The Cake Business Survival Guide
5 Mistakes to Avoid and How to Fix Them
Running a cake business is a dream come true for many artists, but it can quickly turn into a stressful juggling act if you don’t have the right systems in place. Pricing struggles, last-minute orders, and endless customer messages—sound familiar?
The good news? These problems can be fixed!
In this blog post, we’ll go over the five biggest mistakes cake artists make and the actionable steps to take control of your business (instead of letting it control you). Let’s dive in!
Mistake #1: Saying Yes to Everything
You love making cakes, so you say yes to every request—wedding cakes, last-minute orders, cheap cakes for a friend’s cousin’s neighbor. Before you know it, you’re overbooked, underpaid, and exhausted.
The Fix: Define your ideal orders and set clear boundaries.
Create a “Yes & No” list to clarify what types of cakes you want to make.
Set policies: What’s your minimum order price? How much lead time do you need? Do you take last-minute orders?
Action Step: Write a simple, polite script for declining orders that don’t fit your business. (Example: “Thank you for thinking of me! Unfortunately, I’m fully booked, but I’d love to work with you in the future. Here’s when I’ll be available again.”)
Mistake #2: Guessing Your Prices
Have you ever priced a cake based on what felt right rather than what covered your costs? You might be working for less than minimum wage without a proper pricing structure.
The Fix: Use a pricing formula that covers all costs and ensures profit.
Calculate your true costs (ingredients, time, overhead, and profit).
Use a pricing calculator or spreadsheet to maintain consistency.
Action Step: Take one of your most popular cakes and break down its actual cost. Adjust your pricing if needed!
Mistake #3: Trying to Do It All Alone
From baking to marketing to handling customer messages, you’re wearing all the hats—and it’s burning you out.
The Fix: Automate and delegate wherever possible.
Set up automated responses for frequently asked questions.
Use order forms to streamline the booking process.
Action Step: Create an FAQ highlight on Instagram to reduce the number of repetitive DMs you receive.
Mistake #4: Running Without Systems
You’re constantly in reactive mode, scrambling to complete orders, forgetting to post on social media, and missing important business tasks.
The Fix: Use a system to keep track of orders and plan ahead.
Use a planner, Google Sheets, or a business management tool (like Notion or Trello) to track orders and deadlines.
Have a weekly planning session to review upcoming orders, shopping lists, and business tasks.
Action Step: Set aside 30 minutes this week to create an Order Workflow Checklist so you never miss a step again.
Mistake #5: Ignoring Personal Time
If you’re working late nights, skipping meals, and canceling personal plans to finish cakes, you’re on the fast track to burnout.
The Fix: Set boundaries and schedule personal time like you schedule orders.
Set official work hours—and stick to them.
Prioritize rest, hobbies, and family time. A well-rested cake artist is a better cake artist!
Action Step: Choose one personal activity to add back into your routine this week (a hobby, a coffee break, a real day off!).
Your Cake Business, Your Rules
You’re not just a cake artist—you’re a business owner. And successful businesses thrive on boundaries, smart pricing, organization, and self-care.
Which of these mistakes have you made in your cake business? Let’s chat in the comments! And if you need more guidance, download my Cake Business Survival Checklist to help you stay on track.
And let me invite you to listen to this full episode on The Art Cake Coach Podcast
as always, stay safe and stay creative!
love,
Cristina