??? What Do I Charge???

Decorating By loree001 Updated 7 Jan 2006 , 8:43pm by Jenn123

loree001 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
loree001 Posted 7 Jan 2006 , 8:19pm
post #1 of 5

A stacked-construction square wedding cake, feeds 250, with fresh flowers, not much decorating. I've quoted $350 with $25 traveling fee? Is this too much?

She also wants a specialty groom's cake which is going to require a specially made 'stand' to look like the legs on a pool table, (the cake will be a pool table). I was going to ask $90 for this, and it serves 72, chocolate, chocolate buttercream, plus I have to find the pool sticks and balls.

The local bakerys charge $1.50 starting with plain white cake, plain buttercream filling and go up from there. Any ideas on pricing? I'm not very good at this!

4 replies
miss_Jacqueline4694 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
miss_Jacqueline4694 Posted 7 Jan 2006 , 8:23pm
post #2 of 5

I think you might want to charge a bit more for the pool table since you will have to make a "special" stand for it... IMHO

thecakemaker Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
thecakemaker Posted 7 Jan 2006 , 8:33pm
post #3 of 5

Don't sell your self short! Make sure you cover yourself on the cost of the fresh flowers too. Florists aren't cheap especially when you need organic flowers for a cake.

Debbie

JennT Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
JennT Posted 7 Jan 2006 , 8:36pm
post #4 of 5

Even though the wedding cake is simple, I think you're charging right. If the local bakery would charge $375 for theirs (250 @ 1.50 ea.) that's only $25 less....and then a delivery/set-up fee on top of that, which would probably be more than you're charging, seems fair to me, if you're ok with it. icon_smile.gif

But I definitely think you're undercharging on the groom's cake. Especially since it requires materials/time/other skills to create the special stand. I would probably charge more like $150 for something like that to feed 72 ppl. Are they going to keep the stand or will you be keeping it? You may want to consider that in the price....if you are able to keep it and use it for other cakes in the future, etc. JMO icon_smile.gif

*edited to add: Will the Bride be supplying the flowers? If not, then maybe you need to check on the costs of what she wants and then figure that in to the cost of the cake.

Jenn123 Cake Central Cake Decorator Profile
Jenn123 Posted 7 Jan 2006 , 8:43pm
post #5 of 5

I agree you are not charging enough for the Groom's cake. Add the flower cost on extra!

For the pool balls...try large gumballs or jawbreakers or gumpaste and draw the numbers on. The cue could be a large dowel widdled down at one end? Or buy a cheap one at Walmart and just use half of it.

Quote by @%username% on %date%

%body%