Setting up Bontro as a custom baker or cake artist
Order-type services, lead time, intake questions, and managing orders through production.
Custom order work doesn't fit the standard "pick a time slot" booking model. Bontro's Order service type is built for exactly this — clients place a request with an event date, fill out your order intake form, and pay a deposit upfront. Here is how to set it up.
Step 1: Create your services as Order type Go to Dashboard → Services → Add Service. Set Service type to Order (not Appointment). Then fill in:
- Name: What they're ordering ("Custom Celebration Cake," "Wedding Cake — Tiered," "Cupcake Box — 12") - Price: Your starting price or estimate. You can send a payment request for the final amount later. - Lead time: Minimum days before the event date clients must place their order. A good starting point: 7 days for single-tier cakes, 21–30 days for wedding cakes. Bontro enforces this — clients cannot pick an event date sooner than your lead time. - Delivery: Toggle on if you offer delivery in addition to pickup. Clients choose at booking and enter a delivery address.
Step 2: Add order intake questions This is how you collect everything you need to make the cake. In the service editor, click Add Question for each field:
Recommended questions: - Flavor (text, required) — "What flavor would you like?" - Size / serving count (text, required) - Design description (text area, required) — "Describe your design or paste an inspiration image link" - Dietary restrictions (text) — "Any allergies or dietary requirements? (gluten-free, nut-free, vegan, etc.)" - Fondant or buttercream? (text or yes/no) - Text on the cake (text) — "What should the cake say? (leave blank if none)" - Inspiration photo link (text) — "Paste a link to inspiration images (optional)"
Mark flavor, size, and design as Required.
Step 3: Require a deposit Custom work always warrants a deposit — it compensates you if the client cancels after you've started. A 50% deposit at booking with the remaining 50% charged when the order is ready is the most common structure.
In the service editor, set the deposit amount or percentage. The remaining balance pre-fills automatically in the payment request tool when you're ready to charge.
Step 4: Manage orders through production stages Order bookings appear in Dashboard → Appointments with an orange Order badge. Open any order to see the client's intake answers, delivery preference, and a status dropdown. Move orders through the pipeline:
1. Inquiry → just received, review and accept 2. Approved → you've accepted and started planning 3. In Production → actively baking 4. Ready → finished and ready for pickup or delivery 5. Picked Up / Delivered → complete
Step 5: Charge the remaining balance When the order is ready, open it in your dashboard and click Charge remaining balance — this charges the client's saved card automatically. Or send a payment request link to collect via text.
Pro tip: Use the design description question to screen orders early. Clients who describe their vision in detail are far more likely to follow through. Vague answers often signal low intent.