I have a home based bakery business, and I have had my first request for a tasting.  I know that most people generally offer a tasting for a fee that is then applied to the cake if they place an order.  I also know a lot of people don't even do this for orders of less than 100 servings.  The person that asked me for a tasting wants a cake for her son's 4th birthday party.  She sent a pic of what she wanted, and it's an fondant, angry birds cake with either a 4" round on top of a 8" or a 6" on top of a 10".  Either way, that's a max of 40 servings.  I only do a couple cakes month, so I would basically be baking these samples just for her.  What should I do?

If you don't want to do tasting for 40 servings then just tell the customer you don't for cakes that small.  Just because they ask doesn't mean you have to say yes.
 

AWhen I get asked for a tasting that isn't related to a wedding or other large event, I just tell them that they can order a dozen cupcakes to taste. I don't offer tastings for non-wedding/corporate orders. And even then, if the wedding is under 75 servings, I charge for it.

We only offer free tastings for weddings or large events. All others can choose to do a paid tasting, where they get 3 flavors to try for $25. Don't feel obligated to bake free samples for them. If it's that important to them to try before they order a cake, they can purchase a tasting or cupcakes from you. 

I do free tastings for wedding cakes, and only for about 80+ servings. It isn't cost-effective to do it for small cakes. I've had people ask for tastings for birthday cakes and I tell them that I only do free tastings for events of 100 guests or over. If they don't like it they're free to go somewhere else, that's fine.

I don't do tastings unless it's for a wedding, or a party of 80+.  I find it's a waste of time. 

I also am a home baker & do about 1-2 cakes a month.  Would like to do more!  Once I had mother & daughter request a tasting for her 16th birthday cake.  However once they came to my house, met me & saw a few of my dummy cakes I had on display, and after we talked about their cake, nothing further was said.  I'm glad, as now I feel unless it is a large cake, I don't want to make 3-4 different cupcakes & separate fillings.

I only do tastings for weddings.  I've had people ask for tastings for birthdays but I have not done them.

A

People have called me to try to get a tasting for a birthday cake for 12 people! They're nuts!

I think you should just tell the customer that you offer tastings for events over 80-100 people. They can buy a dozen cupcakes from you if they want to have a taste.

my website clearly states I only offer tastings on orders servings 100+ people.

 

If I am feeling nice, and they ask, I will offer a vanilla or chocolate cupcake for them to taste jsut to get an idea of my icing, etc but that is rare.  Usually if I tell them I don't offer them, they are fine with it.  I do not advertise - all my business is word of mouth so people ordering from me usually trust the judgement of their friends or have tasted my product at parties.

I don't do tastings for birthdays.

Wedding cake tastings NO!-Lunch or afternoon tea for four with cake for dessert-25.00 and if the cake is ordered from me 25.00 off price of wedding cake.

Thanks to economy-especially gas going up"-NOTHING IS FREE".

Happy Baking and Decorating,

Chef Angie