sheet cake pricing - Page 2

I don't mind doing them for the most part, BUT I do prefer non-sheet cake styles. I try to put my own spin on a sheet cake and if the customer doesn't want to pay my prices, well they can take their butts to Kroger, Wally World, or Buskens. :p

Karateka, you have every right to find them boring to do. But they don't have to LOOK boring, as witnessed by several very nifty ones on sweetcakes photo pages. They can sometimes be very impressive simply because of the amount of surface area they have to put decorations on. I've thoroughly enjoyed the ones I've done.

I absolutely despise sheetcakes and if you look at my photos (even more on my website) you'll see why...........I do TONS of them and they're always ugly, I'm not good enough to make a sheet cake look awesome!!! waaahhhhhh


Anyhow.......back to the op's original ? I live in Ohio as well, and charge significantly less for my sheet cakes. I charge $1.00/serv. for them, untorted, unfilled, just bc decorations.

If they want fondant accents I add $.25/serv.
If they want it covered in fondant I add $.50/serv.

I charge $2.50/serv.for bc tiered cakes
and $1.50/serv. for 4" tall individual cakes (bc filled)

HTH

I can unwrap a 1/2 sheet cake, put it on the board, ice it, melvira the icing, airbrush a sunset, write "Happy birthday" and pipe on borders and box it in less than an hour EASILY.

i just worked on a 8" square last night w/ fondant stripes on the sides and polka dots on top w/ fondant pearl border and spent about 4 hrs. on that ONE cake! The sheet cakes take me WAY less time...so I let them go cheaper! I'm ok with it!

I was not offended by your comments and hopefully my previous responses weren't interpreted as such. I know it's frustrating when people want baker quality for WalMart prices. Even if you WANT to you CANT compete with that or you'd lose money. If she hung up on you it's water off a ducks back . . . she obviously had champagne tastes on a beer budget.

Because sheet cakes can be faster to do - only 1 cake to bake, no stacking, etc. I do charge less per serving. I have a $50 flat rate for a 1/4 sheet cake and $75 for a half sheet. I do torte my 1 layer cakes and fill with buttercream. My pricing works out to $2/serving for b/c. My normal price is $2.50.

HTH. I totally agree with the frustration of people wanting "cookie cutter" cakes. As cake artists we want to be able to wow people with our skills and design style.

Just remember you are not Walmart and don't get offended by people who want you to be. If you can't do something for the budget they have, politely turn them in the direction of the nearest suermarket. You have great talent. If you feel you want to offer some budget cakes, go for it, but you don't have to. Whatever you do let your work speak for itself.

Good luck to you!

I rarely, rarely ever did sheet cakes until I opened a bakery, and was shocked that it was the first cake everyone asked for. I tried to steer them into other directions but so many people really just want a sheet cake. I finally figured out I didn't like them because it seemed like there was so much more surface area to decorate, but I also learned that people don't expect the whole thing to be super-busy.

There are quite a few users here who are so talented at making adorable sheet cakes. My two favorites are sugarchicone (http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-photos-by-sugarchicone.html), Adria_NyxxTX (http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-photos-by-Adria_NyxxTX.html), and ThanhThanh (http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-photos-by-ThanhThanh.html).

My price per serving is the same no matter what the shape of the cake may be.

good question. I think that most people like sheets cakes, because they may not know how to cut round cakes, and get all the intended servings. As well, it looks like more cake. And easier to slice for the average joe. My first cakes were sheet cakes with a character cake pan on top. The way I figured the price at first, was have a base price for a 12 X 18 , and then increase if there were lots of different colors and decorations. I would quote anywhere between $140-$175. I never figured it out by slice back then, because too me all cakes were alot of work, materials and time. If they want a double layer then I charge more. It may be the same amount of servings, but for me it's more batter and time, filling, and trying to get that second layer on top with out cracking ...you can see them on my blog, scroll a little down and you'll find the ones I'm talking about.

http://cakesbyeve.blogspot.com/

But yes people expected these complex cakes for less than $40. Ugh I probably spent that much on ingredients. Instead of going cheaper, I just did not do them if people didn't want to pay. They can go to the grocery store for than IMO.

I do find the sheet cakes harder to decorate as far as smoothing them out, get the border straight etc. So I would not charge less for them, unless it was a plain white cake and no decorations.

When customers order sheet cakes, I always ask...what are you intending to spend on this cake?? Then if that's ALL that's in their budget I do a sheet cake......if they budgeted for a little more then I suggest other things, not everyone knows HOW to order a cake OR the terms.


I had a lady that wanted a sheet cake, a round one, with 2 more sheet cakes on top, round as well. Turns out she wanted a 3 tiered cake!! lol They just don't know, they're told........"get a sheetcake for Tom's birthday, we got $80 to spend and need to feed 35 ppl" so they call and say "I need a sheetcake to feed 35 ppl"


I agree with your despise for sheet cakes, I absolutely LOATHE them!! But, they happen to be the majority of my business right now and granted, I could use a break (can we say price increase) now and again, but they do pay the bills!

Remind your customers that you are a "custom cake shop" and you don't do "run of the mill cakes"

I tell my customers, "sure I can DO a sheetcake, but I don't do run of the mill sheetcakes like you see in the grocery stores, they're all custom designed for your occasion" Most people love the idea that EVEN a sheetcake (as simple as it can be) was designed JUST FOR THEM!! They're always amazed when you can match it to their decor, etc. The people that don't appreciate the "custom designed" aspect aren't going to pay $2.00/serv. for a cake they can get for $.35/serv. at wal-mart!! But then again, THOSE aren't YOUR customers...........unless you want them to be.....I don't!

Couple of questions: How many pieces do you get from a 1/2 sheet? And ultimately, what does a whole one go for? (I could do the math, but hey, it's Saturday and I'm feeling lazy). And, what do you send them out it? I haven't seen disposable pans that size.
Thanks;
J.

Half Sheet = 12x18.
When cut in industry standard 2x2x2" pieces (single layer), the cake will be cut in 6 rows by 9 columns (12 divided by 2", and 18 divided by 2") = 54 servings.

Full sheet = Two of the 12x81's shoved together = 18x24
This cake will be cut in 9 rows by 12 columns = 108 servings.

A 2 layer 12x18 would be cut in 1x2x4" pieces, so the cake would be cut in 12 rows by 9 columns = 108 servings.

11x15
For odd size pans I always round down for easy cutting and easy math.
11x15, when cut in 2x2x2" pieces, would be cut in approx 5 rows by 7 columns = 35 servings.

A 2-layer 11x15 would be cut in 1x2x4" pieces, so the cake would be cut in approx 10 rows by 7 columns = 70 servings.

These are the numbers I used to determine pricing. As I've said a number of times, they are welcome to cut the dang cake in half and serve it with two forks, but they are paying for these numbers.

what? share? ain't happening!!!

Thank you!! And I love your buttercreme recipe. Love this site, have learned so much!!
J.

I HATE HATE HATE sheet cakes! I did everything I could to not do sheet cakes. But after talking to a few people, they would rather spend the little extra $$$ for one of mine then get a cheapo at wally world. Not there are those that are still a little shell shocked at my prices (which are really really low to start with). And I always tell them that they are more then happy to go to walmart. I had one gal just call me wanting to get a cake for 160ppl. They had budgeted $100 for the whole party (plates forks balloons cake ect) I laughed and said no I can not make a cake for 160 people for less then $100. Her response was "well Wal Mart and Safeway will do it for $90. I was just wanted to do you a favor by getting it from you." I simply told her that she was more then welcome to get it from them.
Some people!