HOW TO HIRE · EVENTS & ENTERTAINMENT · CHECKED OCTOBER 2026
How to hire a cake maker in Ireland
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.
A cake maker in Ireland costs €40–€250 per cake, typically around €100. Here is how to check that in a minute, what to ask before you book, and what you must be handed when the job is done.
- Search and compare — no account needed
- Nearest to you first
- One score from Google, Trustpilot and Locufy reviews
THE 60-SECOND VERSION
Hiring a cake maker in five steps
- Are you a trader, and can I see that in writing?No register covers cake maker work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — consultation Services — cake makers often offer consultation sessions to discuss design ideas, flavours, and budget considerations.
- How does complexity of design change the price?Special requirements add steps the standard job does not have. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does choice of flavours change the price?A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- How does any additional decorations change the price?It decides whether the work can be done in one go. — ask before the quote rather than after.
- What is not included?Typically, cake makers do not provide additional services like catering or event planning — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a cake maker job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
BEFORE YOU BOOK
Check before you book
No register applies
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
Look for the trader badge and the ID-checked badge on the Locufy profile — both are checked by us, not claimed by the provider.
What to check instead
Public liability insurance at the level YOUR VENUE requires — ask the venue first, then the supplier, because the venue sets the number; For anything with a structure or a ride, the inspection or test certificate; A written contract with the date, the hours, the set-up time and the overtime rate; What happens if they are ill — a named arrangement, not reassurance; Whether they have played your venue before, and what the power and access are like; PAT testing on their equipment, which many venues ask to see.
Ask for each of these before you agree a price, and get the answers in the same message as the quote.
Insurance
Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew. From a company, ask for the insurer, the limit and the VAT number, and ask who actually attends: the team that turns up may be employed, subcontracted or both, and only one of those is supervised by the firm you are paying.
Ask to see the current certificate of insurance — the insurer's name, the limit and the date it runs to.
Trader or private seller
Under the Consumer Rights Act 2022 a trader must tell you they are a trader, and your consumer rights — work carried out with reasonable skill and care, and a cooling-off period on a contract agreed in your home or online — apply to traders and not to private sellers. On Locufy the trader status is shown on the profile.
Look for the trader badge on the Locufy profile, and ask anyone else for it in writing before you agree a price.
VAT
VAT at 23%, the standard rate Revenue publishes for this service. Ask whether the price you were given includes it. A trader under the €42,500 registration threshold does not charge it; one over it must, and must show it separately.
Ask whether the figure you were given includes it, and for the VAT number if they are registered — Revenue publishes the rate for this service. revenue.ie →
A good answer: No register covers cake maker work, so trader status is what your consumer rights hang on — consultation Services — cake makers often offer consultation sessions to discuss design ideas, flavours, and budget considerations.
A good answer: Special requirements add steps the standard job does not have. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: A higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: It decides whether the work can be done in one go. — ask before the quote rather than after.
A good answer: Typically, cake makers do not provide additional services like catering or event planning — get the exclusions named in the quote, because a cake maker job is priced on what was agreed and not on what was assumed.
A good answer: Expect public liability, and employer's liability if they bring crew — flavours and Fillings — A variety of flavours and fillings can be offered, including classic options like vanilla and chocolate, as well as unique combinations such as lemon raspberry or salted caramel.
A good answer: A written scope and a price before the cake maker starts, and an itemised invoice after — sugar Art Specialist — focuses on creating intricate sugar decorations and designs for cakes, adding a unique touch to any cake for special occasions.
Getting the quote right
- Complexity of design — special requirements add steps the standard job does not have.
- Choice of flavours — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit.
- Any additional decorations — it decides whether the work can be done in one go.
- Size of the cake — size sets the hours, and the hours set most of the price.
- In writing before anyone starts — a message on Locufy counts
- What is NOT included, named
- Who actually attends, and whether they are employed or subcontracted
- The VAT number, and whether it checks out on the Revenue register
Walk away if
- They will not talk about it: complexity of design — special requirements add steps the standard job does not have
- They will not talk about it: choice of flavours — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit
- They will not talk about it: any additional decorations — it decides whether the work can be done in one go
- A price for the cake maker before anyone has asked the size, the access or the condition of what they are working on
- Cash only, or a large deposit before anything at all has started
- No written quote, or one that moves once the cake maker has begun
What a cake maker costs: €40–€250 per cake
The figures are for the job, per cake, and a quote for your own is the only number that binds anyone. Birthday cake maker and Wedding cake designer each carry their own band. Cake Maker price guide →
Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.
KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE
Cake makers near you, with the badges that matter shown
ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.
Or post the job free and let them come to you.
- Look firstComplexity of design — special requirements add steps the standard job does not have — that is what the cake maker is judging on the first visit, and a price given without it is a guess.
- Agree what is being doneChoice of flavours — a higher specification costs more to buy and more to fit — put in writing before anyone starts, because it is the document you both read back at the end.
- The work itselfAny additional decorations — it decides whether the work can be done in one go — and anything found on the day that was not in that is priced before it is started.
- Check it togetherSize of the cake — size sets the hours, and the hours set most of the price — walked against the written scope rather than against the feeling of it, while the cake maker is still there.
- What you are handedThe itemised invoice and any guarantee on the workmanship and the parts, quality of materials used — some products have to be ordered in, which adds to the wait.
- Flavours and Fillings
- A variety of flavours and fillings can be offered, including classic options like vanilla and chocolate, as well as unique combinations such as lemon raspberry or salted caramel.
- Consultation Services
- Cake makers often offer consultation sessions to discuss design ideas, flavours, and budget considerations.
- Birthday Cake Maker
- Specialises in creating personalised cakes for birthday celebrations, often incorporating themes, colours, and favourite flavours.
- Wedding Cake Designer
- Focuses on crafting elegant wedding cakes that align with the couple's theme and preferences, including tiered designs and intricate decorations.
- Special Occasion Cake Baker
- Creates cakes for various events such as anniversaries, graduations, or baby showers, often incorporating personalised messages and designs.
- Sugar Art Specialist
- Focuses on creating intricate sugar decorations and designs for cakes, adding a unique touch to any cake for special occasions.
AFTER
When the job is done
Hiring a cake maker: questions people ask
The cost of a custom cake is influenced by factors such as size, complexity of design, choice of flavours, and any additional decorations. More elaborate designs and premium ingredients will typically increase the price.
The time required to make a cake can vary widely based on its complexity. Simple cakes may take a few hours, while intricate designs can require several days of preparation and decoration.
While many cake makers are skilled generalists, some may specialise in specific types of cakes, such as wedding or novelty cakes. It's advisable to choose a maker whose portfolio aligns with your specific needs.
Same-day cake services may be available, but they are often limited to simpler designs and smaller sizes. It's best to check with the cake maker in advance to see if this option is feasible.
Typically, cake makers do not provide additional services like catering or event planning. They focus exclusively on cake design and delivery, so any other services would need to be arranged separately.
NO REGISTER APPLIES TO DJS, BANDS, MARQUEE HIRERS OR ENTERTAINERS. What exists instead is insurance that venues demand and music licensing that the VENUE normally holds through IMRO and PPI, not the performer.
MORE GUIDES