Hello,
I am new to this forum and new to cake decorating. I have just submitted a photo of my first cake.
I am very excited about getting more involved with cake decorating as a business.
Can anyone give me advice how to initially start getting orders?
I have past experiance as an airbrush artist and art background (with paint not food coloring)
I think making cakes will be very fun and creative, I would really like to get my first order but, don't know the best approach at this point I only have the one example of cake done with fondant and gumpast flowers. It is submitted I have submitted it on this website in hopes of getting some input.
I was thinking of getting styrofoam shapes and icing them at first just to get more examples, or is it better to bake cakes and give them away to get exposure?

I have many questions but will start with this since my first goal is to actually get an order to fill.

Thank You for your input,

flourpower

Welcome to CakeCentral. You cake is very nicely done. But, before you try to start selling cakes, you may want to determine if it is legal in your state to sell home baked goods. There are some states that do not allow home baked goods to be sold to the public. California is one.

In many states, it is fairly simple, you can contact your state department of agriculture. They do the inspection and licensing.

In the mean time, word of mouth is one of the most effective advertising methods. You can donate cakes to places that would normally have reasons to order cakes. Again, some places (some schools)won't allow anything that hasn't been prepared in a licensed kitchen.

good luck.

Welcome, you'll get a lot of great advice and ideas here. I know I have.

As far as getting business, word of mouth is the best. Don't bother spending on advertising it has never worked for me. If you have a friend who is having a party, kids birthday etc., offer to make a cake, and you'll find things will start happening. Make sure you talk about it where ever you are. I used to be embarrassed to talk about myself and my cakes, becasue I didn't want to seem pushy, but now, I talk about my business where ever I go. I find a way to bring it up. It works. Good luck!

If this is truly your first cake, then I say you seem to have a knack for the art of decorating. Based on that, your best way to have a business is check out your state requirements first. You can market your skills in a variety of ways, whether it is making a cake for church or a friends birthday, or perhaps at a workplace. This always seem to get people asking about where the cake came from? Welcome to this site, and wish you alot of luck.

Thank you for the compliment and the input I have baked cakes but this is my first attmept at decorator cakes. I went to the library and was so inspired by the books I found,I wanted to get more involved.
I love this website it great being able to talk to so many other people with the same interest.
I guess I will try donating a cake to someone and see what response I get I would really like to get my own busines going. I could use the extra income desperatley right now.

Thank you
flourpower

You have to build a reputation and that takes time and consistency. This business is not at all easy if it is a storefront in the marketplace.
Home with a few orders a week is way different.
mpc