I don’t charge for a consultation but I do charge for tasting boxes…otherwise you just get people wanting to have free cake.
On the other hand, this is my full time job and I offer a design service only if they sit through an appointment with me and discuss what they need. My quote sheet clearly lays out terms and conditions regarding sketches and copyright and I have the client sign off on this. It’s only because I have been burnt where a caking friend showed me an email which included my sketch (before I started doing this) and the customer had stated that the sketch ‘was theirs’. I notified the would be client too and let them know that I knew whet they were up to and threatened them with legal proceedings. They apologised and stopped sending out my sketch! I learnt my lesson but then so did they.
I also know of other decorators who insist upon being paid for consultations first so it doesn’t waste time…
the cake girl, Australia, http://www.thecakegirl.com.au
