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Cake deposit policy and payment links for deposits
A good cake deposit policy is short: the order is booked only when the deposit is paid, the deposit is usually 30 to 50% of the total and non-refundable inside a set window, and the balance is due before or at pickup. Payment links for deposits, where Farinu sends the customer a link to pay the deposit online, are planned and not available yet. Today you can already record deposits and balance payments against each custom order in Farinu and see what every customer still owes.
Last verified October 11, 2026
The problem: dates booked on a promise
A customer asks for a three-tier cake for a Saturday in six weeks. You say yes, you turn down two other orders for that weekend, and four days before the party the customer disappears. You have lost the date and the ingredients you already bought.
A bakery deposit fixes this, but only if it is actually collected. Chasing a transfer by message, checking your bank app, and writing down who paid what is where most home bakers lose track.
How to write a cake deposit policy
Put the policy in writing and send it with every quote, so the customer agrees to it before paying. These are common choices among small bakers; pick the numbers that fit your work.
- Booking: the date is held only once the deposit is received.
- Amount: 30 to 50% of the order total, or the full amount for small orders.
- Refunds: the cake deposit is non-refundable, or refundable only if cancelled more than a set number of days before the event.
- Changes: design changes are accepted until a cutoff date; later changes may cost extra.
- Balance: due on a set day before pickup, or at pickup, before the cake is handed over.
- Payment methods: list the ones you accept, such as bank transfer, card, or cash.
How to take a deposit by payment link today
Fees as each provider published them on October 11, 2026, for domestic payments. They change, so confirm them before you choose. Whichever you use, record the deposit on the order in Farinu with its payment method when it arrives.
Example: a $90 deposit paid through a Stripe payment link costs 90 x 2.9% + $0.30 = $2.91 in fees, so you receive $87.09.
| Option | Published fee | When the money arrives | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stripe Payment Links | 2.9% + 30¢ per domestic card payment | On the payout schedule you set in Stripe | No extra charge for the links on standard pricing |
| Square, Free plan | 3.3% + 30¢ per card payment made online or by invoice | On your Square transfer schedule | Square lists one rate for online and invoice card payments |
| PayPal invoice or checkout | 3.49% + 49¢, or 2.99% + 49¢ when the customer pays by card | Into your PayPal balance | The customer can pay with PayPal, Venmo or a card |
| Zelle from your bank | Typically no fee; check your bank | Typically within minutes | Payments cannot be reversed; Zelle advises paying only people you know |
Worked example: deposit and balance
An example, with made-up numbers: a custom birthday cake quoted at $180. With a 50% deposit policy the customer pays $90 to book the date and $90 before pickup. If they cancel inside your no-refund window, you keep the $90, which helps cover the ingredients and the time you already reserved.
| Step | Amount | When |
|---|---|---|
| Quote sent with deposit policy | $180 total | Six weeks before |
| Deposit paid, date booked | $90 | Within 48 hours of the quote |
| Balance paid | $90 | Day before pickup |
| Still owed | $0 | At pickup |
What you can do in Farinu today
Farinu keeps your customers, with their WhatsApp number, and your custom orders, up to 50 a month on the free plan and unlimited on Team. Each order has a delivery date, its lines priced from one of your price lists, and its payments: you record the deposit and the balance as they arrive, with the payment method, and Farinu shows the balance still due.
Recording the deposit moves a confirmed order to deposit paid, so your order list shows at a glance which dates are really booked. When a delivered order still has a balance due and the customer has a WhatsApp number, Farinu gives you a ready-made WhatsApp message asking for the rest. Once a delivered order's payments cover the total, it becomes paid and its lines count as sales in your monthly profit and loss.
For the policy itself, use the free cake order contract template linked on this page, and price the cake first with recipe costing, which is free for up to 10 recipes.
What payment links for deposits will do
The planned feature closes the gap between asking for a deposit and recording it. The aim is that a customer gets a link for the exact deposit of their order, pays it online, and the payment lands on the order by itself, without you copying amounts from your bank app.
The details, including which payment providers and countries it supports, will be set when it is built. Until it ships, keep collecting the way you do now and record each payment in Farinu.
Sources
- Stripe: pricing (United States)
- Square: payment processing fees
- PayPal: merchant fees (United States)
- Zelle: frequently asked questions
Questions
- How much should a cake deposit be?
- Many small bakers ask for 30 to 50% of the total to book the date, and the full amount for small or last-minute orders. Choose an amount that at least covers your ingredients and the time you are reserving.
- Should a bakery deposit be refundable?
- It is your choice; state it in writing before the customer pays. A common approach is non-refundable inside a set number of days before the event, because by then you have turned down other orders and bought ingredients. Check any local consumer rules that apply to you.
- Can Farinu send payment links now?
- No. Payment links for deposits are planned. Today you record deposits and balance payments on each order in Farinu, which shows what each customer still owes.
- How will I know when payment links ship?
- This page will say so once the feature is available. Until then, record deposits and balances on each order in Farinu.
Related pages
Track every deposit in Farinu
Create a free account to cost your cakes and record deposits and balances on up to 50 custom orders a month. The Team plan removes the limit.