Selling and marketing
Sourdough Order Form: 9 Fields, Deposit, and Pickup Date
The exact fields, deposit rule, and pickup date to put on your sourdough order form so you get paid before you bake.
On this page
- What fields does a sourdough order form need?
- How to structure your pickup date and time
- How much deposit should you take on a sourdough order?
- How to handle payment for the balance
- What to check before you commit to a sourdough order form
- A worked example: costing one sourdough order
- How to confirm and manage orders
- Take your first sourdough order this week
What to remember
- Nine fields cover a sourdough order from loaf to pickup.
- Take a deposit before you feed your starter.
- Put the form on your phone so you can take orders anywhere.
- A pickup date protects your bake day.
You do not need a fancy app to start. A sourdough order form can be a simple page on your shop or a printed sheet you fill in at the market. The goal is the same: know what to bake, for whom, and when they will pay.
What fields does a sourdough order form need?
Start with the basics. You need to know who is ordering, what loaf they want, how many, when they will pick up, and how they will pay. Add a field for notes so they can tell you about allergies or a slicing request. The bread order form guide lists 14 fields if you want to compare.
Name and contact
Ask for a phone number and an email so you can confirm the order and send a reminder.
Loaf and quantity
List your sourdough loaves by name and size. Let them pick a number.
Pickup date and time
Offer two or three pickup windows. A tight window keeps your bake day manageable.
Deposit and payment
State your deposit rule and how they can pay the balance. Cash, card, Venmo, and Zelle all work.
Notes and allergies
Give them a box for allergies or a slicing request. It saves a back and forth text.
The nine fields that cover most sourdough orders are: name, phone, email, loaf, quantity, pickup date, pickup time, deposit paid, and notes. You can add a field for a gift message or a delivery address if you offer those. Keep the form short so it is easy to fill in on a phone.
How to structure your pickup date and time
A clear pickup schedule prevents confusion and protects your time. Define your pickup day or days each week. For example, you might only offer Saturday pickup from 9 am to 12 pm. State this clearly on your form and in your confirmation.
Limit the number of pickup slots per window. This prevents a crowd and ensures you can manage the handoff. If you offer a two hour window, you might cap orders at ten per hour. Communicate late pickup policies upfront.
Your confirmation message should repeat the date, time, and location. Include instructions for what happens if the buyer is late. A firm policy prevents you from holding bread for hours.
How much deposit should you take on a sourdough order?
A deposit does two things. It covers your ingredient cost if the buyer does not show up, and it tells you the order is real. Pick a deposit that covers your ingredient cost for that order. Half the price or a flat amount per loaf both work. Write the rule on the form so there is no surprise at pickup. If you are still working out your price, the guide on how to make sourdough to sell walks through cost and first order.
How to handle payment for the balance
Decide how you will collect the remaining payment. You can take cash at pickup or use a payment link sent the day before. A payment link ensures the transaction is complete before the bread leaves your hands.
If you use cash, have change ready for common amounts. For digital payments, confirm the receipt before the buyer leaves. Keep a simple record of each sale for your own tracking.
State your accepted payment methods on the order form. This avoids a buyer arriving with only a check. A clear policy makes the pickup process smooth for everyone.
What to check before you commit to a sourdough order form
Check your state cottage food rules before you take money. The form should include any disclaimer your state requires. For the permit side, see how to sell sourdough bread. The selling guides cover deposits, pricing, and pickup in more detail.
A worked example: costing one sourdough order
Here is how to cost one order so your deposit and price make sense. First, calculate your ingredient cost for one loaf. For a basic sourdough, this might be $1.50 for flour, salt, and energy.
Second, assign a labor cost. If a bake cycle takes 5 hours of active time and you pay yourself $20 per hour, that is $100 of labor. If you bake 20 loaves in that cycle, the labor cost per loaf is $5.
Third, add overhead. Your monthly Brevl fee is $20. If you sell 40 loaves a month, that is 50 cents per loaf. Add packaging and other monthly costs, which might be 25 cents per loaf.
Your total cost per loaf is $1.50 (ingredients) + $5.00 (labor) + $0.75 (overhead) = $7.25. If you sell the loaf for $12, your margin is $4.75. A deposit covering your $1.50 ingredient cost protects you if the buyer does not show.
How to confirm and manage orders
Send a confirmation immediately after receiving an order. This message should thank the buyer and list all order details. Include the total price, deposit paid, and balance due.
Send a reminder the day before pickup. This message should include the pickup time and location again. It is also the right time to send a payment link for the balance if you are not collecting cash.
Keep a simple list of orders for each bake day. A spreadsheet or notebook works. Mark orders as confirmed, baked, and picked up. This system prevents you from missing an order or double baking.
Take your first sourdough order this week
You can set up a sourdough order form in an afternoon. Write the nine fields, pick your deposit rule, and add a pickup date. Then share the link with one friend who already asks for your bread. The first order is the hardest. The second one is easier.
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- How to make sourdough to sell: cost, price, first order
- Bread order form: 14 fields, deposit, and pickup date
- How to sell sourdough bread: permit, price, first order
Browse more selling guides.
Common questions
What is the best way to take a sourdough order?
Use a form that captures the loaf, quantity, pickup date, and deposit. A page on your shop works well because you can send the link in a text. A printed sheet works at the market. The key is to write the order down before you bake.
How much deposit should I ask for on a sourdough order?
Pick a deposit that covers your ingredient cost for that order. Half the price or a flat amount per loaf both work. Write the rule on the form so the buyer sees it before they pay. A deposit also tells you the order is real.
Do I need a permit to sell sourdough bread from home?
Check your state cottage food rules before you take money. Your state may require a label or a permit. Start with your state agriculture department website. Do not rely on a friend's advice from another state.
Can I take sourdough orders on my phone?
Yes. A phone is enough to take an order and send a confirmation. Use a form that works on a phone screen. If you use Brevl, your shop works on a computer and on a phone. That means you can take an order at the market and see it at home.
What should I do if a buyer does not pay the deposit?
Do not bake the order. Send one reminder with the deposit link. If the deposit does not come by your cutoff, release the pickup slot to the next person. A deposit rule only works if you enforce it.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Check your state cottage food rules before you sell.