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Charging for a tasting?

post #1 of 27
11/4/05 at 11:31am
Thread Starter 
So I know this must have been discussed in the past, but it is tempting to charge for a tasting.

I once had a bride who asked me to try a cheesecake, a chocolate cake and a white cake. OK - i was more of a beginner then and since then I say - "no" to cheesecake trying until I am "retained" as the baker. But I did so much work for her and she wound up doing no wedding cakes and used a bakery to make several differnt cakes (which I offered to do but whatever).

Normally, I get the business from the tasting - but sometimes I don't. It makes we want to charge them. One other decorator iin my area charges, but then it goes towards the final cost of the cake (thus eliminating extra costs associated with a non-returner).

What do you guys do?
"Sugar, sugar...honey, honey...you are my candy girl..."
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"Sugar, sugar...honey, honey...you are my candy girl..."
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post #2 of 27
11/4/05 at 11:53am
I'm still fairly new...so the few tastings I've done I haven't charged. But the charging a small fee and then applying towards the actual purchase of a cake sounds like a good idea to me. But I probably wouldn't charge much...not more than $10 for several small cakes.

But I've been making 'small' tasting cakes when I have extra batter and just freezing them. So I'm not making a fresh cake everytime.

I'd like to see what others would say though.
Christine
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post #3 of 27
11/4/05 at 11:56am
Thread Starter 
I want to freeze them but my freezer is always jam packed with everything else I am always freezing. maybe its time to get an extra freezer....sigh.....
"Sugar, sugar...honey, honey...you are my candy girl..."
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"Sugar, sugar...honey, honey...you are my candy girl..."
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post #4 of 27
11/4/05 at 12:01pm
Same thing here!!! I already have one freezer for NOTHING but cakes.....it is a pretty small freezer though. But we are purchasing a new fridge/freezer this weekend. I use a small 4" round for my cake tastings....so they don't really take up much room.
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post #5 of 27
11/4/05 at 12:02pm
I absolutley charge for a tasting. The fee is $25.00 and they get two choices of cake and icing, filling I have done up to 3 for that price.

If they sign a contract with me on that day, I do not charge them for the tasting.

That is just how I started doing business and I also started my prices at what I expect to get for them, because I want it known, that my cakes are a specialty and my prices ARE higher than a local grocery's prices.
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post #6 of 27
11/4/05 at 12:03pm
why give them whole cakes? Why not just have a few sample cupcakes in your freezer in different flavors, and then give mini cups of varioius icing/filling. They can test taste the cakes themselves at home and do their own combos. I say just package something up and send it. If they want to try a more elaborate flavor, you can always have them buy a smaller cake that serves 6-10 people. This way, you don't waste time or money on people who are not too serious.
I love my lil' munchkin
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post #7 of 27
11/4/05 at 12:08pm
The reason I charge for my tasting appointments is to discourage people that are not serious.

Before I make an appointment with someone, they have to have received and read my letter to the Bride. So they know up front how I charge and what I charge for.

I make 2-6" cakes for the 25.00 if they want more it is 5.00 for each extra choice. I am in this to make money, not just try to get every customer that comes along.

For one, I know what I am doing and I know that I produce good product. So they pay me for my 30 years of baking experience, just like anyother job a person has, the more experience the better the pay.
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post #8 of 27
11/4/05 at 1:04pm
gma, your advice is really good....when i start doing wedding cakes i thingk i will use your approach. i dont want to bake a bunch of cakes and be all stressed out if they arent serious! you go girl!
melody
www.sweetcreationsbymelody.com
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www.sweetcreationsbymelody.com
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post #9 of 27
11/4/05 at 1:07pm
Gma...your approach makes sense! thanks
I love my lil' munchkin
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I love my lil' munchkin
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post #10 of 27
11/4/05 at 1:08pm
gma.....you're my hero icon_smile.gif

When i get into wedding cakes, your approach is totally the way I am going. thumbs_up.gif
check out my myspace. www.myspace.com/ginacakesaz
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check out my myspace. www.myspace.com/ginacakesaz
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post #11 of 27
11/4/05 at 1:10pm
I'm planning a cake tasting party so people can sample my cakes so they could possibly boost sales. I was thinking of charging a $10.00 cover to get in and let everyone just sample. I also was planning on doing maybe wine and cheese type of thing. What do you guys think? I don't want to just cook cakes because that's expensive and then just let everyone eat for free. Please give me some ideas on this. Thinking of doing it before Christmas and Thanksgiving.

Also I think you should charge for tasting, GMA is right. I know pastry chefs that do it all the time. you really do want to deter people who are not serious.
Thank You,
www.graffiticakecompany.com
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Thank You,
www.graffiticakecompany.com
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post #12 of 27
11/4/05 at 1:11pm
I've heard of a cake tasting before...great idea!
I love my lil' munchkin
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I love my lil' munchkin
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post #13 of 27
11/4/05 at 1:15pm
Tilisha Said:

Quote:
Quote:

I'm planning a cake tasting party so people can sample my cakes so they could possibly boost sales. I was thinking of charging a $10.00 cover to get in and let everyone just sample.



This is a very good idea and it is one that I plan on doing when I get finished with School. Right now I do not have time to do too many cakes because I am concentrating on my studies.

You should send out invitations and advertise in the local newspaper for this. You should require RSVP though, because you don't want to bake the cakes and then nobody show up. Also you want to have a general idea of how many could show up.

Let me know how it turns out, I will be interested in your response.
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post #14 of 27
11/4/05 at 1:23pm
Yeah I wanted to wait till after finals this semester. Do you think I should charge and what types should I do simple or elaborate. I also want to do pies.
Thank You,
www.graffiticakecompany.com
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Thank You,
www.graffiticakecompany.com
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post #15 of 27
11/4/05 at 1:24pm
I am just curious as to how many cakes do you do when you do a tasting, and do you do like alot of decorations?
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