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Pricing edible image cakes

post #1 of 15
1/14/06 at 10:49am
Thread Starter 
I am planning to purchase an edible image printer soon..

How much do you charge for these images? Say I charge, oh, $25 or so for a plain 9x13 cake with border and writing and a few roses. How much should I add for an edible image put on top? I looked up a few sites and some offered free edible image with cake orders but others charged up to $15 for the image. The $15 ones also offer free photo editing which I could do, I could even add borders onto it or whatever they wanted done to it. But that does seem a bit high. I am thinking maybe $10 for the image but then add on $5 for any editing other than cropping? Or is that making it too complex?

Ideas?
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post #2 of 15
1/14/06 at 11:01am
Kitagrl,
I just paid $10 for an image from a cake supply store to add to a cake. As a consumer, and this just may be me, if I was ordering the cake I'm making I wouldn't blink to pay 15 to have this picture added to the cake. May depend on where you live or who your customers are though. Good luck.
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post #3 of 15
1/17/06 at 8:28pm
I think $10-$15 per sheet is a fair price. If you're looking to buy edible images ready made or have them made for you, you've got to check out Sugarcraft. The edible image cut-outs they print are amazing.

http://www.sugarcraft.com/D-pictures.htm
Birthdays are just nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.
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Birthdays are just nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.
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post #4 of 15
1/17/06 at 8:31pm
Thread Starter 
Those are so cool! Sugarcraft is awesome.

I decided on charging $10 for an image "as is", $12 for an image that I have to crop a person out of, etc, and $15 for an image I have to crop, edit, add text, add frame, etc.
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post #5 of 15
1/17/06 at 8:33pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitagrl

Those are so cool! Sugarcraft is awesome.

I decided on charging $10 for an image "as is", $12 for an image that I have to crop a person out of, etc, and $15 for an image I have to crop, edit, add text, add frame, etc.



That sounds great thumbs_up.gif
Birthdays are just nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.
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Birthdays are just nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.
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post #6 of 15
1/17/06 at 11:08pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitagrl

Those are so cool! Sugarcraft is awesome.

I decided on charging $10 for an image "as is", $12 for an image that I have to crop a person out of, etc, and $15 for an image I have to crop, edit, add text, add frame, etc.



..is that in addition to the price of the cake? IMHO..that sounds a little high but maybe just because I am in a different area.

I add a few dollars to an 8 or 9" round cake if I add an image..which I always crop/edit.

If I am making a sheet cake, I don't charge anything additional. I look at it this way....I can either decorate a sheet cake and spend a good amount of time messing with BC flowers or other embellishments OR spend the same amount of time,or less, on my computer editing/cropping an image.
Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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post #7 of 15
1/18/06 at 7:11am
The bakeries in our area charge an extra $10 - $12 depending on what the image is. I don't have one yet....... icon_wink.gif
Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
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Knowledge is a candle that when shared, doubles the light, but the insecure person believes knowledge is a candle that is diminished when it is split between two wicks.
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post #8 of 15
1/18/06 at 3:17pm
Thread Starter 
I looked at a few places online and most charged around $10-15 extra for the image...only one gave a photo free with purchase of cake.

As a home baker if someone bought a 9" cake for $20 with a photo, by the time I am paying for all the supplies and stuff I am not making too much so I feel I need to charge extra for the edible images. I would rather make cheap buttercream roses than use the more expensive photos if I am going to charge the same price. icon_smile.gif
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post #9 of 15
1/18/06 at 3:28pm
..I understand what you're saying....guess it's whatever works, right!

I'm also guessing that the suburbs of Philly are quite a bit different then the little town of Montross! icon_smile.gif
Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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Whatever you do, do with all your heart!
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post #10 of 15
1/18/06 at 3:54pm
Kitagrl,
Hello, I purchased my equipment several months ago and love it. I charge an additional $10.00 for the image. The materials to produce these images aren't cheap and the time you spend to customize each image. I even sold an image to another decorator for $10.00 each. We are stationed in Naples, Italy and I am the only one on the base who has this product at this time. I am working on 2- half sheets ($45.00 ea.) and one full sheet ($85.00) due for the weekend. All are edible images. I am able to take on more cakes when I use the edible image less detailed decorating. Just an FYI, I changed from the wafer sheets to the frosting sheets. The frosting are more expensive but worth every penny. Hope this helps....Kim
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post #11 of 15
1/18/06 at 4:43pm
Thread Starter 
I am using the icing sheets...they are neat but the first time I think my buttercream was too stiff and the sheet never blended in to my icing. Next time I will dampen the icing a bit first.

Yeah there is plenty of money in the Philly suburbs...cost of living is high here so I don't mind charging a little more... before, where I lived in SC, I could have never charged what I do now.
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post #12 of 15
1/18/06 at 5:00pm
Kitagrl,
One question for you, I know this doesn't have anything to do with edible images. I noticed you have created alot of 3D cakes. Could you take a look at this eagle's head on this cake and tell me how you would create it? I am not sure how to go about it. Your help would greatly appreicated...Thanks Kim

http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=coppermine&file=displayimage&meta=favpics&cat=0&pos=-6563
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post #13 of 15
1/18/06 at 5:05pm
Thread Starter 
That is one awesome cake! Have you tried PMing the artist to see how she did it?

I would probably use a mini wonder mold as a base, then take fondant and mold that around it into the general shape of the eagle (esp the head would be solid fondant I think), and then add the feathers and details. Of course the artist might have a much easier idea than that...my ideas are usually "what works" but might not be the best!

Good luck!
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post #14 of 15
1/18/06 at 6:48pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kitagrl

I am using the icing sheets...they are neat but the first time I think my buttercream was too stiff and the sheet never blended in to my icing. Next time I will dampen the icing a bit first.

Yeah there is plenty of money in the Philly suburbs...cost of living is high here so I don't mind charging a little more... before, where I lived in SC, I could have never charged what I do now.



Yes you have to get it on before the BC crusts. If you add just a little extra liquid to your BC, it'll give you more time to work. If it does crust, laying a damp paper towel over the surface helps to soften it back up. If it has crusted really hard (I avoid using recipes that do this), you may have to even spritz it (very fine) with some water.

I've done like MrsMissey before too and not charged for an image just to save myself time. If someone asks for a car-themed sheet cake (no extras) but they don't specifically ask for an edible image, I'll make one and use it instead of spending a lot of time decorating the cake. They love it, I love it and it only cost me $3 but saved me at least an hour. I'm a very slow decorator lol icon_smile.gif It's just so easy and fun.
Birthdays are just nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.
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Birthdays are just nature's way of telling us to eat more cake.
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post #15 of 15
1/18/06 at 6:51pm
Thread Starter 
Oh yeah I wouldn't charge if it was my choice to use an image, but if they want a photo or logo specially done I will charge for it, especially if they want alot of cropping or photo editing done as well. Its sort of a novelty thing and I think people expect to pay extra for it.
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