A

I know what you mean, it's very hard to say 'actually I'm good at what I do'. But you are, so there :-)

And, if people are buying your cakes, *they* consider you a professional!

You have to do what you're comfortable with, but my view for my situation is that I need to be making a reasonable hourly wage on any given cake, because if I'm not then there's no point taking that time away from my family.

I love my job but I don't work just for the love of it!

AXxx lizzy

Nanny, you're not the only one! I think most of us do it!

When I got the query earlier for a st bernard cake I gave the lady 3 options, cheapest first. I told her i could do a basic cake (dog face shape, flat) and pipe it like fur etc bit like a kids cake, or I could do a nice round and hand paint him on, or I could do a carved life like cake.

Carved cakes are what I love and I sent her that pic as an example....she then explained that it was for her mum who was very special and it was her 50th so she wanted something extra lovely etc etc....

My hubby looked and went "OMG!" lol, now i dont know about you but I instantly know if i can pull it off (hence golf bag ) and I do like a challenge!  I then find out that she is a mighty distance from me up in the valleys and wants it delivered!

So I first told her delivery would be £20.00...this covers the fuel only and she agreed. I then quoted her £95 for the cake. She came straight back and asked me can you do the cake and delivery for £100 as thats all I have. I told her a straight no.

Im sorry an all that but I know how many midnights im going to spend on that dog and its just not worth it 

AApart from the petrol the delivery charge does not take into account your time. There is no way that cake should fetch anything less than £150.

AI know whenever I get good enough to be able to charge, I would be a prime candidate for undercharging. I am still astounded every time I finish a cake, how much time and effort actually went in to it :D.

Nanny - the fire engine cake should of been £75 min as its a carved cake. Its wonderful so lovely and the detail is perfect!

I agree the same as others you are making these cakes at a loss - £40 is ok for someone who is starting out with no insurance or experience but saying you are not professional doesnt make sense.

Have you priced up any cake?  Clocking hours, ingredients, power, gas, electric, ribbon, boards, special cutters.

My main concern is that you'll get a reputation for making 'cheap' cakes which in turn is digging a hole for yourself. You have to make money, times are tough and every penny does count.

Just say no 

After the dog lady got a polite no I then posted up a dont haggle with me picture on my FB page....cant remember who posted it but I saved it and was dying to use it haha!

AHi guys, I'm new both on this forum and relatively in business! Oh I'm also British too!

I really would like to get some advice from all you veterans out there, on my last project.

[IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3244525/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

This is a two tier, chocolate with peppermint cream 18th birthday cake. I'm just looking for some advice to make it overall more clean and some tips on drying toppers a little quicker! This shoe dried for like two weeks and still I had cracking at the toe :'(

Thanks guys!

Morning all 

I think that was me that posted that Tiddy good for you and what it says is exactly right.

Nanny wonderful cakes as always, love the fireman and engine and the cards look brilliant, I think I need to pay a visit to you in Wales so you can give me a lesson on how you always get yours cakes so perfectly neat and smooth. I agree with the others you are worth more than you are charging your cakes are very professional  and so are you being able to do eight cakes in two weeks and all of them be of the highest quality. I've seen cakes that are twice the price you are charging and they're a mess and people buy them because they are still cheaper than getting one from a " professional" in a shop, you put a lot of time, thought and effort into your cakes Nanny and you should charge what they and you are worth.

I recently priced up everything for a 3 tier cake for a holy communion, I don't normally sell my cakes but and old friend asked me to do it and I was shocked when I worked  out just how much everything costs. I recalculated over and over because I thought I must have made a mistake. When you add up all the ingredients, boards, dowels, ribbons etc etc etc it adds up quickly and I've been giving my cakes away because I wanted to try something new and I don't eat them.

M4rvelgeek I have just seen your post about the bowl shaped pan for the minion cake,I don't know if this is to late to be of help but  nearly all of us on here bought the hemisphere pans from Lakeland last week when Mel told us there was a sale on, the sale is still on but ends tommorrow. they do four different sizes, I got all four and think it works out around £20 with delivery but if you spend over £30 you get free delivery they arrived in a few days. They have stores to maybe you could see if they have one near you so you don't have to wait for delivery.

A

Sorry, it's just a post peeve. I recently had someone request a cake which I priced up having worked out the several hours it was going to take, and the ingredients cost which was around £20. Told her the cost and got 3 mails in quick succession from her, not leaving me time to reply inbetween, that read 'not paying that much lol' 'that's a ridiculous amount of money for a cake' 'I've got someone to do it for £30'. That was less than a third of my quote, and only just covered ingredients and materials. Once I'd paid for utilities, petrol etc I'd have literally been working for nothing. I very politely told her I was running a business and can't work for free.

This isn't an unusual occurrence, and although it's fair to say people really don't have any idea about the time and cost involved, they are being told over and over that a super cake can be made for next to nothing.

I'll get off my ranty soapbox now :-)

Yep, I find a three tier cake will usually clock in at at least £75 for all ingredients and materials, and that's before you've even turned the oven on!

A

Brilliant, I'll check them out. Thanks... =)

ASo the topper was added and the cake was delivered to one happy 6 year old. Just want to carry on with my minion project now, but back to school tomorrow and 'real work' is beckoning...

[IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3244543/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

well im having another spontaneous cake day 

Last time I did that i ended up with a lilac handbag  so who knows what this will be haha!

A[ATTACHMENT=1710]image.jpg (1,350k. jpg file)[/ATTACHMENT]

I went to my uncle-in-laws wedding last night and this was their cake. They asked me to make it (when they first wanted a replica Statue of Liberty cake) and I said no, mainly because I didn't want to do that design (seems like it'd be a massive pita) and partly because I wanted to enjoy the wedding and not be stressing. It was a half size tier at the bottom, then 3 normal sized tiers, then the statue at the top was fake.

Out of interest, state what you'd charge and then I'll tell you how much it actually cost. We're in the midlands.

Looking forward to see what you come up with this time Tiddy 

Lisa can't say a price I have no idea but I like the cake curious to see how much it was.

AMorning, silly me its afternoon!

Lizzy, no offence taken, I do need the odd kick up th backside from time to time.

I fully appreciate what your saying, I dont in anyway think I'm known at the person who makes cheap cakes, I do add everything up andif I charge for my time also they would cost a fortune, I take to long to do everything, I havn't made loads of cakes, and really not sure how long it takes to make any particular cake, however I am finding I'm starting to make a lot of character cakes which takes a lot more time, my prices are going up and will take that into account.

I am now having a lovely afternoon as the lady just picked up Bucky the pirate ship.

haha lets just say its not a handbag foxy! But im having fun! I think im at my best with spontaneous creations and...........................i get to try out my airbrush! yay! 

Lisa ive no idea what I would charge for that but it would be a lot!

A[IMG]http://cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3244569/width/200/height/400[/IMG]

Customer will add her own pirates, thankfully!! Ha ha, the sail is made from icing.

thats lovely nanny! Funnily enough I was watching a Pirate Ship Paul Bradford course last night 

That's lovely Nanny as always, I especially like the ribbon that's a nice touch.It's a shame we can't see it with the pirates on it.

Have fun with with your airbrush Tiddy you will love it 

Its pretty impressive - well out of my league but if I commissioned a cake like this I would expect to pay £600 plus for a cake like this.  

AThanks Roxylee I added the railings after I took this pic too, I used a cake card under the sponge to give it more support.

AAw wow, that is a fantastic cake, so much detail.

AI have an airbrush on my birthday list, not til Nov though!

There should be offers on then Nanny so you might get a birthday bargain  did you get any photo's with the rails on the cake Nanny would love to see it if you did. My partner is still moaning for his pirate ship cake  

ANo Roxylee as literally picked it up within 2 mins of my finishing it, I'd actually forgotten to put them on I took a photo when I looked at it I thought, what's missing, argh, I quicky rolled some fondant on but then didn't take any more pics.

Awww that's a shame Nanny but at least it's done and dusted now how many more have you got left to do I've lost count.

ANanny the pirate ship is excellent, I love the waves. I too am dropping a few hints about an airbrush for my birthday , I have to work on it though, it's at the end of the month!!