I made a wedding cake for a family member, was only charging her for the cost of making the cake, actually due to not calculating the cost of everything I under charged her, but I left like that since I had already given her a quote on how much it would be. She dropped by the day of the wedding to see how the cake looked she was pleased with it, but she did not mention when she would be paying me I assumed upon delivery, well that didn't happen, saturday came and gone not even a phone call to say that they liked the cake, sunday rolled around still no call, finally went to her house no one there left note she finally called and said she would stop by on Monday. I felt horrible this is a family member and I have to chase her down for payment. I know there is a lesson here somewhere. Should I have asked for payment upfront this is my first wedding cake so I know I probably handled this all wrong. If you could help figure this out so It won't happen again. How I feel right know, not sure I want to continue baking cakes.

It's up to you to tell the customer up front exactly when payment is due and expected. If you don't do this, you can't be surprised, upset or blame them for not meeting the deadline you have in your mind, but never shared with them.

Don't worry. This is a good lesson, learned early.

I think it is harder with a family member! When it is a "normal" customer, getting a deposit is much easier. In the future, tell your family members, that you need the cost of the cake up front to buy the supplies, that might help.

I tell every customer........I'm a small business and don't have enough extra cash laying around to buy ingredients for cakes consisting of 200+ servings of cake (especially if I'm running the risk of them not paying and I have to eat that cost).........if I don't have payment in full with enough notice, I CAN'T make your cake!

Also, I tell them there is a $25/per day additional charge for everyday past the "due date" that they are late (that puts a fire under them!)

I tell my family that I need the money for ingredients two weeks before they need the cake. No money, no cake. I had to learn that lesson the hard way.

Maybe I'm rude, but when it comes to my family, if they owe me money (either borrowed it or for a service), they know I'll come knocking. In fact, I think I'd have an easier time confronting family than customers (I don't have paying customers, but I IMAGINE it'd be easier for me to confront family).

This bulldog approach has saved me countless of hours of worrying about when my brother is going to pay me back, because he doesn't ask to borrow money anymore.

Write up an invoice and take it to her. Tell her you are so sorry but you forgot to give this to her earlier and knew she'd want to take care of it immediately.
In the future you need to tell anyone who is buying a big special event cake be it wedding or whatever, that you need a deposit up front to secure the reservation and payment in full a week before the event. The deposit will apply to the total cost of the cake. Have it written on a contract (does not have to be a big formal contract--just something that states your policies.) Have them (and you) sign it and give them a copy that shows she paid her deposit.
Mention in your contract that the deposit is non-refundable. We charged a $100 deposit on wedding cakes...or any cake that had as much work as a wedding cake. It's just good business.

Please give us an update.

I want to thank all of you for your advice, I know that I need to be more aggressive, I guess I assumed because it was a family member they would pay upon delivery, lesson learned. They finally stopped by on Monday to bring back the fountain, and colums and they did pay $25.00 over the price quoted and apologized for not calling sooner, and that they and everyone loved the cake. I felt quite relieved, but will definitely take your advice on handling similiar situation, already looking on templates for contracts. Thank you so much for all of your advice.

Glad it worked out for you!

I had this happen when I made a cake for a co worker. She told my daughter when she picked it up that she would pay me on Monday. Well it took me three months to get my money. If you tell them how much you shouldn't have to keep repeating yourself or even ask for the money. The only time I would see her was at work and I didn't want to cause any problems so I left a note on her car window telling her that I needed to be paid for the Scooby cake. She paid me the next day. Once burned twice shy. The last time she asked me to make her a cake I told her I was to busy.

I agree with a lot of the users, but at least she gave you a little something extra for your troubles.