# What is the best software for a cake decorator in Australia?

> An Australian cake decorator needs option quotes, AUD deposits, plain English allergen records and GST once registered. How ibakepro handles each, from A$26 a month.

An Australian cake decorator needs software that carries one commission from
the inspiration photo to the handover: a quote with two or three versions of
the cake, a deposit paid by card in AUD, allergens recorded in the plain
English terms the Food Standards Code now uses, and GST on the invoice once you
are registered. ibakepro was built by a cake decorator, serves decorators and
bakeries of every size across Australia, and runs that whole path from A$26 a
month with Australian data held in Sydney.

The clearest test is to follow one wedding cake through.

## 1. The enquiry arrives with pictures

Couples send a Pinterest board, three screenshots and a photo of the venue. The
details that change the price (guest numbers, tiers, flavours, sugar flowers
or fresh, the date and the venue) need to land in one place with the pictures,
not across a DM thread and an email.

In ibakepro the enquiry form asks your questions, the enquiry becomes the
order without retyping, and the couple uploads their reference photos to
their own order page, where they sit with the details. If the
couple cannot picture it, Choux, the AI in ibakepro, can turn their
description or a reference photo into a design mockup in Design Studio during
the consultation. See [Choux](/features/choux-ai).

## 2. The quote carries options

Most couples want to compare: three tiers in buttercream against two tiers and
a cutting cake, or fresh flowers against sugar flowers. One quote holds each
version with its own price, the couple picks one from their private order
link, and the payment schedule follows the version they chose. See
[orders and quotes](/features/orders-and-quotes).

Each option is costed from what you paid for the butter, couverture and
boards, plus your decorating hours, so you see the margin on each version
before you send it. See [recipe costing](/features/recipe-costing).

## 3. The deposit holds the date

The deposit is paid by card through your own Stripe account the moment they
accept, and the balance falls due a set number of days before the wedding,
with reminders until it is paid. How much to ask for is in
[how much deposit for a custom cake](/blog/how-much-deposit-for-a-custom-cake).
Your terms (cancellation, design changes, hire stands) can be signed online
and filed against the order, on every plan. See [e-sign](/features/e-sign).

## 4. Allergens, in plain English

Since 25 February 2024 the Food Standards Code has required allergens on food
labels to be declared in plain English terms, in bold, in a set format and
place. Whether a made-to-order cake needs a full label depends on how it is
packed and handed over, so ask your council, but the customer will still ask
"is there almond in the fondant?" and the answer has to be right.

ibakepro records each ingredient's allergens as contains, processed in or may
contain, and rolls them up to every option on the quote. If the couple has not
picked a flavour yet, every allergen the options could contain is shown. See
[allergen management](/features/allergen-management).

## 5. GST on the invoice

The ATO treats cakes as taxable food, so once you are registered for GST the
invoice carries 10 percent. Registration is required at A$75,000 GST turnover,
current or projected, which a busy wedding season can reach. ibakepro holds
GST at the rate you set, by product category if you also sell GST-free plain
bread. The detail is in
[do I charge GST on cakes in Australia](/answers/do-i-charge-gst-on-cakes-in-australia).

## 6. The handover

On the day, a proof photo and a signature are taken at the venue, from the web,
so a "the cake arrived damaged" email three days later meets a time-stamped
photo.

## Which plan fits a decorator

| Plan | AUD per month | Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Essentials | A$26 | Working alone, up to 100 orders in the life of the account |
| Growth | A$33 | Two users, unlimited orders, an online shop for smaller cakes |
| Business | A$89 | A team, a delivery driver with route planning, wholesale |

Most decorators start on Essentials, which has quotes, deposits, costing,
allergens and e-sign, and move to Growth once they pass 100 orders or want a
shop for cupcakes and smash cakes. More on the fit in
[is ibakepro right for a cake decorator](/answers/is-ibakepro-right-for-a-cake-decorator),
and for setting the price itself, see
[the cake pricing calculator](/blog/cake-pricing-calculator).