# What should a cake order contract include, and how do I get it signed online?

> A custom cake contract needs six clauses: deposit, cancellation, allergens, design changes, handover and hire items. Here is each one and how to get it signed online.

A custom cake contract needs six clauses: what the deposit secures and when the
balance is due, what you keep if the customer cancels or postpones, what the
customer must tell you about allergies, how late the design can change and what
an inspiration photo means, when responsibility passes at handover, and the
rules for hired stands. Send it as a PDF for e-signature and the customer can
sign on their phone in a couple of minutes, before you take the booking.

## The clauses

**Six clauses for a custom cake order**

- **Deposit and balance.** The amount, that it holds the date, what part is
  non-refundable, and the balance due date, usually 7 to 14 days before the
  event. See
  [how much deposit to take](/answers/how-do-i-take-a-deposit-on-a-cake-order).
- **Cancellation and postponement.** What you keep at each stage of notice,
  and whether a moved date is honoured subject to availability.
- **Allergens.** The customer tells you in writing about every allergy in the
  party, and your kitchen handles the major allergens, so you cannot promise a
  cake free of traces.
- **Design changes and inspiration photos.** The last date for changes to
  size, flavour and design, commonly 2 to 4 weeks before the event, and that
  inspiration photos are a guide, not a replica order.
- **Delivery, set-up and handover.** Where responsibility passes to the
  customer or venue, and what happens if the venue is not open or ready at the
  agreed time.
- **Hire items.** When hired stands come back, the refundable deposit on them
  and the charge if they do not.

The longer version, with wording to adapt, is in
[the terms worth getting signed for custom cake orders](/blog/terms-to-get-signed-for-custom-cake-orders).

## Getting it signed in ibakepro

ibakepro sends any PDF for e-signature from the Vault in Business, on every plan
and with no fee per document. You place the signature, initials, date and text
fields once and save the layout as a template, so the wedding contract you
send every week is set up a single time. The customer confirms their email
with a code and signs on any device, and the signed copy, sealed with a
certificate of completion showing who signed and when, is emailed to both of
you and filed against that customer.

It is a simple electronic signature, which suits order contracts, catering
agreements, supply agreements and venue paperwork. More on the
[e-sign](/features/e-sign) page.