I know there are lots of SAHM who run their cake business in addition to taking care of their job at home. And to all of you, my hat is off! I don't know how you get it all done.

For those of you who work outside the home at a full time gig, how do you get it done? I don't have kids yet, but would like to start baking cakes on the side for extra income before we get to that point.

What do you find is your 'average' work load for cakes? What is the maximum you can take on? When do you fit cakes into your life in addition to work, home and any form of a social life?

TIA for your input!

I work full time at a credit union. I am a supervisor there so from time to time, I am required to be in early or stay late, which sometimes is stressful. I pull many all niters.
For the most part, I recieve most of my orders through word of mouth at the credit union (250 employees). It seems like most of my oders are due on Saturday. So luckily, I will just stay up really late to work on it. Sometimes though, I get orders for baby and Wedding showers for work that are right after work during the week, so I just bring the cake with me. On average, I do 2-3 cakes a week. If I get over 5, I get pretty stressed and start freaking out!!

I have a full time job, and do cakes on the side. I just started so trying to schedule hasn't become a huge issue for me, yet. However, when I book stuff, I try to go for the weekends, so I can have Friday night to do the finishing details, but I usually bake the cakes throughout the week to have that all done. At this point - I'm not sure I could do too much more than I'm doing more with my full time job and other "life" stuff. Like you, I don't have kids either, and I tell ya, the ladies that do that AND have kids.....well, I say kudos to you, you're awesome!!! I have pets, and sometimes they get on my nerves when I'm caking - but at least they can be put outside or closed in a room. Not that I've EVER done that of course!

Sorry - probably not the help you are looking for, but thought I'd put my 2 cents in.

Keris- No, that IS a help! I am just looking for lots of opinions about others experiences. I am working a full time job (that I like) and a part time job (that I hate) right now to try and earn extra income. People keep telling me that I should go into business doing the cakes and I am starting to think about it. If it would generate enough income to replace the part time deal, I would drop it in a heart beat!

And I know what you mean about the pets. We have two cats. Good thing they are indoor/outdoor cats. Because it would be a shame if they had to spend time outside while I was doing cakes! (Or the garage if it's raining.)

Something to seriously consider is do you want caking to become stressful, which may happen if you take it on as a job. For me, it is relaxing. I also work full time and I have enough stress with that. If you feel that you can take it on with the stress and not fall out of love with it, then you are well on your way.

Well, i work full time, i do cakes more for a hobby that pays for itself. I also teach cake decorating at my local cake store. I work 6-2, so it gives me some time before the kids are home from school to get cakes in the oven and such. It really is a matter of breaking down jobs so you can get alittle done each night.

Right now i take on no more then 3 cakes a week and teach no more then one night a week.

One more thing my children are teenagers not babies, so they just really want me around but not in thier way. With them its more squeezing my stuff in with the running they require, as they are both in sports and the oldest has a part time job that he needs carting to, as he won't be able to drive until next year.

I have a full time job (until the end of the year....YAY!) and not only do cakes but also catering. The past 2 weeks, I've had 3 weddings per weekend. I have another weekend coming up with 3 weddings. So it's not only wedding cake, but also food buffets. Plus my husband does stand-up comedy so I have to be sure to put his gigs in my calendar and work around those, too!

I have a 14 year old at home, who has mixed feelings on working "for mom!". She likes the money but hates working "for mom!" Her big brother is coming home from the Marines in a couple of weeks and I made the comment about having extra muscle to help load the van. She told me, "He may know how to be a Marine, but he has NO IDEA what it's like to work for mom!" (Do ya think she feels like I'm a slave driver?)