Ok, breifly mentioned this in another post but would like to go into more detail here.

My husband has graciously volunteered (he's a programmer) to write me my own software program to help me keep track of all my cake decorating stuff!! I need to tell him what I want it to do. So far I have:

1. Client Lists (will keep track of phone #'s, bday's, anniversaries, etc.) and give automatic reminders for those events).

2. Recipes. Will be able to put in a recipe w/ingredients and amounts and will be able to calculate the actual cost to make that recipe. This will work for Cakes, Cookies, Icing, Filling, Pies, etc.

3. Orders. Will be able to put in a clients order (example: White Almond cake w/Raspberry fill and buttercream) and will get the actual cost for that recipe. Then I will put in price of cake boards, etc. Then I will have to decide how much to mark up. Then will keep a running total of how much I'm charging for each cake. Will also be broken down into 'cake categories'...whether it was bday, anniversary, wedding, etc cake that was sold.

4. Purchases. this will be like a Grocery/shopping List. This will keep track of all ingredients purchased for cakes, as well as cake boards, platic wrap, alm. foil and other items. Will be linked to the ORDERS and RECIPES pages in order to get the most accurate pricing info.

5. Reports. Will be able to run reports on various things. Example: Will be able to compare how much I spent for one month versus how much I brought in.

Can you guys think of anything else??
Thanks,
Christine

Let me know when he gets through with it. . . I would like to purchase something like that. You have it covered . . .!!
Leslie

i didn't see Customer Receipts/Invoices, I think that would be good. Will he be loaning this awesome program as well???? hehehehehee

Whay a great guy!!!

An invoice section. To be able to print out a custom invoice, who has paid, what the deposit was, what is owed, delivery fee, etc.

Also, have him to make me a program to be able to read my wifes mind and to interpet what she means when she says one thing but means another. It should be able to compute the right answers to questions such as:
"Do I look fat in this?"
"How does my hair look?"
"You like my mother...dont you?"
"Do you think I'm turning into my mother?"
"Whatcha thinking?"
It should also track headaches and be able to Forecast "Mystery cramps" and automatically page my beeper to warn me.
He makes that... I'll buy the first copy. Heck....I'll cut off my right arm and give it to em!

The only thing I would suggest is under client I would also list what they have ordered from you in the past. That way they could say well I want the cake that you made for so and so.

Since this is a wish list-
-how about a way to print a postcard or note for those birthday/anniversary wishes or little reminders to order early for those upcoming holidays or prepare a little newsletter with samples of those holiday cakes.

-templates for business cards or brochures.

God bless you and your husband for trying to create something that will make the business end of decorating easier. I really had no idea how much the cost for a 2 layer 10" round was, and I had to tweak the pricing matrix to adapt to my ingredients for a cake. Surprise, surprise I am barely meeting the standard triple the cost of ingredients for a cake. Now I really understand why the biggies charge $10-$20 per serving!

VickiC

Serioulsly, you could probably sell his program to a lot of CC members because there is nothing out there geared to our passion!!
Leslie

I want a software program much like the ones they have that show you what rooms would look like with different colored paint and furniture.

I want to be able to key in the shape cake I want..add in side decorations..colors of fondant or buttercream...all that kind of stuff and see what a cake will look like.....

I like the invoice/Receipts idea....hadn't thought of that....and that's a pretty important part. I've already passed along this info. And the client portion would keep track of what they ordered....just didnt mention that part.

VickiC....I have photoshop software I was going to use to make my bday - anniversary reminders. But I would get automatic reminders from the program!!

And Dale.......my husband said sure thing....he's working on it. But don't hold your breath or sharpen you saw just yet!!!

I want to be in line for this program once it is ready!!

Maybe somewhere in the program have a place to keep track of advertising expenses, contracts, etc. I also like the idea of being able to "build" a computer model of what the cake would look like also.

Good luck to you guys on this monsterous task of creating this wonderful program.

More ideas-

inventory of cake pans, cake tips, luster dusts, icing colors-basically all the things you have a lot of and can't quite remember what you already have when you are at the cake store. This could also work well for inventory of other supplies that you use up like boards and boxes.

VickiC

Well, if they can develop those 3D Home and Landscape design programs, why not a 3D cake design? Imagine how happy a bride would be to go away from her consultation with a printout of her wedding cake-to-be!

Great ideas for the program, put me in line too!!

This sounds absolutely fantastic. I would want the invoice section as well and an absolute must would be the ability to print out Large Cake contracts, showing Deposit paid and amount due. with a place for both two sign, designer and responsible party.


Will be very interested in this program.

I mentioned the 'cake builder' feature to my husband, but unfortantely he isn't a graphic designer. but i told him how ya'll were pretty excited to see what he came up with....and he is going to come up w/a way to make it available to all my CC friends.

so I'll keep you posted!!!

Awesome!!

Anway to get this geared toward catering, too. I'm a caterer, floral designer, cake decorator, gift basket maker & etc.

I would also be willing to pay for a program like this!!!

Sign me up for a copy of the program. I'll pay for it also

I like the idea about including contracts as well. It would be nice if it could pull all the info you enter from the recipe and such and produce a contract as well as an invoice. That would be so AWESOME! I'd definitely buy the software.

..how about a place to add the customers address..don't think I saw that and I think it would need to include your profit margins!!

a program like that sounds wonderful!!! i would be very intrested in buying this from you also.
good luck!
melody

That program sounds just we all need. I wouldn't mind buy one also. Good Luck and can't wait to see the end result.

So this is my first post, don't hold it against me and i'm not in the cake business side of the world ... but i had some insight:
If you're using the program to track all your business expenses ... it can actually help you out come tax time, so i would think about that aspect:
- mileage (to/from client if you deliver, to/from store for cake supplies)
- receipts (i think you already had this -- but remember, if they are business expenses, they are tax decuctible)
- hours you spend on each cake (you may also want to track hours of oven on -- i think you can convert this to power usage & then to electricity used so you can deduct that expense).

I'm sure there are more ... just thought i'd try to save you all some money! Also, you probably want the ability to create reports on all the things you'll need come tax time -- profits, expenses, etc.

,
Caitlin

this sounds AWESOME!!!

Please let us know when we can buy it/borrow it, whatever! I need a program like this! I am just working with Spreadsheets!

I love idea too of sending out postcards..especailly if they give a referral or something!

All the ideas sound great!!!
Dale, I just bought a shirt for myself to wear around my husband and it reads
" there are two methods of arguing with a woman, and neither of them work". LOL

what ever happened to this project?