I hate people contacting me about a cake they want and then by the way what are my prices? Then I do not hear from them again! I do not think $60 for a 6/8 two tiered cake and $80 for a larger 2 tiered or 3 tiered cake is that terrible! It is what I think I need to charge to make this worth my while anyway....how do these prices compare to you all? My time is worth alot to me. So do you think it would be better to just list my prices or will that give competitors an edge to come in with a better price than me? Ugh I like making cakes but I hate pricing!

Listing prices is hard because of the variables involved. They may only want a 8" round, but want it with fondant and gumpaste decorations and intricate piping...I would never want to box myself in to a list price. I don't know where you are at, but those are cheap two tiers. You have to make sure you are getting paid for your time! I wouldn't even turn on the oven for that...

It's inevitable you're going to lose customers, they think that the cakes are cheap, like $1 box cake mix, and quick, since they can do it in a half hour tv show. I think more important is a FAQ on a website, with the question "Why are your cakes more expensive than (insert chain or mega-mart name here)?" And answer it honestly. "All my ingredients are fresh and organic." "the simplest cakes take a minimum of two days to create." "Each cake is custom designed rather than mass produced." Build value into your website, so people know not to expect the cheapest cake from you. Educate the client. That way, you get the right type of people calling.

Absolutely I have always posted my prices. I work almost exclusively with brides and they always want to know how much. Actually they're not that different from anyone else. If people can't afford me, that's fine. That's why there are local bakeries and WalMart. Why waste their time and mine, talking/looking at design when there's no way they can afford me? It just makes sense to post your prices.

PS a 6/8 round two tier is a bit more than twice your price from me.

I absolutely list my prices....I hate going to websites and see what I like and want to buy it only to be told to "Email me for prices"..I just close the site.

You can also state base prices and then below write more intricate designs are subject to higher prices.

I agree I do not like a website without prices, I look other places.

As a previous poster has already said, it's hard to list all the variables, but people do like to know a ball-park figure.

So, I have something along the lines of 8" round from £45.

That's the smallest single cake I do and would include a 'basic' level of decoration.

That way, people who are looking for a cake for £20 will know to look elsewhere, but others may contact me for more info.

Suzanne x

I have my prices listed also. Don't know where you are, but in my market, my 6/8 tiers are priced the same as yours, unless there is a lot more detail. It's the going rate in our small area.

Even though prices are listed, they still sometimes, as indydebi says, "go math dumb". but at least they have a starting point.

My website says something like: "the base price per serving includes cake, filling, and your choice of buttercream or fondant. Traditional cake flavor: Premium cake flavors: basic fillings: fillings that cost more: " I tell people, if you have 100 people, and my base price is $4.50, there is a cake that I will make for $450.00 (plus delivery... ...) and if you need to stay at the base price per serving, let me know and we will make sure your design keeps you there.

Yes I do, and sometimes people call me back and other times they don't. Sometimes it's upsetting because I am not the most expensive in my area but I am not the cheapest. If they don't want to pay my prices then I am sorry but I am not going in the negative just because they want a cheap cake.

I have to agree with everyone, I list my basic prices too, and I write for further questions email etc. But at least they have a basic idea of what my cakes cost. And I think your prices are completely fair, if not on the cheaper side! $60 for a 2 tiered cake is a bargain. I recently quoted someone 75 for a 6/8 inch 2 tiered cake, and I regret I didnt quote $90.

www.cantstopbaking.blogspot.com

I have my base prices listed, too. I think it helps to weed out calls from people who cannot or will not pay my prices. I am convinced of this because I do not have a base price listed for my carved cakes, and I get calls quite a bit from people who want an amazing carved cake for like $40-$50. At least with a listed base price, people can figure out if they would pay that amount and if not, they can move on.

I also list my prices. It weeds out the people who like my cakes but simply can't afford them or are too cheap to pay for them. As you said your time is worth something, but I think that you are under valuing your time...I charge more than twice that, but maybe you live in a smaller area. The reality is that no matter what your prices are, someone is always going to want a designer cake on a Walmart budget....I send those people to Walmart.

I have a price page on my website that gives brides a good idea of where prices start, and I agree that I hate websites that show lots of pictures but no hint of even a starting price.

My husband, who is my advertising guru, says this is smart because they want to get the customer on the phone and to sell them on buying from them; if they don't get them on the phone they can't "sell" it. I see the point of that, but I still list my prices.

As a customer, I'd rather shop sites where I can do my own planning for what I want to spend before I order (and I also close sites that have no prices), and as a vendor, I don't want to have my phone ringing off the hook just to spend all day hearing, "Oh. We can't afford that." And as one whose talked to lots of brides, they also seem to appreciate being able to do their own homework ahead of time, rather than wasting a bunch of time calling around to ask "How much do you charge?"

I'd list at least starting prices; it seems to be what brides appreciate.

I also list starting prices per serving on my website. I too will skip a website when I shop for anything if there is no starting price at least listed.

Christopher Garren's Cakes pricing sheet. I think a pricing sheet gives you a starting point at the very least.

http://christophergarrens.com/pricing.php

FAQ pages are great!

I know that when I get a website, I plan on putting "starts at" pricing on. It would make it easier for customers to decide if they want to contact you. It would cut down(not completely) on all the calls asking for simple pricing. As long as you don't say definite that a cake cost a particular price, unless it is only sold as pictured, you should be alright. Competitors will always be there, whether your price is up or not, you just have to make sure that when you get the customer your cake is top notch.

Thank you everybody! I think when I do get a website I will include starting/general prices to weed out people who want a cake for nothing! I know my prices are low but I do live in a rural area not a city where people can get more for their work....

I totally agree indydebi. When I was looking for an apartment last year, I didn't even bother with the ones that didn't list their prices on their website. I'm not sure if it's because I automatically assumed they would be out of my price range or if I was just annoyed they were making me go through the extra hassle, but I definitely did not plan on calling them.

Yep on my page. Because my stuff is candy, a lot of people aren't willing to spend more then their corner store, so this prevents me from getting calls ALL say and the question "why do you charge more the 7-11" lol

My marketing advice again... when shopping for a house or a car, do you call the few with no price or do you just skip over them. First rule of sales... make it easy for the customer to buy. One of my biggest pet peeves is a hidden delivery charge that is only revealed after you completely fill out the online order. I addressed that irritation on my home page and give the charge on that page. I also tell what others charge (one company is $5.00 and all the rest are $14.95, mine is $9.00, I called).

This is something I've been meaning to do, I have base prices listed in the FAQs but this thread prompted me to get around to adding base prices on my cake tab. Thanks for the kick in the pants!

BTW, I charge for a single 8" cake what you charge for a tiered cake. If someone wants 2 tiered, I charge base price for each size of cake but don't charge to stack/dowel. Cost of living here is totally insane though and I use high end ingredients.

I list my starting prices and minimum. Aside from that... I added a pricing matrix for wedding cakes today.