prices

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Rebecca Pool on May 2, 2010 at 7:38pm

Thanks for your reply!! That really helps me. I think I tend to overcharge for birthday cakes & under charge for wedding cakes! That's a great way to look at it, because I always think "the ingredients don't cost that much"

Permalink Reply by Rebecca Pool on May 2, 2010 at 7:41pm

Jennifer,
I have become addicted to cake balls. I've also made "oreo truffles". I think $12-15 per dozen is great! I usually make mine the size to fit in the mini cupcake liners, when boxed up and everything, they look very professional and well worth the cost.

Permalink Reply by Jeanne on May 3, 2010 at 12:14am

Honestly, the only way to figure out what to charge is to sit down and figure out what it costs you to mae your cakes and then what you want to make for your time.

My costs will be different than your costs for sure, so what I charge may not be enough for you to make a decent profit. Think of everything too, not just ingredients. There are boards and piping bags and boxes and dowels... then the less obvious like gas to go to the store and deliver your cakes, and electricity to run your oven and water and all that jazz. When you sit down and think about it, you will see that charging $2/serving really doesn't allow you to make much money, and why woudl you work for less than minimm wage or worse... end up in the long run paying someone to take your cakes from you.

I start cakes at $3.75/serving for party cakes (soon to go up to $4) and $5/serving for weddings (soon to go up to $6). I charge different because my party cakes (just two laers of cake and one filling layer) aren't torted and they come in chocolate and vanilla with vanilla butter cream. Any flavor upgrades are extra. With wedding the cakes are torted (4 layers of cake and 3 filling layers) and they may pick from the full menu at no extra charge and they also get a complimentary tasting.

The thing is, the second the customer can see that you have they apolgy in your eyes they have won. Never be apologetic for your pricing. I live in a small town in NH and I have plenty of people who have no issue with my pricing eventhough I am one of the more expensive bakers in the state. State your price, and if they don't like it... move on to the next customer. There is no room in this business for feeling bad about what it takes for you to pay the bills. If they want Walmart prices... let them go to Walmart. Don't feel like you have to work for pennies to make people happy.

=]

editting to add that I am a legal home baker... so my overhead isn't crazy high, but I treat this as if I did have those bills to pay, because someday I hope to. *wink*

Permalink Reply by Janelle Pomerleau on May 3, 2010 at 4:14pm

Hey, I'm also from canada. I'm just starting up a buisness with my cousin. We're going to try out charging ingredients (including cake board, box, etc...) + a certain amount per hour + delivery (if included) I'm not sure what we're charging per hour yet but it will probably be around 10 - 15 an hour? Concidering the average cake taking 3-4 hours thats 30 - 60 + the money back for ingredients. (This is something I need to talk over with my partner)

Sylvia A James said:

Hi there Tara, i too am from Canada and that is a question i would like some help with as well. Whwew abouts in Canada are you? Sylvia.

Permalink Reply by tracey kohler on May 7, 2010 at 12:14am

Hi

i'm from Vancouver bc

I'm just starting to gather prices my self.
found some good info on line. for smaller cakes I'm charging per cake. example 10" with filling $35.00.
if nuts or anything in cake adding $5.00. If it's a large wedding cake charge per slice. example 100 servings $350.00
I do alot of royal icing flowers, so that i can store up ahead of time.....

Tracey

I want to be profitable but not too pricey. still looking for suppliers for bulk icing, boxes etc.


Janelle Pomerleau said:

Hey, I'm also from canada. I'm just starting up a buisness with my cousin. We're going to try out charging ingredients (including cake board, box, etc...) + a certain amount per hour + delivery (if included) I'm not sure what we're charging per hour yet but it will probably be around 10 - 15 an hour? Concidering the average cake taking 3-4 hours thats 30 - 60 + the money back for ingredients. (This is something I need to talk over with my partner)

Sylvia A James said:

Hi there Tara, i too am from Canada and that is a question i would like some help with as well. Whwew abouts in Canada are you? Sylvia.

Permalink Reply by Kelly Burgess on July 1, 2010 at 8:03pm

Hello, I am in the same spot as you and I have been cake decorating for years now. But one thing that I know is that you should price everything that you will need to make the cake and then see how long it will take to make the cake and how much work and detail you have put into the cake and ask yourself what is your time and talent is worths and with all of that go to the cake supply store and cake decorating supply store and ask what the other cake decorator are priceing there cakes then you will have your answer.People are always looking to get one over on you and no one should put a price on your hard working work but you.Always remenber that you do custom work and if they where to go to Pro cake shop they would have pay a arm and a leg. I am no long going to short change myself or be cheap or under price myself for a customer. I am going have reasonible prices and I think you should to you,You are no different then a Pro cake shop they are cake decorator too anyways just don't over price yourself.

Permalink Reply by shirley villafranca on September 6, 2010 at 4:40pm

i used to have a bread store and aside from doing the food costing, adding my packaging plus labor etc., i make rounds on all the cake shops i pass by, from malls, groceries, jotting down the prices in my "secret" little book on in my cellphone. this way, i can compare and tell if i am charging less or more than the competitors, after all that work, you do not want to be short changed..you can also check the internet, which is what i will do when i start to sell my cakes.. hopefully

Permalink Reply by Heather Bradford on September 6, 2010 at 5:05pm

Afreind told me that i need to be able to pay myself minimum wage basically.
I get paid $17 an hour as a checkout chic and thats no where near as mentally intensive as making a cake.

Permalink Reply by Karen Marie on September 21, 2010 at 3:32pm

Minimum wage is nowhere near what a cake decorator should be getting...it is art not just slapping some icing on a cake..any kid could do that....Ladies we NEED to get it in our heads that we deserve to be compensated for our talents...if you keep thinking that you feel bad about doing that then you will forever attract bottom feeders who will alaways get you to give your cakes away for almost nothing...who cares if you lose a few customers...dont worry...they will go to Wally world or tar-zhay or wherever and get a cookie cutter cake made with BUT-R-Creme and they will be back paying your price....keep your heads up HIGH! We are artists.

Heather Bradford said:

Afreind told me that i need to be able to pay myself minimum wage basically.
I get paid $17 an hour as a checkout chic and thats no where near as mentally intensive as making a cake.

Permalink Reply by Sheila Herrington on September 29, 2010 at 9:38am

jeri c said:

I met with a bride last night for a July wedding. They just want a small cake to cut because they are having peitit fours that are included in the price with their caterer. She said but I only want a small 2 tier cake to cut... with the tooled leather look that you do... and hand made gumpaste flowers... hmmmmm "ONLY" is translated in my terms I want it all but I ONLY want to pay you squat...
Her fiance brought op the fact that I have a minimum of $250 on all wedding cakes regardless of the size... I did this a few years ago because I had many brides expecting me to do a small cake for them to cut then they'd buy their sheet cakes from Costco to serve.... what a slap in the face! I explained to them why I have a minimum... The time it takes to make all those gumpaste flowers is the reason. I explain the time involved in making the cakes I make. They want a cake that serves 50... so I settled on $150... it will be 2 tier.... tooled leather brown fondant (I have a few of these in my portfolio) and a few gumpaste flowers.

My biggest problem is we live in such a small area and most everyone I do a cake for is a good friend so it is really hard to stick to my guns. I always say I am going to and I give in.

Permalink Reply by Michelle Galloway on October 18, 2010 at 9:15pm

I got a pricing Question too. I always have trouble w/ pricin could use some help. Friend wants 60 Baby booties for shower. These are made from 1 1/2 CCs each and are put together more like little cakes. Then covered in star tip and piped details. Any sugestions?

Permalink Reply by Christina's Novelty Cakes on November 5, 2010 at 2:32pm

I am located in the Cayman Islands but here are some of my prices.

1/4 sheet $40
half sheet $55
Full sheet $85

Cupcakes 24 regular for $30

Delivery additinal $5 or up depending on location

Specialty cakes vary depending on size and what designs are required by the customer.

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