Okay, so I'm just starting out on this cake thing. I've only sold a few cakes so far, but my friend has determined herself my "promoter" and "business partner". I don't like this. She's trying to get me orders which is nice, but for this last cake, she wouldn't give me the client's information. It was me asking her for info, who then asked the client and it was a big mess. The cake was supposed to be for July 4th, and I was going to drop it off.
Last night, I get a text asking if she could pick it up today, the 3rd. I'm not happy, but fine. I do it after I get off work at 5:00, she comes to pick it up at 9:00. It hasn't really had time to set so I tell her to be extra careful. She picked it up from my house, in a convertable with the top down, her friend driving, and they're only 21, so probably not super safe. It messes up.
I know, once it's out of my hands, that's it. But she hasnt paid me yet. She was going to do it online, but had no cell service at my house. I've already vowed to never do a cake under these circumstances again, but I don't know what to do for this time.
It's for her friend's mom's wedding. They have a WalMart sheet cake for the guests, this was more for them and for pictures. Nothing too fancy...
If you were feeling really, really, really, really nice...and also to ensure payment...you could frost a cake dummy. Extra charge of course. BTW, your cake was very pretty.
First of all, your cake was lovely.
I am sure you are aware of so many things that were not handled correctly here. First of all, do not let your friend interfer in your business, no matter how well intended. They are your clients and your responsibility and should be communicating only with you.
Second, you should have gotten at least half of the payment in advance of even starting the cake and the balance of the money at the time of pick up. You need a contract with appropriate signatures!
Third, two 21 year olds in a convertible???? Oh, hell no! I would have made them sign a release right then and there or that cake would have never left my house/shop. Your cake board was sized such that the cake could not slide around in the box, so they had to be making some abrupt turns for the cake to tilt, slam into the sides of the box and ruin the frosting like that.
I find it unlikely that you will ever receive payment, no matter what you do. If you do decide to try and repair the damage, get full payment, PLUS a really nice bonus for the repair. You could easily remove the frosting and redo the rosettes, but that means a whole new (big) batch of buttercream and more time on your part.
Good luck.
First of all, tell your "friend" to get out of YOUR business. Honestly, she's not your friend and she's trying to take over. Second, you're not ready to be in business yet. You need to get the basic items under control before you even contemplate doing it for money.
Never, never, ever even start a cake before you have received payment. In full. YOU deal with the customer - - not your friend. You have to have all the information from the get-go. Make sure you have your pricing structure firmly in place and have a good contract - which your customer signs - stating all your terms and conditions, as well as all the details of the cake. Have a place for the customer to sign off if they pick up, stating you have no further responsibility for the cake and they assume all liability. If you want to have a business, then you have to have a business mindset. You have to be able to say "no" and stick with it. Get your priorities in order and keep them there.
I guess all this sounds a little harsh, but it's true. If you want a business, you need to protect it so it will work for you. I'm so sorry this happened and that was a beautiful cake. I can't help you with this situation and I think you'll just have to chalk it up to a learning experience. We've all had them and boy, have we learned! Start from here and move on a little wiser and good luck.
1. Work on a contract and don't take another cake order without it...
2. The contract is for everyone... including this friend...
3. Never start a cake without at least partial payment first... Never finish a cake without full payment... put it in the contract...
It really was a really pretty cake...
sometimes people who act as go betweens like that are taking credit for the work -- not saying your friend is just saying it does often happen that way -- if the cake was baked the same day it could be the cake itself that messed up -- baked cake need to season over a day or two and with you saying she wanted it early -- idk -- just a thought for you
and was your cake cold? I never deliver room temperature cakes because this happens --
best to you, my friend -- lotsa good lessons unfortunately learned the way we hate the most and learn the best 
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