so 4 costumers have gone into detail about what they want, then when I give them the price no word back..

I don't want to lower my prices, I feel they are pretty low already..

one lady wanted 40 cupcakes with fondant peace signs on them in different colors , so I gave her the price. $60.. it's not even $2 a cupcake!  grrrrr I can't wait til I get returning, or even a steady flow of costumers..

had nothing for a whole week, got 4 all in one week, now none of them actually want what they asked for.

BUMMMERRR..

hopefully with Halloween and Christmas getting closer, and thanksgiving, i'll be getting orders..

I live in a small town, but there is only ONE actual bakery here that sells cakes and cupcakes. but they are all gluten free.. :/ I saw an ad of another home baker in my city and her work isn't that great, yet she has triple the views? anything that can help a legal home baker get the word out? how long did it take you? and what was the best thing you did that helped you gain costumers.

not looking for advice on how to get costumers at an actual shop, since I don't have one,.. hehe:)

signed, a girl who really wants to get baking!!!

First, get in the mindset that people that inquire about cakes are not your customer until they book and confirm.  

Second, look into how those POTENTIAL customers received your information.  Facebook?  Craigslist? Those areas seem to attract only people that are limited in their budgets or only want to spend a certain amount.  As a legal cottage business, the best thing I did was look into Google Adwords and also make a Google business posting.   

Regardless of whether you are a high dollar corporation or small cottage food business, it is all about marketing yourself to the right groups of people.  

Good luck!

I know your problem already, or one of them. You're cheap, and are attracting people who want even cheaper. That's how it goes basically.

And I don't know if spell check is changing your word, but it's customers, not costumers.

there are cake shops in my town, easyaspie, who sell cupcakes at your price point and lower even -- it's not cheap, you're not cheap --  and especially since you acknowledge: 

it is harder in a small town -- you know what you're doing -- just gotta be patient -- 

Oh, yeah It was autocorrect. and yeah, my town only has 94,000 ..that may seem like a lot (it isn't really, but the amount that actually wanna pay for a nice cake, ... not many ! lol

Oh, bigger than my town, for sure! Lots of cheap people here too, sometimes specializing, and aiming for the upper crust budgets is beneficial. ;)

I live in a town of 20,000. be patient. be good at what you do. be prepared to tell and show customers why you're worth it. 

ATalk to people, hand out your business cards, let people know that you're there. And get good-quality business cards, not cheap free ones from vistaprint. Always use good quality paper for everything that has your business on it, it will leave a better impression and won't make you look cheap.

And what about your website?  You do have one, right?  If not, you should get going on one.  If you have one, give us a link if you want us to critique it.  It gives customers a good snapshot about your product and your business.  If there are problems with it, it could be turning the better customers away.  A town of 94,000 should be able to support way more than two places that make cakes.  I live in a town a little less than that and we have more than that so I don't think the population is what is holding you back.

I'm in a REALLY small town of about 5,000. I raised my prices to weed out the ones who wanted cheap and I have never been busier!!!

Good for you, the cheapo's just drag you down in business. Why should anyone slave to make a perfect thing to practically give it away?