I need to come up with a quote for someone that has asked me to do a wedding cake for her. I haven't got a clue where to begin. She wants a 12" and 8" tiered cake covered with fondant and decorations as I please (it is a December wedding, so I was thinking of attaching royal icing snowflakes and the topper will be a fondant bow). She would also like a plain sheet cake to feed 50.
The cakes I have done in the past have either cost $30 (for an 8" round) or $40 (for a sheet). I *know* I am underpricing, but I just can't work up the nerve to charge more. But in this case, this woman is not a friend or family member, and she actually lives in a larger city where she would expect to pay more for a well-decorated cake.
I also have people asking me for a price list.....I don't know where to begin? Do you only charge per serving? Are wedding cakes more? I know I should calculate my ingredient charges, but how do I come up with a price for 1 1/2 cups of flour, or things like that?
Ack.

I generally charge by the serving, but lots of others charge by cake size. I think it's just a matter of prefernce. You could start with a basic price per/serv. and add on according to depth of detail to be added. And yes, wedding cakes are typically more pre/serv. than party/other ocassion cakes. To price out your ingredients, you'll have to go back and rely on all those wonderfull things they taught in math class (LOL). Find out how many cups of flour are in the package you purchase and then divide the amount you paid by that number. HTH

Thank you for your help!

For a fondant cake I would start no lower than $3.50 per serving - closer to $4.50 for what you are explaining.

If she faints - offer her a one time Portfolio Discount of 10%, she'll feel special and you'll still be paid okay. Plus people at the wedding will know how much it should cost in case they want to call you.