According to the wedding price matrix, I should charge around $90 for a 12x18x2 single layer sheet cake. It will have an assortment of fondant, buttercream, and royal flowers. It's the first time to charge for a cake this large, but I feel like that is entirely too much. What do you all think? What do you charge for a cake this size?

I usually charge $3.25 per serving for a basic simple BC cake and according to the details involved I go higher..you have to consider all your supplies,time,delivery and set up as well.

Happy Baking, Mary

What are you filling it with? If you go by the 2x2 serving size, that's 52 servings, times your price per slice......$98 is approx. $1.88 per slice. Some folks start at $1.50 to $2.00 for a basic cake.

She just wants a white cake, buttercream frosting and an assortment of pink, mauve, burgandy flowers. She doesn't want it layered. Just enough to feed 50 people. I just did 2 side by side 12x18s for my grandfather's 80th birthday and it fed about 100 with generous slices. So is $90 too much to ask for? She's in a crunch since she needs it by Sunday. I told her I'd give her a price tomorrow but just am so unsure how to price cakes!! I guess that's the beginner in me. I've made lots of cakes, but usually just get supplies bought for me. I'm so lost.

I don't think you should be using the wedding price list unless you are making a double layer cake.

Wedding cake is usually two 2" layers with icing or filling, or 3-4 layers at least 3" high, more like 4-5".

Those dimensions are more like a party cake, However, if you have delivery and set up, or your decorations are beyond what you would do for a party cake, of course charge extra.

I charge $1.50 per serving for 2-layer sheet cakes, torted and filled, frosted with buttercream and basic decorations. I find it easier to advertise and tell people the per serving price versus the "total price" when I'm asked what my prices are.
Jacqui

You need to ask yourself if you want to make money or if you see this as a hobby only.

I know that the prices are different in Australia, where I live, from the States, but seriously, a cake that size over here would be twice that much, even from a local bakery, mass producing cakes.

The other question I have is why should you charge less for a party cake than a wedding cake? I don't charge my customers less because they are buying a cake for a birthday, but I also don't charge them more if they are buying the same cake for a wedding.

We all need a little dose of self esteem. We do beautiful works of art that just happen to be edible. We should charge accordingly.

I say you should tell her the price and if she can't afford it and you feel like you want to do the cake, then lower the price. But, before you do that, ask yourself, do the people in your community lower their fees for you because you think their prices are too high? Does the plumber fix you toilet for half price because you need him to by Saturday and don't want to pay what he charges?

If the cake will be covered in a lot of hand made flowers, then $90.00 is not out of line. My 12x18x2 starts at $60. She may pass out from shock, because you can get the same sized cake for half the price at the local grocery, but you are not a grocery.

Absolutely do not lower the price. This is a cake for 50 people. (I base my prices on the lower serving count of 36). Personally, I'd do a double 10x15 to satisfy 50 servings. That would be the $90.00.

I agree that a wedding matrix may not be exactly the right way to price a sheet cake. I believe it's meant to be for double layer cakes, which makes a big difference.

As for pricing wedding or tiered cakes differently from party cakes...I believe that you should charge differently, unless it's a single or double layer cake, not a tiered cake. In most cases, there is a lot more time, energy, materials, etc. involved in a wedding. Party cakes are usually just a phone call for the order, do the cake, and they pick it up. Granted, some party cakes do take longer to decorate than a wedding...and the price should reflect that.

With a bride, you have up to several hours of face to face meetings (depending on how you conduct consultations and contract completion), more pressure to perform, dowels, etc. There is generally more involved in creating a wedding or tiered cake.

I charge one fee for sheet cakes and single tiers and a higher fee for "any" stacked or tiered cake as it does take more time and supplies for those cakes.
Jacqui

I charge $30 for a 12x18. You said you looked at a Wedding cake matrix. I think wedding cakes are totally different than sheetcakes.

I also dont use the wedding cake prices for a party cake...they are just different animals. I am terrible at pricing though, I way underprice! I dont put my time into the equation well enough.! but for this size cake, I charge 50 dollars, which is a basic two layer cake, with buttercream and some buttercream roses and writing.

The reason I used the wedding cake price matrix off this site was because it did give options on sheet cakes. It was put together great and had basic instructions on what to do. I think I have decided on $60 for the cake.