for sellersHow to take Christmas pre-orders as a home baker (without DMs and bank transfers)
Open Christmas pre-orders in early to mid November, set a firm order cut-off (around 18 December) and fixed collection days (21–24 December), publish a short festive menu with prices and allergens, and take payment when the order is placed rather than chasing bank transfers in Christmas week. The simplest way is one order link you put in your Instagram bio and WhatsApp status. Cravers Eats can set up an order website in your name (card payments, your menu, allergens and your branding), free with 5% per order; card payments on Cravers Eats open soon, so until then use a simple order form.
The Christmas pre-order checklist
- Pick your dates first. A cut-off (for example 18 December) and the days customers can collect. Work back from how many bakes you can physically do.
- Keep the menu short. Four to six festive items sell better than twenty. Give each one a price, a size and its allergens.
- Take payment up front. In Christmas week, an unpaid order is a cake you may never be paid for. Card payment at the time of ordering removes the chasing.
- Cap your numbers. Decide your maximum before you post, and close orders when you hit it.
- One link everywhere. Instagram bio, WhatsApp status, Facebook page and a pinned post. Reply to every "how much?" DM with the link.
- Confirm the collection time with each customer a few days before, and keep a printed list for collection day.
Option 1: DIY with a form
A free Google Form or our cake order form collects orders, but you still chase payment by bank transfer and copy orders into a list by hand. Fine for a handful of orders.
Option 2: Your own order website, free to set up
| Compared | What you get |
|---|---|
| Your site | A shop in your bakery's name, logo and colours: no marketplace browsing, just you. Use a link we give you, or your own domain. |
| Your menu | We add your festive menu: photos, prices, sizes, allergens and notice needed. |
| Payments | Customers pay by card (Apple Pay and Google Pay where set up). Money is paid to your bank via Stripe every Wednesday. |
| Orders | Each order arrives paid, with the customer's note and allergies, in the seller app. Decline one and the customer is refunded automatically. |
| Cost | No set-up fee and no monthly fee: 5% per order, card fees included. Customers pay a 99p service fee (plus £1 on baskets under £15). |
| After Christmas | Keep it running all year, or switch it off. |
See a demo Christmas shop (a made-up bakery, so you can tap around; it doesn't take real orders).
Card payments on Cravers Eats open soon, not yet. If you need to take Christmas orders before then, use Option 1 for now. To get your site ready for when payments open, email hello@craverseats.co.uk with your bakery name and your Instagram, and we'll add your menu for you. You'll need to be registered with your council as a food business, as with any way of selling food.
How it compares
For comparison, monthly order tools for bakers typically charge £25–£37 a month, and an agency-built bakery website usually starts around £500. If your orders are a handful of family and friends, a form and bank transfer is cheaper still.
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
When should home bakers open Christmas pre-orders?
Early to mid November, with a cut-off around 18 December and collection on fixed days such as 21–24 December. Opening early lets you cap numbers before you are overbooked.
Should I take a deposit for Christmas cake orders?
Taking full payment, or at least a deposit, when the order is placed protects you from no-shows in Christmas week. Card payment at checkout does this automatically.
How much does an order website cost?
With Cravers Eats it is free to set up, with 5% per order (card fees included) and no monthly fee. Customers pay a 99p service fee (plus £1 on baskets under £15). Card payments open soon, so check with us before relying on it for Christmas.
Do I need my own domain?
No. You can use the link we give you straight away. If you already own a domain, or want one, we can point it at your shop.
Sources: Cravers Eats pricing and seller terms; published UK pricing for home-baker order tools and bakery website builds (November 2026). Last reviewed 2026-11-07.