Hi All!
I have an order for 60 pirate cupcakes for this weekend. I got the idea from cookieman to do jolly roger flags out of fondant with royal icing skull and crossbones, and gold foil wrapped chocolate coins.

When I first got the order, she wanted a pirate cake and 24 cupcakes. I gave her a price of $50.00. Then she called back and said she wanted 60 cupcakes because they are having the party out and she doesn't want to have to cut and serve etc. I said fine, but that would be more money, I would have to work it out, and she said whatever it was was fine.

With fondant , gel paste, cupcake liners {gold foil}, lollipop sticks, cake boxes , royal icing , buttercream icing, 3 recipes cake, and chocolate coins, I have spent $45.00 on this order. She is also using my cupcake trees for presentation. By the time I am done I will have invested 5 hours actual work on this order. I am not sure what to charge her! This is my hairdresser!
I usually charge $2.00 per cupcake for specialty cupcakes, am I way out of line here?
Any help you all can give will be greatly appreciated.
Thank You!
Charmed1

I charge $2 a cupcake as well. So I think you are on the mark with that.

I would love to see them when they are done!!

I don't think you are out of line at all! Not for all the supplies and for all that labor.

I know my hairdresser doesn't mind charging me over $100 for 2 hours of highlights!!!

Hi!
First, Thank You for your help!

I just called my hairdresser and told her the cost was mounting , and did she still want to go wit the 5 dozen cupcakes. She decided on 18 cupcakes and a 13x9 sheet cake. I am going to charge her $60.00 total as she has given me some deals on highlights recently.

I feel much better now. When it comes to being paid for cakes I really prefer doing them for people I don't have a personal relationship with! Does anyone else feel that way? It's always easier to charge a stranger than a friend!
Again , Thank You!
Have a great day, the foliage is beautiful!!!
Charmed1

It' almost like you feel guilty charging them what really is a fair price. People who don't decorate cakes have no real idea the planning and work that goes into a custom order. This is not baking a cake mix and slapping some canned frosting on it with those sugar decorations you get at the supermarket.
This takes planning and shopping and lots of prep work, not to mention the stress involved even if you love what you're doing! I'm always anxious that people will like what I've done and I know we all can see every little flaw in our cakes even if other people can't.
But you have to admit there is nothing else like seeing your creation come to life, and the satisfaction you feel when someone oohs and ahhs over the cake you've made them.
Well, I'm off to decorate!
Enjoy the day!

It's very hard to charge friends. I usually gift birthday cakes to friends for their kids birthdays. I just can't charge them!! But then they refer other people to me, or people at the party see your cake, it's still good advertisement.
And 2$ a cupcake is not out of line, most bakeries charge at least a dollar for a plain iced cupcake, with no fancy flags or nifty coins.

I know you already settled on a price and a decision, but have you thought of a cupcake cake? That way you get the easier labor of a cake, cake and she gets the ease of not having to cut a cake. You can make the same decor as the 9 x13 too.

Just a thought,
Melissa

I have never done a cupcake cake, and wouldn't know how to go about making one! I guess it's something I shoud learn, it might save me a lot of grief!
Is there a tutorial on this site?
Thank you for the suggestion I will definetly look into it!
Charmed1

Well, I haven't made one yet (plan to this weekend), but there is a great tutorial and it is SOOOOOO easy. You could make a pirate ship shape by arranging the cupcakes, or just use the same image you would on a flat cake.

Just do a search in forums for Cupcake cakes (and look in the gallery too, abbreviated CCC) and you will see a great idea!

melissa