I'm completely burned out.I'm a full time mom to 15 month old twins and a 3yr.old with a disability.I usually work at night when they are asleep averaging 3-4 hours a night sleep.

Lately all i seem to be getting are people who either, don't know what they want but want cheap or they know what they want but don't want to spend the money for a nice custom cake so i've been doing alot of one tier cakes along with the occasional tiered cake that a few people don't mind paying for.

I've come to the conclusion that i want to focus on doing larger tiered custom cakes,rather than a bunch of one tier cakes.I just don't have the time to be doing 5 $50 cakes each week at the time it takes me to do a cake.I'd rather do 1 to 2 larger cakes and devote my time to them rather then the smaller cakes.

Does that make sense?I also want to add a minimum fondant order for my cakes.I hate doing these little mini 6 inch $35 cakes.It's just a waste of time to even turn on my oven.

My question,How do you go about nicely wording a price increase and a set minimum order without hearing a bunch of backlash?I was going to start the increase and change my pricing for February 1st.

Of course people who already booked with me will still get to keep the quote i gave them.

Do you have a website or a facebook page? I would just put on there that beginning February 1st there will be a price increase of ... and a minimum cake order of $50. Don't worry about the backlash. That will come from people who are too cheap to afford your anyways, so so don't need their business. Good luck and your cakes are beautiful.

I wouldn't word anything..Raise your prices and have a little line underneath the heading

Prices subject to change without notice!!

Cake minimum $50.00

I agree you don't need to word anything. When McDonalds raises their prices, you don't see them hanging a sign saying, "Hey! Our prices went up because mystery meat costs more now and Cheryl keeps pestering us for a raise." They just do it.

there is a large caterer in town who has on their website that between April and July, all wedding caterings have a min of 200 guests. So if your wedding is between April 1 and July 30 AND its less than 200 people, don't even call them.

"Pricing subject to change without notice. 75 minimum servings per cake order."

I agree with everyone else that you don't have to word or justify your actions, however I also understand you feeling the need to do so. Just make note of the changes and put that due to an increase of costs to you and a loss of availability in time you need to increase prices to make up your costs and time. I also agree that if people aren't willing to pay what your stuff is worth then you don't need their business anyway. Good luck.

Thanks Ladies!I do have both a website and a FB page.I'm so over undercharging and being "nice" and doing a cake because i want to build my portfolio.I think i'll just change my pricing and if someone asks i will just say i increased my prices.Your right,I don't have to explain.I know they wouldn't go to work for pennies.Neither am i! I'm going to build my customer base off of people who value and appreciate my work and don't mind paying what the cake is worth.

No more stress!lol