I am having problems to sell my cakes as a lot of my customers usually hold parties at big reception halls. Now I am being told "the reception hall will not allow cakes other than the ones included in the package". I feel very discouraged as this was a second income for me and very few people are placing orders. Is it only happening in my area or is it happening in another areas around you?

Any advice???

Can you hook up with a caterer who doesn't do cakes? That's what I'm starting to do. We're not in business together, but instead we're working out a package so that they can get both--one stop shopping!

It works out well for us because she can't stand the baking end and I'd be lost on the catering end.

Of course, if the hall is the one catering, well can you get in with them?

The basic rule here is no outside food allowed. Period. This includes the hotels and upscale banquet halls. No one complains. At $30 and up per person for the reception, people want the cake included.

The homebakers I know have a large network of friends and friends of friends. This is the way they get new business. When I was getting married, people kept telling me about someone they knew who did flowers or photography or cakes. You need some people to spread the word that you do great cakes at a reasonable price.

Some halls near me were charging a "cutting" fee for cakes brought in from the outside.

But I've never had one tell someone they could not bring in a cake from the outside, under any circumstances.

It happens here that you need to be in with the caterer or you aren't doing the cake. Some halls have such a high cutting fee that no one goes with an outside cake because its just to darn expensive. As a matter of fact one woman i work with has a daughter getting married this week. Well i did the shower cake a couple of months ago. And everyone loved it, but the wedding cake is part of the package, or she said she would have me doing that too.

Most places by me do not allow outside food to be brought in. If it is then there is a cutting fee and they must be licensed.

The best thing to do is network. Keep giving out business cards. Scan the newspaper for smaller restaurants that offer catering. Then call & ask for an appt. to take your pix & a tasting cake. Many small places do showers, small weddings etc. and need cakes.

Awela, I am also in NJ and that is a problem in many areas of this state. Also like someone else posted, I have had people tell me that they are being charged a "cake cutting fee" when they bring in an outside cake. In essence, they are paying for a cake 3 times!!! The cake is usually built into the price of the catering, they would be paying me to make a cake, and then paying the catering hall a fee to cut it. Crazy!! so some people will just take the cake that is included (cant say that I blame them