Food

Celebration cakes and baking to order

Bake birthday, wedding and celebration cakes, cupcakes and treats to order from your kitchen, with deposits and a clear price list.

Some evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

Confident bakers who can decorate neatly, plan ahead and deliver on the day promised.

In South Africa: Strong in every province.

What you need

  • A phone is enough to start
  • Works on everyday data
  • No camera needed
  • No cold selling
  • At least 6 hours a week · age 16+
  • Cooking & baking (competent or better) or Sewing, crafts or handmade (competent or better)

The money

What it can earn

  1. Pocket money
  2. A top-up
  3. A second income
  4. Can become a full income

Part time, most people earn a modest top-up from this. Treat bigger numbers you see online with care.

What people charge

R350 to R900 per cake

Published SA prices: custom cakes from R350 (Camille's Bakes); 8-inch birthday cake R500 and two-tier R900 (Easy Cakes). Hours per cake vary too much to model monthly income.

Costs to plan for

Start-up
R300 to R4 000
Every month
Ingredients per order (paid by the deposit), boxes and boards, electricity or gas, decorating tools.
Payment fees
EFT deposit and balance before collection; Yoco or payment links 2.3% to 3.2%.
Margin
Good when the deposit covers ingredients and you price your decorating hours.

How it is paid: Price per cake by size and design, with a 50% deposit. Our viability score for it: 55 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

  1. Test it cheaply Before you spend

    • Bake and photograph three designs you are proud of
    • Cost one cake fully with your pricing worksheet, including your hours
    • Success signal: five paid orders from people outside your family

  2. First week Days 1 to 7

    • Choose three cake sizes and two designs to start your price list
    • Cost each one with ingredients, box and your hours
    • Write order terms: deposit, change cut-off, collection time
    • Post photos with prices on WhatsApp status

  3. First month Days 8 to 30

    • Get your Certificate of Acceptability started with your municipality
    • Take your first deposits and deliver on time
    • Ask every customer for a photo at the party

  4. By three months Days 31 to 90

    • Add a cupcake or bento-cake range that is quicker to make
    • Raise prices on designs that take longest
    • Plan for busy months (December, Mother's Day, matric)

Friends and family usually order first. First income usually takes 7 to 60 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

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

26 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Parents planning birthdays, couples, offices and churches.

A cake that looks and tastes special, made to the customer's theme.

Is there demand?

SA home and small bakers publish custom cake prices: from R350 (Camille's Bakes), an 8-inch birthday cake at R500 and a two-tier at R900 (Easy Cakes, Cape Town). We found no data on how many orders a new baker gets.

WhatsApp status and catalogueInstagram and FacebookSchool and church networksOffice birthday orders

Getting customers

Photos of every cake you make, shared by happy customers at their parties, bring the next order.

Word of mouth and referralsDirect messagesResponding to enquiriesIn-person networking

Risks and rules

Watch out for

  • Allergies: list every ingredient and ask about allergies on every order
  • Last-minute changes and no-shows: take a deposit and set a cut-off for changes
  • Load-shedding on bake day: plan a backup (gas oven or bake early)

Competition: High: many home bakers. A signature style and reliability stand out.

Room to grow: Limited by oven space and your hours; cupcakes and smaller cakes scale better than tiered ones.

Legal and tax in South Africa

  • Selling food from home or a stall needs a Certificate of Acceptability from your municipality's environmental health office (food hygiene regulations R638).
  • Keep food covered, hands washed, raw and cooked food apart, and cold food cold.
  • If customers come to your home, check your municipality's home-business rules (Cape Town, for example, allows small home businesses with conditions).
  • Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).
  • If you are 16 or 17, you need a parent's or guardian's OK, and an adult should look after payments and any accounts.
  • Never work during school hours.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start celebration cakes and baking to order in South Africa?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R300 to R4 000. Recurring costs: Ingredients per order (paid by the deposit), boxes and boards, electricity or gas, decorating tools.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 21 days, and between 7 and 60 days. Friends and family usually order first.

Can I do it with only a phone?

Yes, a smartphone is enough to start, although a laptop helps as you grow.

What about tax and legal rules?

Selling food from home or a stall needs a Certificate of Acceptability from your municipality's environmental health office (food hygiene regulations R638). Keep food covered, hands washed, raw and cooked food apart, and cold food cold. If customers come to your home, check your municipality's home-business rules (Cape Town, for example, allows small home businesses with conditions). Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs). If you are 16 or 17, you need a parent's or guardian's OK, and an adult should look after payments and any accounts. Never work during school hours.

Sources (4)

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Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy