I'm just curious..... I want to poll everyone on what they would charge for a certain design. And see what the range is. Just doing some price checking on myself. Thanks for participating!!!
Here is the design..... a 3D, detailed fondant covered purse cake with realistic looking edible image logo, bows, charms, gumpaste handles, and assuming the cake looks realistic when it is done (professional). What do, or would, you charge for this cake, for 25 servings?
Please be realistic if you can, please don't put what you THINK it should cost, but what YOU would charge. I'm interesting in seeing the price ranges that CC members charge for their work. Thanks again!
is there a picture?
I didn't want to upload a picture because it really doesn't have to be a specific cake....and also I didn't want to start the copyright discussion here. haha.
Really, any fancy purse, done with an edible image logo and the dried handles and charms and a bow or two, and everything smooth and realistic, more "purse" looking than "cake" looking. Just interested in what the CC quotes would be, if a client asked for a similar cake to serve 25.
Thanks again!
(To explain myself, I've started to charge a couple higher prices in some cakes after feeling my work is worth more...but wanted to just see what everyone else is charging to make sure I'm current with the average sculpted cake pricing...not too low, and not unfairly high. I just threw out the purse cake example because I just took an order for one and quoted one and wanted to compare. Not asking for help in pricing...but interested in seeing a broad range.)
$125, with all the details. My area would think more of the total cost for feeding "just" 25 people, and not my labor time.
BTW Kitagrl, I'm in Harrisburg, PA
I charge $5.00 per serving for my 3D Cakes and then a hig heel shoe is extra but in the range of about $150.00-$200.00
I would charge at least $250...there is a TON of work that goes into that kind of cake and it requires a LOT of skill to get it to look realistic. The $120-150 price range would get a more "cute-sy", simple, styled cake from me. I'm in Seattle.
Apparently, 42% of people are grossly undercharging.
Our 3D cakes START at $250. I hate the types of customers that order purse cakes. They tend to be high-maintenance, so purses ALWAYS get a PITA charge...so I said $350.
Exactly snarky. I'm at $400, no ifs and or buts. And they are some kick ass handbag cakes too, but I would never slave over one for the apparently popular price of 100-150 dollars.
Loucinda, when it comes to cakes like that, per serving prices are out the window.
I charge $3.50/serv. but would add on for the bows, etc. and charge $4.50/serv. I'm in a small town in Ohio...again........there are others doing cakes like that for much less but i refuse to be one of them.
Wow, I can't imagine having to do all that work for that money....I feel bad for the small town bakers!!!! After your costs that's not a real super hourly wage, is it. 
I feel for you though.
It's Cammy, thanks. Any cake is $8.00 per serving period. Anything carved is minimum $300.00. I price to make sure I am pocketing at least $40.00/hour for my work. I'm not a McDonalds server, nor am I a lawyer, but I'm an artist and treat the profession accordingly.
I have a small Prada clutch that holds about 3/4 of the stuff my larger (much larger) hobo bag does. But the clutch didn't cost 3/4 as much as that hobo did.
sorry on the misspelling. I charge $3.50/serv. but would add on for the bows, etc. and charge $4.50/serv. I'm in a small town in Ohio...again........there are others doing cakes like that for much less but i refuse to be one of them.
Wow, I can't imagine having to do all that work for that money....I feel bad for the small town bakers!!!! After your costs that's not a real super hourly wage, is it.
I feel for you though.
I'm pretty certain my ingredients are cheaper here too though, and so is my cost of living so I think in the end it all balances out!
I pay $.85 for a cake mix and $.79 for the pudding, $1.00 for a doz. eggs, and about $1.49 for a container of veg. oil. So my actual costs are probably lower than yours to begin with. (I remember paying nearly $2.00 3 years ago for a doz. eggs in NJ) and I know i didn't get cake mixes for under $1! I also know that my money didn't go as far, because I was paying $6,000/yr. in property taxes for a half acre in NJ and pay $300/yr. for 1.5 acres in Ohio lol.
I charge $3.50/serv. but would add on for the bows, etc. and charge $4.50/serv. I'm in a small town in Ohio...again........there are others doing cakes like that for much less but i refuse to be one of them.
Wow, I can't imagine having to do all that work for that money....I feel bad for the small town bakers!!!! After your costs that's not a real super hourly wage, is it.
I feel for you though.I'm pretty certain my ingredients are cheaper here too though, and so is my cost of living so I think in the end it all balances out!
I pay $.85 for a cake mix and $.79 for the pudding, $1.00 for a doz. eggs, and about $1.49 for a container of veg. oil. So my actual costs are probably lower than yours to begin with. (I remember paying nearly $2.00 3 years ago for a doz. eggs in NJ) and I know i didn't get cake mixes for under $1! I also know that my money didn't go as far, because I was paying $6,000/yr. in property taxes for a half acre in NJ and pay $300/yr. for 1.5 acres in Ohio lol.
Hmm I guess so...but still, you have to pay what I do for fondant (unless you make it yourself, which it isn't worth it for me) and the same cake supplies and the same "woman hours" of work.... I guess true though the wages here are going to be higher than the wages where you live. Still....
Wow, I am WAY undercharging! 
It's a little off-topic (and not trying to hijack the OP) but does everyone charge different for buttercream vs. buttercream w/fondant or gumpaste 'accents' vs. all fondant covered?
I am charging $3/serving for fondant (I'm a newbie, but have a pretty thriving clientele so far) and now I'm thinking my business is thriving because I'm so damn cheap! LOL
Snarkybaker-I do EXACTLY the same -and I never had a purse orderer who wasn't a PITA- it's $350 here too! (NJ)
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