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What to charge!

post #1 of 15
7/9/05 at 5:19pm
Thread Starter 
I made a cake today for a lady who wanted a "75" cake for 50+ people. I told her to make sure and feed enough people that we should put the 75 on top of a sheet cake. The sheet cake is an 11 x 15 and I cut the 75 out of 2 9x13 pans. I did tip 16 stars on the top of the 75 and basketweave on the side.
I knew from the beginning that she was only wanting to pay $40 at the most. I feel like it probably should have been more like $50 since I spent so much time on it.
What would you have charged for a cake like this?
Thanks, and be honest about what you think about the cake. Let me know what you would have done differently! dunce.gif
LL
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post #2 of 15
7/9/05 at 5:27pm
are you serious??
you should have charged way more then $50
this are the people who need to go to walmart for there cake and i am happy to tell them
sorry that i am reacting like this


Ashiana
Baking is a skill that can be taught....One catch...you have to love it!!


Be yourself! Everyone else is taken!
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Baking is a skill that can be taught....One catch...you have to love it!!


Be yourself! Everyone else is taken!
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post #3 of 15
7/9/05 at 5:40pm
Thread Starter 
I am happy to know what you think. I spent a long time baking all of those cakes and decorating them. I know I made at least a $25 profit, but I do think it was worth way more then $40. I think I will charge $40 for the 11x15 alone. The only reason I didn't tell her more is because I knew she had a budget for the party and didn't want to spend more than $40 on the cake and I agreed before I knew what I got myself into.
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post #4 of 15
7/9/05 at 5:55pm
You should have sold it for about $75 now she will come back and all way expect the same price. By the way the cake look great, but you were taken advantage of. If she was on a buget then she should have to gone some where else that could have gave her what she wanted. Never let someone sucker into a cake for their price; your time is just as important.

Good luck
Jennifer Dontz Sugarpaste flower class - Hollister, CA 10/12 & 10/13/13 contact me or sugardelites.com
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Jennifer Dontz Sugarpaste flower class - Hollister, CA 10/12 & 10/13/13 contact me or sugardelites.com
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post #5 of 15
7/9/05 at 6:01pm
Thread Starter 
I will keep that in mind next time. I have only been decorating for about 6 months and I have learned everything on my own or from this site. I didn't realize how much work that cake was going to be. $40 sounded good until I was actually working on it. icon_cry.gif
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post #6 of 15
7/9/05 at 6:17pm
The cake looks great!!! thumbs_up.gif You're not kidding about a lot of work... look at all the #16 stars!!!!! icon_surprised.gif You should have charged her by the star!! icon_wink.gif

Great work... definitely was worth double what you charged!!! and let her know that is a deal she won't be seeing again!!! Unless you will have all her friends calling expecting a lot for to little.
TAMMY
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TAMMY
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post #7 of 15
7/9/05 at 6:24pm
The cake looks good by the way. I usually charge $30 for a basic half sheet to start with. The 75 was 2 seperate cakes! I would have charged her for the half sheet and the 2 quarter sheets it took to carve. So you maybe should have charged $60 at least!! I underestimate my work sometimes and then feel bad about what i charged. But we live in the country and people don't part with money well here. You need to take into consideration the area in which you live. Make a price list for yourself and stick to it. That's what I did and it really helped me with pricing. Good luck with all you do. icon_biggrin.gif
The Cake Lady
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The Cake Lady
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post #8 of 15
7/9/05 at 8:20pm
i also undercharge!!! but now am getting confident, so am finally charging a more fair price. look at it this way, at least you have a picture for your portfolio, and some advertisement. you could tell her that she got your "introductory offer" price so she wont expect that low price again!
we need to start charging what we're worth.....although i will almost do a cake for next to nothing just to get to do the cake....have to work on that!!
melody
www.sweetcreationsbymelody.com
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www.sweetcreationsbymelody.com
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post #9 of 15
7/9/05 at 8:41pm
For someone self taught, you have a gorgeous basket weave! The problem with being new at something is that we just don't know how to price, lack self confidence, or we think we are being nice because the customer is on a "budget". We all need to remember that what the customer is not wanting to spend on a cake, they are more than willing to spend on some other item for their festivity that would probably have no impact on what they are celebrating. Think about it.... what is the center piece of a birthday celebration? The cake. Next to the bride and groom at a reception? The cake? Who cares about a stupid generic bride and groom topped bottle of bubbles?.
I say calculate your costs and charge 3 times that amount as a minimum! Or, do your basic price matrix.... $1.75 per person for plain old BC, and $2.25 to $2.50 for fondant. Don't be shy to ask for what your time is worth!

Debbi
Spanish sugar, French Pastry, Swiss chocolate, and American Apple Pie. How much sweeter can life get????
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Spanish sugar, French Pastry, Swiss chocolate, and American Apple Pie. How much sweeter can life get????
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post #10 of 15
7/9/05 at 8:43pm
Since you already had agreed to $40, I would have made a 12 x18 and made the "75" from the number pans or cut them much smaller. The cake is real nice and you should have charged at least $75. That's a lot of work and, looks like you did basket weave? I would have Iced it smooth. When I think about it, I would have probably done a bct for the "75". Yeah, that was a introductory price, set your prices and stick to them. Again, real nice job on that cake.
"If you are influenced by the opinion of others, you will have no desire of your own."
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"If you are influenced by the opinion of others, you will have no desire of your own."
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post #11 of 15
7/9/05 at 8:44pm
By the way i forgot to say that the cake looks great
You shouln't undercharge because you have been doing it for 6 months
You should charge by the quality.....which your cake definetely has

AShiana
Baking is a skill that can be taught....One catch...you have to love it!!


Be yourself! Everyone else is taken!
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Baking is a skill that can be taught....One catch...you have to love it!!


Be yourself! Everyone else is taken!
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post #12 of 15
7/10/05 at 8:43am
i have to say that i sometimes undercharge as well, but no more. if a customer wants a certain cake then she will have to pay for what it's worth or i will say no. hey, they either get it from the commissary or find someone else to do it. it is hard to figure out what a cake is worth, but every person is different. i say charge what you, not the customer thinks is fair. you are the one putting in the time and work to do it.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.
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post #13 of 15
7/10/05 at 10:18am
I agree that I would have charged for a 1/2 sheet and 2 1/4 sheets! so at least $60 bucks. You did a great job though! Just speak up next time and tell her what she can get for $40 bucks and stick to it, if she needs more than what that can buy, then she will have to spend more! It took me awhile to stop undercharging, my mom is the worst I must say! Every time I quote a price for her, she is always like "what about my mom discount?" Good luck and keep up the great work! thumbs_up.gif
Smile, It increases your face value!
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Smile, It increases your face value!
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post #14 of 15
7/10/05 at 10:35am
Your cake looks awsome! you definitly should have gotten more for your work.
I have to say, I do the same thing and want to help people out and try to fit in their budget. I look at it this way, I want to like the cake too so I don't like to do just a plain ol cake. Maybe when I get more people asking for cakes I will get better LOL
Andrea
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Andrea
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post #15 of 15
7/10/05 at 11:16am
Well girl, let me tell you u need to start charging more for your cakes, this is a very nice cake, and i can imagine how long you work on it.
Well i also put in my price the gas that i use to bake, and also the water i use to wash my things after i'm done.
And like u i never had a lesson in decorating in BC, but i do charge for my work, i lately had a lesson in rolled fondant, and it was fun.
so Charge for everything u use to make the cake done to the last item and time.
Be who you are, say what you feel. Because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. Dr. Seuss
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Be who you are, say what you feel. Because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind. Dr. Seuss
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