Advice for Beginning Cake Decorators

It has been a while since I posted and I feel bad for not taking advantage of this wonderful site that I have. So, I decided that I will use it a little better and post on a regular basis.

I was wondering what I should write about and what kind of information would be useful to others and then I thought about the people that have asked me lately for advice in getting a cake decorating business started. So, here are some ideas that I found have been useful to me in getting started.

Just a little disclaimer; some of my information is based on being a resident of Utah. If you live in other states, you’ll have to check for the laws and procedures for your state.

It’s not the easiest thing to get started. I feel like I’m still trying to get things in place. That being said, it definitely can be done. I have been working at getting things started for a lot of years now. I played around with the idea when I first got married. It was just a hobby and fascination at the time. I didn’t know a whole lot. So, I read and practiced for a few years and wanted more. So, I took the Wilton classes at my local craft store.

After taking the classes, I decided it would be fun to teach them. That was a really good thing for me because cake decorating was always at the front of my mind and I had a good reason to practice often. All of this took several years. I had 3 kids at the time that I started teaching classes.

Actually starting a business was an idea for the future. I was going to wait until all of my kids were in school so I could devote the time to the business that is required. However, I was constantly being asked to make cakes, and then my husband decided to go back to school. So, the idea of another income suddenly became almost necessary.

If you’re really serious about starting a business, you need to get in touch with the Cottage Foods Program. They are a part of the Agricultural Department. In the state of Utah we’re lucky to be able to have this program. Most states don’t allow home based food businesses. You’ll need a food handlers permit and all of the recipes that you will offer to customers and submit them to the Cottage Foods. Then as soon as everything is approved, you can go ahead and get your business license.

While you’re going through all of that, it’s a good idea to figure out your pricing and I really can’t help out much in that department. It is a pretty difficult thing to decide how much you’re worth but I feel it’s a personal thing. When I started, I found that I would quote a price for a cake to find later that the cost to make it was as much or more than I charged, leaving little or no profit. It comes with experience and knowing how much your ingredients and time cost. It also takes knowing how long it will take you to make the cake (especially all of the details that always take longer than you expect).

Then there’s getting your name out there. The more experience you have, the more customers just find you. Bridal shows are beneficial. Cake competitions are really good too. If you can win an award and be able to put that in your resume, it helps a lot. The fact that I won a national award has really helped me.

Classes are a good thing to do too. It’s a pretty big expense once you get into the more advanced classes but they are totally worth it. There are local classes that you can take. I teach some. There are a lot of experienced cake decorators that teach classes here in Utah. Then there are classes out of state. They’re all over. It’s just a matter of how much you’re willing to invest into it.

ICES (International Cake Exploration Society) is a good thing to do too. There is a Utah Chapter that you can join. They have meetings pretty often and every year there is a national convention. There are so many fun and talented cake decorators here in Utah and it’s really nice getting to know them.

The last thing I can think of is to build a portfolio. It takes time and a good photographer but it’s necessary to have good quality pictures of beautiful cakes in order for people to want your business. I have two photographers (Tricia Hancock and Britta Dastrup) that take all of my cake pictures. They are wonderful and very talented. It has made a huge difference in my portfolio and to my business to have professional pictures.

I hope this has helped you a little bit and if you have anymore questions, feel free to ask. It’s always nice to have a cake friend.

Good luck in your endeavors.