Hello,
In my Wilton classes the instructor often mentioned she has heard of cake decorators freelancing their work. Which means a wide variety of options, which could include - but not exclusive to:
1. Making royal icing florals, greenery, etc and selling these to cake shops
2. Offering to decorate a cake for a freelancing fee. (Example - a baker needs a cake decorated, but doesn't have the time or talent to do a specialty decoration - a freelance decorator would come in and decorate that one cake).
One might say, "buy you would loose business?" I actually think it would INCREASE business, because another business is wanting to use your services and who know who will meet and network with. Instead of getting your name out waiting for someone to hire you exclusive, you could freelance to other shops.
I know many popular florist get their start in this fashion, but I have yet to see on the forums anyone who is doing this.
Any thoughts or ideas on how to go about promoting this?
Thanks in advance for your ideas and input
Charlene
I woud think that you could talk to other businesses and let them know what you offer. Tell them that you offer a step in service for large events. I don't know about doing the royal icing roses. There is one site I use that sells them for a quarter a piece for the large ones. I would not make them for that!
The idea is good though. Draw up a plan for what you can bring to the table. Make a short proposal and either meet with the owners or send the proposal with a little pamplet of your work to them. Be sure to be clear on pricing.
This is called being self employed, independent contractor.
I have done this before. Someone calls you and says they have a need or emergency.
Recently a lady called me and offered me $100 to put together her tiered cake she made at home and delivered it to the reception for her neice. But it had to be set up and Monogram letters on top. She was terrified to set it up! (I've set-up thousands) So I took her money.That's Freelance.
With all the sahb's it might be hard to make a living at this.
lora
With all the sahb's it might be hard to make a living at this.
This is a crock and it gets really old listening to people trash sahb's. There's plenty of business to go around. Geesh. It amy be hard to make a living at it because there isn't much demand for such a service, but it wouldn't be becuase of sahb's!
I am sorry if sound discouraging, but unfortunately, there are already many companies which sell royal icing decorations, pre-made gumpaste flower sprays, and custom-made toppers. You would have to research these companies and their products very carefully to see what you can offer that nobody else has.
Then you must find out if your product would be approved for re-sale by the FDA, and state and local authorities. Any supply store that would purchase items made at someone's unlicensed, uninspected home for resale would be jeopardizing their own business licensing. I would not buy any supplies from a store that practiced this policy.
And let us not forget about insurances. You would have to carry business insurance on any consumable product, or any product that would come in contact with consumables.
The problem I have with some people, including some cake decorating instructors, is that they tell you what you want to hear, and not the whole story. Others teach you their own opinions as though they were religious text, not to be argued with.
Theresa 
I am sorry if sound discouraging, but unfortunately, there are already many companies which sell royal icing decorations, pre-made gumpaste flower sprays, and custom-made toppers. You would have to research these companies and their products very carefully to see what you can offer that nobody else has.
Then you must find out if your product would be approved for re-sale by the FDA, and state and local authorities. Any supply store that would purchase items made at someone's unlicensed, uninspected home for resale would be jeopardizing their own business licensing. I would not buy any supplies from a store that practiced this policy.
And let us not forget about insurances. You would have to carry business insurance on any consumable product, or any product that would come in contact with consumables.
The problem I have with some people, including some cake decorating instructors, is that they tell you what you want to hear, and not the whole story. Others teach you their own opinions as though they were religious text, not to be argued with.
Theresa
Very good information tmriga. Something one would have to look into before attempting to create a business out of freelance. But perhaps not so much of the selling premade flowers, but of going in and helping businesses in their time of high demand. That way, many of the problems that could arise could be easily avoided. JMO.
sahb's???
Lost on the acronym....please explain for the less savvy (being me) please...
Julia
I have one baker that has me do his back up work. If he has scheduled too tight on his wedding work, he will call me to do the "extra cakes" I bake, decorate and deliver. He pays me later. We have been doing this for three years with no problems. I do not try to promote my business, they think they are getting his goods. When I am meeting or onsite, they think I work for him. I get paid, eve ryone is happy!!
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%