SERS-active surfaces were prepared by depositing a silver film using Tollen's reaction on to barium titanate beads. SERS activity of the surface was probed using three thiols (benzene thiol, 1,2 benzene dithiol, and1,4 benzene dithiol) and rhodamine 6-G. The sensitivity of the SERS substrate was probed as a function of silver deposition time. The SERS signal was found to increase as the thickness of the silver film increased until maximum signal intensity was achieved. Additional silver deposition resulted in a decrease in the SERS intensity for all of the studied molecules. SEM measurement of the barium titanate surface as a function of silver deposition time indicate that maximum SERS intensity corresponded with the formation of large atomic scale islands of silver nanoparticles. Complete silver coverage of the beads resulted in a decreased SERS signal. The largest SERS intensity was observed at a deposition time of 30 minutes for the thiols and 20 minutes for rhodamine 6G.