Just curious to know how and when you guys charge your customers? Do you charge a deposit? All upfront? Hold the cake until payment? What do you do?

A deposit when ordered to hold that date.

Full payment a week before the event.

It depends on the cake. If it's just a poundcake, they can pay when they pick up or I deliver. If it's a small celebration cake 9 inch or less, it can be paid for at pick up or delivery (I also charge for delivery). Wedding cakes must be paid for 1 month in advance, large celebration cakes 1 week in advance.

if its a wedding cake I charge a deposit to hold there date and final payment 30 days before the event. If its a birthday or and occassion they pay when picked up or delivered.

I only make wedding cakes so this might not help you. I used to work for a French bakery and they charged you when the order was made by credit card only. If you did'nt pick the order up they keep the money and the customer understood. I don't ever remember that bakery getting hung with a cake.

Deposit is given to be on my books (whenever decided) $100.00

final balances are paid three weeks ahead. If the payment is late there is $50.00 penalty fee.

With my commercial account it can take up to three weeks to clear an out of state check.

Hope this helps. Andrea

60% down 3 weeks prior. Balance due day of (wedding) event. I only charge "hold the date" down payments May thru Sept.

Being I am only doing small things right now, and it is mostly my co-workers who are buying from me, I tell them to pay me when I give them their baked goods. So far, only one person has paid me ahead of time, but then she was paying me for her previous order and decided to pre-pay for another one.

When I do celebration cakes they pay when pick up or delivered. Wedding cakes a deposit is required and final payment due 1 month from wedding date.
Hope this helps.

For small party cakes, cash in full on delivery or collection. Wedding and really large party orders, 50% upon booking (non-refundable) and the remainder no later than 2 weeks before a wedding or upon collection/delivery of a party cake. No money = no cake - period!