You can say goodbye to these memories by asking your customers to sign a cake contract! In this guide, you`ll learn how to use cake contracts to protect yourself from short-term cancellations, what to include in your contracts, and how to start drafting your own contracts! Baking cakes is a serious matter. And as with any business, there must be formal agreements between you and your customer. A happy occasion can quickly become ugly if all the details are not firmly anchored. Rental fees for the use of cake stands, accessories and vintage porcelain exhibits should be discussed and put on paper. To protect against damage, theft and late returns, you must also charge a refundable deposit for your rentals in advance. Always ask your lawyer to review each contract you create. BakeCalc assumes no responsibility for the content of this document, whether now or in the future. A cake contract is a formal “handshake” between you and your customers. The contract is used to agree on the terms of an order.
This includes things like event details, cake design, portion sizes, and most importantly, payment. We recommend that after the conclusion of the contract, you pay a non-refundable deposit of 25-50% in advance to guarantee the order. The purpose of this deposit is to protect you from cancellations, postponements and other plot twists. Collecting all these details in your cake contract is crucial as you can estimate exactly how much you need to charge for their cake. In addition, the contact information you need to follow up with your client is also on file. Look at how organized you are now! Stop being a hot mess when it comes to paperwork and order management. Well-filled cake contracts will make your life easier. The document is provided “as is” without warranty, either express or implied.
Always ask your lawyer to review each contract you use. A signed cake contract protects your buttocks against modification, postponement and/or cancellation of orders by the customer. No more waste of materials, more unpaid time and no more headaches! If a customer accepts your contract – great, you`ve already carefully organized all the details of the cake and event. If you haven`t heard anything yet, you can easily review and track your pending contracts! So you have a potential customer who wants a cake. Great, the next step is a quick consultation – phone, email or in person – to discuss appointments and cake needs. Then, calmly assess the cake needs of the potential customer and if you are convinced of your pricing capabilities, quote them! Below we will guide you through a typical ordering process and explain when and how you can use cake contracts. Also, don`t forget to record your initial asking price in your cake contract. It is useful to be able to visit this number again in case one of you forgets it. If the customer accepts the initial offer and all the details of the event are set in stone, proceed to step 5 (finalization). You must have your cake contract signed one last time by your customer. What for? This last signature guarantees that your cake meets your expectations and that you are no longer responsible for the damage it suffers.
In the excitement of attracting customers, it`s easy to skip steps. But remember, you can get fooled if you don`t get customers to sign your cake contract. It is recommended to attach cake designs, sketches and/or photos discussed for recording purposes. If there is a point of conflict about the design, both parties can easily review this section. Following your customer after the event is a great way to get feedback on your cake and ask for recommendations. It`s also an easy way to show your customers that you care about them and would like to do business with them again! A cake contract formally requires a non-refundable deposit (usually 25-50%) and also explains your cancellation policy. When the client signs your contract, you can relax. The customer has agreed to appreciate your time and effort by committing to track the order. We`ve found that most professional custom cake orders follow an 8-step process.
You will find that once you are familiar with the use of cake contracts, you will use them throughout the process! Cakes can sometimes earn installation or stacking costs. This fee is usually fixed and applies to cakes of more than 2 levels. You need to sign an initial cake contract and write down some information, including: At this point, everything is likely to change (event details, cake designs, desired flavors, portions, etc.). To have an accurate log of everything you and your client have discussed, you need to keep your cake contract up to date. Cake prices can be tricky! We recommend setting the price per number of servings and increasing the price per serving if the cake uses fondant, additional details, special filling, accessories or steps. Pay all the conditions in advance with a cake contract. This is the difference between a favor for a friend and professional cake baking. Will the cake be delivered on site or picked up by the customer? If they want a delivery, you need to discuss the shipping costs (because aka delivery your time is not free)! Steps 2 to 6 sometimes take place all at once – it`s great when that happens! Just make sure you have the necessary details for your cake contract, have the customer`s signature and have received the first deposit.
Customers will often have a desired cake design. Sometimes it`s a photo of a Pinterest cake. In other cases, it is a design based on magazine clippings, places, personality, fabric patterns or images of dresses. The big day! The cake is delivered to the customer or picked up by him. Here is our contract/order form for cakes in Microsoft Word (.doc) format. You can save it to your hard drive, add information about your business, change the types of cakes available, and customize all the terms to suit your business. Make it your own! This form contains a space to sketch a drawing of the cake and a section with information about the deposit of the device. If you have the signature, then the client has made a psychological commitment to do business with YOU. It also means that the customer accepts your terms, which protects you from certain liabilities and complaints.
In addition, the contract is legally binding. Collecting all the details of the event will help you better manage your orders. You can also refer to this information in case of dispute regarding the order of cakes. A payment plan describes the dates on which payments must be made. To establish clear payment policies for your customer, a payment plan must be clearly defined in the terms and conditions of your contract. You jump back and forth between steps 4 and 5 until the revised contract looks good for you and your client. At this point, the customer will sign your contract. BOOM is the right time to dance! Each individual cake order starts when a potential customer approaches you with a project.
Congratulations, someone is interested in your business! Below, we have outlined the main points you should think about. Feel free to use our plan as a starting point when writing your own page with the terms and conditions. You`ll find that discussions are a tug-of-war between your customers` budget and needs and what you`re willing to do for them at that price. Longer discussions are likely to take place if you are dealing with larger events such as wedding receptions and religious events. Consultations and cake tastings take place at this stage and a consultation fee may be charged. If everything looks good, then the customer signs here. You are now allowed to do a joyful solemn dance. Keep in mind that events can get hectic and often something goes wrong! We recommend that you get 2 or more emergency numbers.
These phone numbers will be useful if your customer doesn`t pick up the phone. Emergency contacts are usually wedding planners, photographers, MCs, bridesmaids or the groom. .