photographer wanting my cakes in pictures need advice - Page 2

If you provide products or services in exchange for compensation you are running a business.

Be careful, since you have prices posted on your facebook page it will be hard to argue that you're not running a business already.

 

Remember that a small cake takes as long to deal with in terms of shopping and kitchen time for you than an 8" cake. You still have to wash the same number of pans and mixer bowls, etc. so your work time isn't that much less. Then you have to ice the stupid thing, which can be more difficult if you're not used to dealing with tiny tiers. You're also likely to have more ingredients left over that you may or may not be able to use up. if you charge $10 for it you'll be paying her to let you make her a cake.

Another option is renting an existing commercial kitchen or church kitchen. If one is available near you there is usually very little in the way of startup costs, and the cost of renting the kitchen on an ongoing basis is passed on to your customers.

It would just make sense to take the "pricing" tab off your website until you're ready to charge. 

As soon as you start profiting from your cakes you need to be "legal".  There's no "trial period".  As soon as the photographer starts publishing photos of your cakes and giving you credit, the Department of Health and Human Services will find you, fine you and ask you to cease and desist.  Because now you're advertising.  In other words, tell the photographer to try you again in a year when all your ducks are in a row.  It's just not worth it.

maybe i misunderstood

 

i thought that you were doing some cakes for a photography shoot

 

and that you did not want a business

Looks like you already are in business on your website, I think what you mean is you're not registered as a company right now?

i misunderstood this whole thread and i apologize

 

i clearly believe in being legal illustrated by the fact that i never opened a home cakery here when i found out it wasn't allowed some 25 ish years ago although i can't say i haven't dreamed/nightmared about it for that long too

 

all that to say--yes you do need to re-think your situation and become legal to advertise and take orders

 

now some of us think differently on this point--that i think most of the local health & business authorities would not take action against you for taking payment for doing a birthday cake for a neice or an uncle or your bff--some of us might think that is already a business--i do not

 

but i def think going beyond that requires you to do it right legally to protect everyone especially yourself

 

sorry i was confused -- didn't intend to give bad/erroneous advice

 

I would just call them hand crafted props and call it a day. Put the money you make toward getting your business up and running.

 

That's just me, take care and good luck!!

 

Jimmy

That would probably work as long as OP took the cake with her after the photo shoot to make sure no one eats it.

ohio is great for home cakers--most of tn ain't bad either