When pricing a cake what tools do you use to figure the price? Hourly? Or by the cake? I have the hardest time with this and would love to hear some ideas.

When I worked for a baker in CA (Marin Co.) He priced his wedding cakes by the person. If there was going to be 100 people and it was $4 a person it would be $400 etc. That was just with wedding cakes. Hope this helps some. >^.,.^<

I usually price by serving. I have a base rate per serving and then add on for any detailed decorations, flowers, and specialty flavors.

I don't do wedding cake (they scare me ) Mostly I do birthday and shower cakes. What is the average per person cost? I do some form cakes but alot of my cakes I design and but myself.

In California, you must have a licensed kitchen. Since it is not legal to sell home baked cakes, most decorators also have to factor in some overhead costs, like renting kitchens, insurance, etc.

That is probably why the basic price per serving is higher.

If you are in calif. don't call it a busuness unless you have a licenid kitchen with a heath permit i just tell them for the cake will be $$$ then you ae not doing a business. i got introuble for saying i have a cake business .

As soon as you exchange money for a cake, you have a 'business'. It won't matter to the authorities what you call it. If you are caught selling home baked goods to the public, you can be fined. You just have to decide how much risk you want to take.

Well, my DH tells me that until I am making more money than I am putting into it, it is a hobby. If people want to help "fund" my hobby, God bless them!

LOL @ debsue's husband!!