NO ~ IT IS A RIDICULOUS PRICE TO ASK FOR A SHEET CAKE!!!! Can you get a slice of cake at Cracker Barrel for $1? Or a small dessert at Outback for $1? Most grocery stores, you can't even get a regular sized Snicker's Bar for $1. So why do you want to spend all that time, materials and energy, not to mention the personalized edible image, for less than minimum wage???
I like the way you phrased this--you've got the right idea. It is about fairness. And like the Leah and Starkie, no, not fair at all.
So important to be fair to yourself including your family and to your fellow sugar merchants like you already realize. I agree with you on that.
Good call.
Ditto to the other girls... in no way is $1/slice a fair price for anything.
A pack of gum is almost a dollar! An ice cream cone is three or four dollars, or more! Bottles of water (depending on location, situation and event) can cost several dollars. No, one dollar is not a fair price for cake.
I know it depends on your area and you cannot tell me what my time is worth. In General,a 1/2 sheet cake with an edible image, not a lot of bells and whisltes. Is $!.00 a slice fair? Thanks you ladies and Gents.
yes, I can tell what your time IS worth.
It's at least worth minimum wage, which as of next week, 24 July is $7.25/hour.
This is the problem I run into all the time. There are people out there like you that are charging nothing for their cakes, so when I go and ask $2.75 a serving, customers freak out and think thats a high price. That is a low price for any high quality cake. STOP UNDERCHARGING PEOPLE, PEOPLE! Save us all a headache. I am not trying to be rude. It's just simple economics. If your running a business, act like it.
This is the problem I run into all the time. There are people out there like you that are charging nothing for their cakes, so when I go and ask $2.75 a serving, customers freak out and think thats a high price. That is a low price for any high quality cake. STOP UNDERCHARGING PEOPLE, PEOPLE! Save us all a headache. I am not trying to be rude. It's just simple economics. If your running a business, act like it.
Thank you ladies! I have never had to make a sheet cake so I just had no clue. I really hope that my question did not offend anyone. So thanks for all of your replies.
Ok--hold it, please. She is asking a legitimate question.
And getting no nonsense responses. We're all shooting straight.
She's expressed her appreciation for the wisdom she is receiving.
She says she hopes she did not offend.
Then, bam! Right in the eye!
She is not spending the baby's milk money --know what I mean?
I recommend that you work on diplomacy then you don't have to disclaimer not being rude.
edited to say--maybe you did not see her response because you posted within 15 mins of hers but c'mon--she said she never even sold a half sheet cake--give her a break.
Double that and you are being generous. In addition, $10 for the image as an extra charge. An average grocery bakery will charge about $45 plus the image and you've got grocery store cake decorated in 10 minutes. You should really be about $80 for a simple out-the-door sheetcake.
I looked at your posted cakes and I would say that you have talent! It is so hard to put a price on our work isn't it? Unless you are a professional like so many on here. What is a fair price? One that makes you feel good. Is a $1 a slice fair? It is more than fair for the customer, but is it fair to you? Just my thoughts on this. 
i really think we need a tutorial on proper and fair pricing that every newly registered person HAS to read before continuing
----
quick form:
>you are worth your time -- $7.50/hour minimum!
>you are worth the cost of your materials (this includes not just the ingredients for the cake but also the materials like boards, boxes, etc.)
>you are worth the cost of your overhead (utilities, insurance, license fees, equipment - pans, tools, etc.)
>you DESERVE to make a profit/surplus/PITA fee.
This is the problem I run into all the time. There are people out there like you that are charging nothing for their cakes, so when I go and ask $2.75 a serving, customers freak out and think thats a high price. That is a low price for any high quality cake. STOP UNDERCHARGING PEOPLE, PEOPLE! Save us all a headache. I am not trying to be rude. It's just simple economics. If your running a business, act like it.
Pardon ME Kelsey,
I said I have NEVER made a sheet cake before, this means I HAVE NEVER CHARGED ANYONE YET! So "PEOPLE LIKE ME" are not ruining YOUR business. PEOPLE LIKE ME are asking my peers advice BEFORE I decide on a price.
Chill out and yes, you are being rude! If you took the time to read my question you would know that.
Have a nice day
This is the problem I run into all the time. There are people out there like you that are charging nothing for their cakes, so when I go and ask $2.75 a serving, customers freak out and think thats a high price. That is a low price for any high quality cake. STOP UNDERCHARGING PEOPLE, PEOPLE! Save us all a headache. I am not trying to be rude. It's just simple economics. If your running a business, act like it.
Thank you ladies! I have never had to make a sheet cake so I just had no clue. I really hope that my question did not offend anyone. So thanks for all of your replies.
Ok--hold it, please. She is asking a legitimate question.
And getting no nonsense responses. We're all shooting straight.
She's expressed her appreciation for the wisdom she is receiving.
She says she hopes she did not offend.
Then, bam! Right in the eye!
She is not spending the baby's milk money --know what I mean?
I recommend that you work on diplomacy then you don't have to disclaimer not being rude.
edited to say--maybe you did not see her response because you posted within 15 mins of hers but c'mon--she said she never even sold a half sheet cake--give her a break.
Thank you k8memphis
I recently had a customer that asked me for a sheet cake. And when I quoted her the price she freaked. My respond was "I dont do simple plain cakes. There are plenty of bakeries that will do that for the price you want, but if you want style and flavor and "WOW" at your event then you come to me". I also know that local bakery does edible image for $15.
I'm sorry. I guess my post did come off a little rude. I honestly didn't intend for it to be rude. Thats the bad part of text communication. A lot gets lost in translation. I really wanted to just encourage you that you are worth more than that. Sorry if I offended anyone
I'm sorry. I guess my post did come off a little rude. I honestly didn't intend for it to be rude. Thats the bad part of text communication. A lot gets lost in translation. I really wanted to just encourage you that you are worth more than that. Sorry if I offended anyone
Thank you KelseyP 
I like to think that I charge competitive prices for my other cakes, as far as sheet cakes go...well I was just at a loss. Now with the help of everyone here on CC, I feel educated enough to make the right decisions.
When I first started that is what I was charging but I have learned that I was giving it away and since then I have started charging more. I do have some people that still want the $15 cake but it is just not worth it for all the work that I put into it because most of my cakes are just not what you can get from a grocery store.
So if you feel comfortable selling then for $15 I would go for and then you will see that you will not be able to keep doing it for that price. I just got a order last night for 4 8" square cake and I'm changing $25 a piece for them because I think I put alot into my cakes, and still some would say that is still not enough for a 8" cake because they are supposed to feed 20 and if you do the math that would be $40 but who cakes a cake the way that you cut in the serving suggestions.
diane
I just charged my friend $1 a slice on a 2 tiered buttercream cake with fondant accents for 50 people!
A. I am a newbie and by no means perfect
B. She is a good friend trying to stay on a budget
C. I still made a $30 profit because I make everything including the fondant from scratch!
So if you want to charge $1 per serving you do it! But if you would like to make a little more money then charge a little more! I have never made a sheet cake so I have no idea how hard or easy they are to make! Good Luck!
grama J is right, call your local bakeries and inquire as to what their prices are before setting your own. Take all your costs and time into consideration, but make sure you are not over-pricing yourself out of business before you get off the ground.
Sheet cakes from market bakeries start at $1.50 per serve here, and those are considered 2" cakes, but a half inch of it is top frosting. The cake is only about 1" thick, and the rest of the measure is the huge shell border on the edge.
The rest will be decided on what price your market will bear.
Theresa
I just charged my friend $1 a slice on a 2 tiered buttercream cake with fondant accents for 50 people!
A. I am a newbie and by no means perfect
B. She is a good friend trying to stay on a budget
C. I still made a $30 profit because I make everything including the fondant from scratch!
I just want to gently make an observation here. The $30 profit? I think you mean that you only spent $20 out of pocket on everything you purchased. And you probably have some of those ingredients left over too.
But you did not even break even. Because it had to have taken longer than four hours to do the shopping, baking, clean up and decorating? So you're not even making minimum wage.
You made no 'profit' at all, CakeBuddy.
I just charged my friend $1 a slice on a 2 tiered buttercream cake with fondant accents for 50 people!
A. I am a newbie and by no means perfect
B. She is a good friend trying to stay on a budget
C. I still made a $30 profit because I make everything including the fondant from scratch!
I just want to gently make an observation here. The $30 profit? I think you mean that you only spent $20 out of pocket on everything you purchased. And you probably have some of those ingredients left over too.
But you did not even break even. Because it had to have taken longer than four hours to do the shopping, baking, clean up and decorating? So you're not even making minimum wage.
You made no 'profit' at all, CakeBuddy.
not to mention something that i hadn't anticipated when i began trying to do this to make money was how much i spend on scotch tape to cover the boards) and plastic wrap!! it's these incidentals that are sometimes not taken into account when trying to figure how much to charge and if they are REALLY making a profit.
i charge $2.75/serv for 2 layers and was charging 1/2 that for my 1 layers but i may change that after seeing this thread 
I am a newbie at this as well and I know I under-charge but I do that because I am new and learning. I don't do it to undercut those of you out there who have been at this awhile. A lot of these are like practice cakes for me and my customers understand that. I'd rather make some money than just give them away to friends and family when I practice. No need for anyone to take offense over that. It's my choice.
I'm sorry. I guess my post did come off a little rude. I honestly didn't intend for it to be rude. Thats the bad part of text communication. A lot gets lost in translation. I really wanted to just encourage you that you are worth more than that. Sorry if I offended anyone
HURRAY for Kelsey!!!! Thank you, thank you for having the maturity to just say sorry when you realized your words stung a bit. If more of us would do that when we post things that rile others up, we would all be so much happier on these forums.
Seriously, I admire your response.
If you want to offer a discount to build your portfolio make sure you let people know. Don't just have a low price... state full price and show the discount. Let people know that your prices will be going up when you have sufficiently built said portfolio. Yes it is ultimately your choice, but the more you consider your prices and how they effect your bottom line, the better it is for ALL of us.
The way I see it, a paid hobbyist does this for family and friends for a little over cost... no issue there at all. The second you decide to venture out into the general public pool you are in business... like it or not... and you need to think about things like a business person. CHarging a decent wage is good for you and good for the caking community on the whole.
I am a newbie at this as well and I know I under-charge but I do that because I am new and learning. I don't do it to undercut those of you out there who have been at this awhile. A lot of these are like practice cakes for me and my customers understand that. I'd rather make some money than just give them away to friends and family when I practice. No need for anyone to take offense over that. It's my choice.
Yes and no.
No one says, "Hey I think I'll undercut the industry today."
And you will live to rue this day of short changing yourself and the industry.
You are using the term 'customers'.
See you're past the stage of doing for family and friends--you're in business.
If it's your choice to undercharge your customers as you have clearly stated then it's my choice to encourage you to cease and desist.
You're building your business on sand. Think about what you are doing.
You're building a clientelle satisfied with underpriced knock offs. (That I'm sure are beautiful and taste great)
And something you can do toward an end to this is to do what Jeanne said and give an invoice with the true prices on there--then show the discount and gradually decrease the discount.
But you're gonna need a whole 'nuther gene pool. (of customers)
I'm so glad someone brought this up... I have just written out a pricing list for myself, after I talked to someone in the bakery at Safeway. They charge an average from $2.16-$2.63 per slice for a wedding cake. I want to keep my costs below them and Freddy's, so I figured that $2.00-$2.50 was a fair price per serving, whether it's for a sheet cake or a wedding/celebration cake. I also figured on charging only $5.00 an hour. I want to keep my charges low, as I want to get this thing off the ground. Getting my name out there is important to me, but I also want to make a profit.
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