I've been hearing here on CC by all the bakery owners about pulling 15 hours days, weekends being non-existant, vacations a thing of the past, etc. . .

What are the different reasons why you all go through this? Do you accept too many orders? In the end does it pay off (no pun intended)?

Any tips and/or advice would be greatly appreciated!

I work full-time (50-60 hours a week) and have a husband and a 2 year old, so when I create a cake, I have to stay up late to do it. I have been doing an average of 2 a week since the end of September, sometimes up to 4 in one week. I did say no to a bunch of Christmas orders so that my focus can be on my family for the holidays. I've already booked cakes for the end of December, January, and March (nothing for February yet). I'm not in this for money.....I even give most of my cakes away. I just really love to create something nice for others to enjoy. I just LOVE seeing the surprised look on their faces and I feel really good about that. My husband and son are also really proud of what I make and they share things at work and at school/daycare.

I believe that when it's time and I can do this fulltime it would be worth it. I already require at least a 2 week leadtime for an order or I tell them that I can't do it. I also ALWAYS quote what the cake would have cost if I was charging, so they understand what the cost would have been. If I went into this as a fulltime business, I would just schedule days off and vacations off. The customer would just be told, "I'm booked." I know that when you have a business of your own, the customer comes first, but you can't get burned out either. I know this from my current full time job, which is EXTREMELY demanding. I can't even go pee without a client freaking out that I was unavailable for that time period. I would assume that cake clients would also be that demanding. I still find time to go home to my family and go on family vacations. It's just a matter of prioritizing to fit your goals and aspirations.

Sorry this is so long.......I have insomina!!! LOL!!! Too much diet coke

Thanks Derby. I had a similar thought, but after reading some posts, it seems they aren't possible.

I'd thought putting a couple of weeks a year aside for vacation and just putting up the sign that says "closed" but of course getting orders for the week before, etc.

I'd thought to put a minimal profit per week, and if I felt too stressed, I'd just say no.

Several ideas, just not sure if any of them would ever work.

I'm going to bump this thread.

I am not greedy!

I need to have orders in a week ahead, but if we don't have many I will keep on taking them. I have to make sure there is enough to pay everyone. I have to do that because I don't know what the next week will bring. And I have many! essential bills to pay (no credit cards) I have to pay my daughter and be able to buy ingredients, etc, etc... and I have a modest home, that requires money to keep it.

Two weeks ago was very slow, I had 5 orders. And now I have to make up for it. All the end of the year 2006 taxes are due and I am now getting seriously close on some of the due dates for other bills.

If I could just do a couple of cakes and everything be paid you better believe I would.

I have found it is feast or famine. When I have money to spend I am too busy to take off. When I have time to take off I have no money. We reinvest our money into the business. Just this year I started to save, but we had some slow weeks and I had to use what was saved to pay the mortgage on the building. I wish everyone knew what it is like to have it all on the line. If I schedule a vacation and close the doors, we have no income for that week.

lora

When you are in business, and that can be any business, you must be self-motivated. There are certain advantages and disadvantages. For me, I would rather work 80 hours a week for me, then 40 hours for someone else. I said years ago, that I would never work corporate again, and I haven't. There have been some lean times, but in all I am in control of what I do. If I want to take a break, I do. If I want to talk on the phone for an hour, I do. If I want to go take a nap, I do. The point is that no one can tell me when to come to work, or take a break, or how to do my job. I like knowing that, so do I sacrifice some things, yes. Do I work too many hours, yes. Do I take more work then I need to, yes. It is my choice, the American dream. I may at times get tired of baking, decorating and planning, but I just step away for awhile and regroup, it always seems to work for me. You have to decide for yourself, if you can do this, and be honest about it. I don't care what field you are in, we all get tired of what we do, its just the nature of the beast. You either accept it, or, go on to something else.

I'm assuming most of you are 100% dependent on your bakery?

i am....totally...plus i'm single, so no sposes income.

I also am 100% dependent on this business.
mpc

WOW...I admire each and every one of you who had the strength to take the plunge into owning your own business. I'm jealous, but also chicken. I'm not 100% committed so it's definitely not the thing for me to do. Besides, my DH would go nuts considering the regular flow of income we are accustomed to.

My hats & apron off to each of you!