate under-adult-age student of a culinary arts college. Then you would get a provisional food handling certificate, meaning that a certified adult must be present at all times, until you reach the adult age in your state/province.
To sign a contract you must be an adult. Yah sure you could set up a piece of paper with all necessary terms and a compeltely legal payment for your work.*** but*** if the check provided as "payment" fails to clear the bank then without an adult co-signature on your behalf, you would have no legal right to recover those funds. That would really really piss me off. Please read the business section of Cake Central Forum for all those horror stories about this really happening.
To start up a business you need to have cash up front to pay the tax man. Both IRS and CRA require quarterly business payments of all taxes even before you pay yourself. You cannot collect sales tax wothout a sales tax number. In some places stuff like cookies and donuts and cupcakes are "snacks" therefore taxed regardless of who is selling.
So what do you do until you reach that age? I started baking when I was 8, so I am qualified to talk here You can keep on baking for parties that are held in private homes and for which you do not receive any payment. That is how many of us got lots and lots of practice.
You need to study your local regulations in the year before you becme an adult to make sure you know what the current details are. Try to sign up for "continuing ed" courses at community college that have a lower age limit than classes for credit.
As soon as you can legally work part time, get a job in any food place like a grocery store deli counter or sandwich making or hospital trays or anything at all. There are things about making a profit from baking that can only be learned by working in food service. It does not have to be a bakery or cake shop.
And finally please do not get yourself into trouble by selling now. Or running a website. Or any other version of what is not allowed by your state or provincial law.
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