I saw where Duff has a minimum $500 order and was wondering if anyone else does this, Not $500 certainly! But maybe $30 or $40? Just curious if his is a standard practice or not.

I just started my business two months and I think I have been selling myself short in my zest to obtain orders, which I have been getting thank goodness. So I am wondering how to go about raising my price without offending those who got them for less previously or heard from someone that they cost less.

Do I continue to honor the insanely cheap prices for those clients? (I was trying to match our local grocery store and recently realized I was comparing apples to oranges)

Thanks!

My minimum order has been $40 for about a year and I am getting ready to raise it to $50.

I won't do just a 6" or 8" round. (I will do them WITH a larger order). I won't do smaller than 11x15. I wont' do less than 3 dz cookies (same kind).

I just got home from a rehearsal dinner for 30. That's not going to happen anymore. Anything under 50 people will be a drop-n-run only. (I spent 2.5 hours at this dinner and I have a big wedding to prep for tomorrow .... so why am I on here? ..... I really needed that 2.5 hours in time more than I needed the money!)

No I don't have a minimum order, but my smallest cake is $20 and the cookies are by the dozen. Its not a problem I run into that frequently. I do however have a summer saturday wedding cake minimum of $700 and its $1000 for "premium dates"

my bakery is by order only....

recently someone called and wanted to order 3 cupcake.

THREE CUPCAKES!

are peeps crazy???

I don't have a minimum order on cakes, but I have set sizes that I do. So in a way, that is my minimum. Now on cookies and cupcakes, I have a 2 dozen minimum and believe it or not, that has made people not order before, because they just wanted a dozen or a half dozen! WHATEVER! My husband can sit down and eat a half dozen cookies if he puts his mind to it, what's a few extra cookies? Oh well! I know it's hard at first, but people are not surprised if you give them some sort of boundaries. Just sit down and decide what sizes you want to make, set prices on them and write it down so when someone calls or stops in, you have it at your fingertips. Sometimes people catch you off guard or busy in something else and you can shoot a price that you regret later!
HTH -Lori

my focus is wedding cakes, so i usually don't have to worry about small orders. but i do get asked to do party cakes here and there and i always tell them my minimum is $50.00, and that pricing is the same as my wedding cake prices. its not worth it otherwise! (well, i do small cakes as freebies for family/close friends, but thats not business just fun!)

Even though I bake for family and friends, I am thinking of making a minimum policy, because I can't keep having all of these extra sweets in the house!!
I'm thinking of telling them I won't turn my oven on for less than $50. You can get a really nice 1/2 sheet cake for $50. Or two dozen really nice cupcakes or cookies for that much.
I'll make the stuff, but they have to pay for the whole batch!

I refuse to bake a 6" or 8" if is a week day. If I can accomodate the same sizes on a weekend, then I will. Thank you FrostingGal for your idea of "they have to pay for the whole batch" Next time, if asked, I will come up with that answer.

It'll depend how small I can make a batch of something without causing a ton of waste but also not sacrificing the integrity of my recipe.. some recipes cannot be halved down until there are only enough for 5 cookies or a single 6 inch cake. My minimum order will likely be between 70-100 dollars for cakes, and at least a dozen for cookies. I am charging for candy by the pound and will not be doing half-pounds.

I just do wedding & event cakes. Because of the costs involved to rent the kitchen, I DO have a 100 serving minimum.

My minimum order is $75.00. I raised it from $50.00 because of the types of cakes everyone is ordering. Even my sheet cakes are time consuming due to the detail work I put into them. So far, I haven't had any problems finding customers! I do have a $100 minimum order for my 3D cakes too. Most people think that's pretty cheap, especially after they see my work! I've had people insist on tipping me $10-$20 extra at times because THEY feel I'm not charging enough! That's pretty awesome.

I have a $50 minimum too for regular cakes, minimum $80 for 2D cakes, and $100 for 3D. People seem to understand and are ok with this.

courtney

i only have minimum orders for the tiny stuff...thats not in dollar amount but in quantity...but if you are my regular customer i can always accomadate to a point.

I don't have a set price yet since I am just starting out. I had someone tell me my prices are too cheap. I will keep them that way though until business picks up and then I plan on raising my prices according to the amount of detail

I have been trying to figure this out too! Thanks for al the input!

BTW- if you sell by the pound you have to be careful I think scales are really regulated! You might be better off doing the "scoop" or bag or a set number of pieces (that equal a pound just don't call it that! )