# How to get more cake and dessert orders.

To get more cake and dessert orders, post clear photos with flavors and serving sizes, make ordering simple with a lead time and form, and price from ingredients, decorating time and delivery. Be found through local searches, planners and markets, and set firm rules for changes, allergens and cancellations.

_Updated 2026-10-11._

## People search for a look and a date, and what to show them.

- Instagram and Pinterest bring in customers who want a specific style. Post finished cakes in good light with the flavor and size in the caption.
- Local search matters for last-minute orders: a Google Business profile with photos, hours and a way to order.
- Wedding planners, venues and florists recommend dessert vendors. Offer sample boxes for their events.
- Markets turn tasting into sales, and pre-orders for market pickup reduce waste.
- Community groups and workplaces order for birthdays, Eid, graduations and office events. Be easy to remember.
- Show a gallery grouped by occasion (wedding, birthday, baby shower, everyday) with flavors and serving counts.
- State your lead time, pickup or delivery area, and the cutoff for design changes.
- Use an order form that asks for date, servings, flavor, design reference, allergies and pickup or delivery, so you do not need a long back-and-forth.
- Offer a small, simple menu of everyday items next to custom work, so there is always an easy first purchase.

## Price servings and decorating time separately.

Ingredients are often the smaller part. Decorating time, structure, packaging, delivery and the risk of a transport mishap carry the real cost. Time your work on several cakes and use that to price the design, then add ingredients per serving.

- Use a base price per serving, then add for tiers, sculpting, hand-painted or sugar work, and fresh flowers.
- Charge for delivery and set-up separately, and for rush orders inside your lead time.
- Keep a standard menu for simpler orders so custom work is priced as custom.
- Add a charge for special dietary baking if it needs separate ingredients or equipment.

## Lead time, changes and allergens.

A deposit confirms the order and covers ingredients you buy for it. Say whether it can be moved to another date, and when the order cannot be changed or canceled.

List allergens in your terms and on the order form, and say what shared kitchen risks exist. Say who is responsible once the cake leaves your hands for delivery. Rules for home bakers vary by state, including limits on what you can sell, so check your state's cottage food or health department rules. This is not legal advice.

## Fast answers, then steady off-peak sales.

- Reply quickly, with availability for the date and a link to the order form. Cake dates fill early.
- Ask for a review with a photo after the event, and ask to repost it.
- Sell holiday boxes, corporate gifts, dessert tables and classes outside wedding season.
- Add a monthly pre-order drop or a market stall so you have income when custom orders slow.

## A storefront with an order flow.

Optional, and free to try.

- A storefront with your gallery, packages and a booking link.
- Customers request a date and pay a deposit online.
- Shoppers can pre-order from you for a market and pick up at your booth.

## Questions

**How do I get more cake orders?**

Post clear photos with flavors and sizes, make ordering simple with a form and lead time, get on planner lists and take a market stall to turn tastings into orders.

**How do you price a custom cake?**

Add ingredient cost per serving to the time spent designing and decorating, plus packaging and delivery, then compare the total against your target hourly earnings.

**How far ahead should customers order a cake?**

Set a lead time that fits how long your designs take and how many orders you can bake, and state a cutoff for design changes.

**Do I need a license to sell cakes from home?**

Rules vary by state. Many states have cottage food laws with limits on what you can sell, so check with your state or county health department.

## Related

- [Permits by city and state](https://bzar.app/permits)
- [Decor and florals guide](https://bzar.app/guides/decor-and-florals-get-clients)
- [Sales tax at markets](https://bzar.app/guides/sales-tax-at-craft-fairs-and-markets)
- [Vendor break-even calculator](https://bzar.app/tools/vendor-break-even-calculator)