for sellersCravers Eats vs taking orders by Instagram DM and bank transfer
Instagram DMs cost nothing per order but cost you time: messages back and forth on every sale, chasing bank transfers, and no record of allergens or orders. A Cravers Eats shop costs 5% per sale (card fees included; the customer pays a 99p service fee) and orders arrive paid, with sizes, options, allergens and the customer's note already captured. Keep Instagram for photos and discovery, and put your Cravers link in your bio and in replies.
Side by side
| Compared | Instagram DMs + bank transfer | Cravers Eats shop |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per sale | £0 | 5% (card fees covered); customer pays 99p service fee |
| On a £38 cake you receive | £38, if they pay | £36.10, paid by card before you bake |
| Time to confirm an order | A back-and-forth of messages: flavour, size, date, allergies, bank details, "has it gone through?" | Customer picks options, adds a note (such as when they'd like it) and pays; you tap Accept and confirm the time |
| Payment | Bank transfer, often late; no protection for either side | Card in the app; paid via Stripe every Wednesday |
| Allergens | You remember to ask, every time | Set once per product, shown before ordering and on the order |
| Cancellations | Awkward refund conversations | Decline → automatic full refund |
| Finding customers | Your followers | Your followers and people browsing the app nearby |
| Delivery | You arrange it | Collection or your own delivery; you set the area and fee. Cravers riders later (15% on those orders) |
| Records for the council / tax | Scroll back through chats | Every order listed with what was sold and when |
What 5% actually buys
On £1,000 of monthly sales, 5% is £50. If a Cravers shop saves you 20 minutes an order across 25 orders, that is eight hours (your evenings back) plus no chasing payments and no forgotten allergy questions. For sellers doing one or two orders a month, DMs are fine. For anyone busy enough that messages feel like a second job, the maths is not close.
Keep doing this on Instagram
- Post the photos; that is where people fall in love with the food.
- Put your Cravers Eats shop link in your bio.
- When someone DMs "how much for a cake like this?", reply with the link, the shop answers most of the follow-up questions for you.
Honest limits: Cravers Eats is new, so local browsing traffic depends on how many customers have joined near you; your own followers are still your biggest asset in the early months.
Sell on Cravers Eats
A new local marketplace for anyone who makes and sells from home: bakers, cooks, florists, crafters and makers, opening across the UK in early 2027. Founding sellers join free now and set up before launch day. Customers order and pay by card, you keep 95%, and there are no monthly fees.
Join as a founding sellerQuestions people ask
Can I use Cravers Eats and Instagram together?
Yes. Use Instagram for photos and discovery, and put your Cravers shop link in your bio and DMs for ordering and payment.
How much does Cravers Eats charge sellers?
5% of each completed order, with card processing fees covered by Cravers. Customers pay a 99p service fee. Joining is free with no monthly fees. Orders delivered by Cravers riders, once launched, carry 15% instead.
Is a bank transfer safe for selling cakes?
It works, but there is no protection if the customer does not pay or disputes the order, and chasing transfers takes time. Card payment through a platform means the order is paid before you start baking.
Sources: Food Standards Agency and local council guidance on registering a food business and allergen information (PPDS); HMRC trading allowance guidance; Cravers Eats seller terms. Last reviewed 2026-11-05.