Hi ALL!!

 Please guide me as to what you do regarding deposits for non wedding cakes and consults.

I need to put in place some sort of system. I had not been taking deposit for orders in the past but now that volume is up I've had quite a few no shows.  I can't decide if I should do 25.00 non refundable or what? If they cancel do you give any refunds if they do give enough notice?

Also, for wedding consults there has been a lot of no shows for that too. I don't think charging for a consult is right for a business. (my personal opinion) I do this FT so I have cake on hand all the time. I'm thinking about charging a 20.00 fee to schedule it and then when they show they get the 20.00 back even if they don't book with me.

I thing the client needs to have some cash in the game of they won't play nice.

What do you do? 

Thanks! 

AA common practice is to charge 50% of the total price as a nonrefundable deposit to hold the date, with the remaining 50% due a week or two before the event. For face-to-face consults/tastings you should charge based on how much time you are spending (including prep, your time is not free after all), and you can credit the cost of the consult when the customer places an order (with the cost of the consult built in to the order price of course).

AI charge 50% deposit. It is non refundable. If they cancel & if I am able to schedule another cake for same day, I refund except $150. That is the Only refund.

I do not charge for consultations.

I just don't have time for consultations right now, so I encourage potentials to purchase one of my cupcake samplers and offer to apply half the cost toward their order if they book a wedding cake.