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Step-by-step guide

Celebration cakes to order: from your first costed cake to your first paid order

Bake birthday, baby shower and celebration cakes to order from home. This guide covers published 2026 South African cake prices, costing each cake, deposits and order terms, the free Certificate of Acceptability, scripts and a 14-day plan.

  • 26 lessons
  • 5 modules
  • About 2 hours
  • First lesson free

Is this guide for you?

Good fit if

  • You already bake cakes people ask for, and you enjoy decorating.
  • You can plan ahead and keep promises on dates and times.
  • You have a kitchen and oven you can use for orders.

Think twice if

  • You cannot take orders on Fridays and weekends, when most parties happen.
  • You find it hard to ask for a deposit or say no to last-minute changes.

Honest expectations

  • First orders usually come from family and friends within a few weeks.
  • Published 2026 prices for a single-tier custom celebration cake start at about R350 to R500, and two-tier cakes at about R900 to R1,600.
  • Profit depends on costing every cake, including boxes, boards and your hours.

What is inside

  1. Module 1

    Is this right for you?

    What it involves, who pays, and honest expectations.

    1. How baking celebration cakes to order worksFree · 5 min
    2. Honest expectations4 min (in the full guide)
  2. Module 2

    Set up and price

    What you need and what to charge.

    1. Your startup kit, costs and skills5 min (in the full guide)
    2. Set up step by step: ready for your first order6 min (in the full guide)
    3. Pricing and getting paid: real 2026 prices5 min (in the full guide)
    4. Your numbers: a worked example in rands5 min (in the full guide)
  3. Module 3

    Your first week

    The first steps, in order.

    1. Your first week, step by step6 min (in the full guide)
    2. Week one, step 2: Cost each cake with ingredients, box and your hours3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Week one, step 3: Write order terms: deposit, change cut-off, collection time3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Week one, step 4: Post photos with prices on WhatsApp status3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Finding your first customers: where to look5 min (in the full guide)
    6. Your 14-day first-order playbook6 min (in the full guide)
    7. Messages to copy: your first customers5 min (in the full guide)
  4. Module 4

    Your first month

    A routine that brings in customers.

    1. Your first 30 days: build a routine4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Month one, task 1: Apply for your Certificate of Acceptability3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Month one, task 2: Take your first deposits and deliver on time3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Month one, task 3: Ask every customer for a photo at the party3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Common mistakes new cake bakers make4 min (in the full guide)
  5. Module 5

    Months two and three

    Repeat what works, grow and stay safe.

    1. Days 31 to 90: repeat what works and grow4 min (in the full guide)
    2. Months two and three, task 1: Add a quicker range3 min (in the full guide)
    3. Months two and three, task 2: Raise prices on designs that take longest3 min (in the full guide)
    4. Months two and three, task 3: Plan for busy months3 min (in the full guide)
    5. Free courses to fill your skill gaps4 min (in the full guide)
    6. Getting paid safely and spotting scams4 min (in the full guide)
    7. Tax: what to put aside, with worked examples6 min (in the full guide)
    8. Risks, rules, tax and staying safe5 min (in the full guide)

What it costs to start

R0 to get started, from our research

What you will use:

  • Cake boxes, boards and basic decorating tools
  • Certificate of Acceptability

Prices change and differ by area, so check two places near you before you buy.

Try it before you buy

Lesson one is free. If it helps, the whole guide is R149 once-off.

Start the free lesson

Reviewed 26 October 2026 by the Earn Path team. Next review due 26 April 2027.