Make Your Cake Decorating Business More Efficient, part 2

In my previous post, I looked at a few simple ways to make your cake decorating business more efficient, which is of course one of the best ways of making it more profitable. In part 2, we look at a few more of these tips and suggestions, and I have added a video clip of an absolutley gorgeous christening cake, if you are in need of a little inspiration.

Swap Skills If you are really good at some parts of cake decorating but not others, team up with someone who has complimentary skills to yours. You can both work to your strengths as well as learn from each other, and you will be able to take on more assignments by spending less time on things that you are not so proficient at.

Are you a cake baker, or a decorator? If you are good at both, then you can make the whole cake from start to finish, but if you are more interested in the artistic side and don't want to mess about perfecting your baking skills, then there is no reason why you can't buy cakes ready made from a good bakery. This will let you get on with what you are good at and passionate about, and means that your cake is guaranteed to taste as good as it looks (which is really important, and often overlooked when we get carried away with a spectacular design. Bought cakes also guarantee consistency of size and shape, which means you don't have to spend so much time patching up holes or balancing surfaces.

Plan carefully, and stick to it You need to have a carefully worked out plan of what needs to be achieved each day for every client you are working for. In any one day you will find yourself doing a variety of jobs - baking the cake, choosing and decorating boxes and boards, applying finishing touches, discussing requirements with prospective clients, making deliveries and many other tasks that are a part of this business - so it is vital that you use a detailed diary and refer to it throughout the day. Check it off at the end of each working day to make sure you have not missed some small but important detail, and prepare the next day's working plan. Cake decorating is not something that handles last minute rushes too well, so it is important to keep on top of things and have a very clear idea of where each project is at in relation to where it needs to be.

Inventory Part of planning and efficiency is the maintenance of your supplies of tools, equipment, and ingredients. As you gain experience you will come to know what you need to have on hand at all times, so perhaps it is wise to draw up an inventory of this so you can replenish supplies before you run out of anything. It is far better to do your shopping as part of your schedule, rather than have to rush to the store every time you need something. Of course, many of the cakes you do will have their own specific requirements, but if you plan your daily, weekly, and monthly schedule carefully enough, you can incorporate this into your regular shopping.

The boring stuff All businesses, large and small, have to do paperwork. Financial planning, marketing plans, tax returns, accounting - the list is endless, and sometimes you will feel like you are spending more time with paper and ink than you are with frosting and fondant, but like the artistic part of your enterprise, it is best to do this on a regular basis so it doesn't pile up and force a last minute rush. If you build administration into your regular schedule, after a while you will get used to it and it won't hurt so much. Of course, if you are lucky, you may have a friend or partner who will take care of such matters for you - perhaps in return for a steady supply of cake!

And now after taking care of the boring details, here is a video of someone's first attempt at a christening cake. It shows what can be achieved by studying, learning, and practising this wonderful craft, and by paying attention to detail - note the little footprints around the edge of the cake board. I could look at cakes like this for hours - but who has the time? Enjoy.