I got a call from someone who wanted a birthday cake for a lady she knows. She wanted lillies of the valley on a white cake with a happy birthday message. And she wanted it Saturday. Yep- less than 2 days notice. I told her it would be $25.

Then I go make frosting so I wouldn't have to do it after work tomorrow, since I have to bake then.

When I'm done I get a call from this lady saying she has to cancel the order and go with someone closer since I"m so far away and she doesn't have time to get to me with all the stuff she has to do for this party.

So far away is 17 miles. So we are talking a 20 min drive tops. I tried to tell her I could deliver, but she cut me off and I'm not sure she was really listening. I tried to call back and tell her, but the phone rang like 6 times, so I hung up.

I guess I'm frustrated. I've lost so many orders lately, I'm starting to feel like this business is going nowhere. Good thing I don't have a storefront. I'd be bankrupt already. Should I have been more aggressive with calling her back? Or does it sound like she didn't want to use me and found an excuse?

erg.....thanks for letting me vent. I'm sure it will pick up sometime. At least I hope so...I just sprung for $450 of advertising!

i would not stress about it, especially since you already work outside of your home in another job. If this is on the side, it should always be fun. If it's not, you shouldnt do it. That's how i think about it. My dad always told me to find something that i LOVE to do, and then find a way to make money doing it. I dont think you should have been more aggressive with that cancelled order. SHe probably had her mind set on cancelling and wasnt looking for you to offer solutions. There are plenty of more cake-buying-people for other occasions. My business ebbs and flows.... i have had weeks with 8+ cakes due...... and then a couple of weeks with NO cakes! I have had to say no a few times too... just because it was stressful and not worth the effort. BE HAPPY AT WHAT YOU DO!!!!

I wouldn't turn a hand when selling to a stranger until they had paid a minimum of 50% of the total bill. I'd halt the advertising black hole and let word of mouth work for you.

I'm sorry you're having a hard time. Running a small business can be so frustrating at times! It took me a few years to really get going and I think we've all had our share of fickle customers. Don't let this customer get you down!

I hope it's ok to share some ideas with you.

1. Have a firm cancellation policy in place and stick to it. Tell each customer that they can cancel 7 days in advance to receive a full refund (or whatever # of days/refund amount works for you).

2. Get a deposit or credit card number with each order.

3. Let your customers know that you accept last minute orders on a limited basis and the payment is non-refundable and due at the time of order (not delivery).

I'd let this customer go and chalk it up as her being rude. Without a contract, there's really not much else you can do anyway.

Don't beat yourself up about orders people talk and if they find someone closer to them and sometimes cheaper or even a friend who agrees to do it for cost you never know so take it in stride and press on. I think it was very nice of you to agree to do a very detailed cake with so little notice and for $25. I have had people do me that way call ask for a price I charge $30 just for a minimum decorating and baking so I would let that order go you tried to tell her you would deliver yet she didn't want to hear that. Don't forget to take gas prices into consideration when quoting fees for cakes that require delivery. Congrats on the advertising that should bring in the business so don't give up!

don't let this get you down. Things will pick up. It seems most business' struggle at first (for a year or more) to be turning away business soon after. You'll probly be swimming in orders sooner than you think!