How much do people think a cake costs to make??? - Page 10

I totally understand where you all are coming from. I used the Cake Boss software also. I was using it but not putting everything into the price & was guessing on some items. I decided to start putting everything including the cost of box or carriers in the price.

I know my prices are low right now but I read somewhere on here that as your skill craft goes up then start to slowing raise your prices every 6 months to a year. And also to never try and undercut the local bakery. And this is what I do. I had a young lady that wanted a cake similar to the one I made for her niece but didn't want to pay the price & just let her talk through it because I knew the price was a steal..it was a 2 tier 8"& 10" fondant cake for $55. She end up getting the cake and payed the price & was happy when she got the cake. I was not going to bargain on the price.

Also while using the software I learned that my prices are incredibly low. and I will be making adjustments soon. For example: I was only making a profit of $8.35 on a 1/4 sheet cake. So those prices will be raised soon. (Little by little)

I'm still in the process of getting my name out there so more people will know what I do. But I can't honestly see myself stressing over the loss of one customer when I know how much heart and soul I put into each and every cake I make.

You guys are my heroes! I started dabbling in cakes last fall, and got some really good feedback and felt like maybe I had a knack for it.

Well, 3 weeks ago I was laid off from my job of almost 17 years. We immediately took my son out of daycare....which is saving us $450 a month. In looking at things, it may actually be better for us financially if I bake from home.

Pricing has been weird, and I'm just finally nailing them down. I had so much interest I was winging prices right and left. A good problem to have, but didn't want to get trapped into those prices either. And I haven't been doing discounts for friends and relatives. They know my situation.

My Mom was a beautician and I remember her dragging her scissors and perm and coloring equipment when we visited relatives and her spending her whole weekend 'off' doing hair for free. No one would even offer her anything even for supplies. She finally quit bringing stuff, and thankfully there were no hard feelings, but I definitely didn't want to fall into that.

If someone isn't going to pay my price, they will not have one of my cakes or other baked items. I can't afford to undercut myself and I will have fun doing this no matter what people's issues may or may not be with my prices.

Thanks for the advice and stories!

I'm wondering...were you caking at the time they asked you to be godmother? Did you get the job because they assumed theyd get free cakes for all their daughter's birthdays & events from thereon in?

Its also tiresome to hear "food (cake ingredients) dont' cost that much."

Ohhhhhhhhh!!! You wanted just the FOOD!!!! no problem! Back your car up to my back door and I can set you up! I have the 40 lbs of chicken in my freezer, the case of lettuce in my 'frig, the cans of green beans in mypantry.

Oh wait! You wanted the chicken COOKED? There's a cost to that. You wanted the lettuce turned into a beautiful salad? There's a cost to that. You wanted the food delivered? There's a cost to that? Set up in a beautiful buffet? Cost. Fancy chafer pans that keep the food hot? Cost. Staff to handle all of this PLUS the set-up, clean-up? Cost. Use of my van to get it there? Cost. All plates and silverware? Cost.

But just the food? Heck darlin' I can help you out if you just want the FOOD! That's the EASY part!

I just found this thread and IMHO the answer to the thread question, "How much do people think a cake costs to make??? " is 'far far less then it really does'... at least that has been my experience.

i mostly make cakes for friends and family and am often asked how long it takes me to make these cakes and how much it costs - and folks are often shocked to hear the answers. they really do not realize how much supplies cost nore how much time it takes to make a custom cake. many of them only buy grocery store cakes so they are used to those rates, or they make a box mix and add packaged frosting so expect to hear low costs.

I then 'educate' them on the details and they start to understand the difference between a custom cake and a mass produced slab with bucket frosting

This is such a great thread, mainly because I've been having issues with a friend of mine. When I first started decorating and she wanted fondant covered cakes for her in-laws birthdays, or boyfriend, etc, I would do them for cost, almost $25 for an 8 inch round cake covered in fondant. I did this for the practice and she was the only one I was doing this for.

Months pass and she continues to come to me, but now it seems there is an occasion for a cake almost every other month. The recent one was 3 weeks ago when she wanted a fondant cake for a co-worker's birthday. I already knew that she would expect to pay only cost. (I told her once that someday I'd probably charge $80 for a fondant covered 8 inch cake and she told me I better be careful because there are people around town who well sell it for A LOT less!).

It made me so mad! I felt like I was being used. Did she really expect that she can pay for just the materials and I'd gladly spend hours/days working on a cake for a stranger so she can look good? I am sick and tired of stressing over cakes that I hate doing (ie. logo and/or character cakes) for literally pennies! It's taken the fun out of it when I sit there resenting the cake SO much!

While another great friend of mine wanted a scratch banana cake, with Bavarian filling and cream cheese frosting and she INSISTED on giving me a lot of money for it BECAUSE, in my opinion, she is a real friend who RESPECTS me!

It's honestly a huge eye-opener into who your friends really are.

Your time and effort is very valuable! Don't let someone ... anyone take advantage of your talents. There are a couple of people that I promised a free cake when I first started decorating & some waited & some took advantage of it right away...After that they all pay what I would charge a customer. No complaints & No moans.

I would tell her to have the other people give you a call (ie co-workers, her friends family etc) There's no reason that you should be baking all these cakes and not getting paid for them and not getting credit for them. If she wants to go some where else where the price is "cheaper" let her...that's one less stress for you.

Indydeb- I just love your smart a$$ comments ! Keep up with the replys,I enjoy a good laugh! That is so true,people do not have any clue,idea or imagination when it comes to the preperation of the things we do.
You really have to have a backbone with these people and set them straight,friends or not,or you"ll be walked all over forever.
Just tell em' like it is,be blunt with them,and stop beatin' round the bush !

Once, I had some friends call me up the night before their TRIPLET'S first birthday party, two girls and a boy. They wanted a mickey mouse type cake but couldn't find anythign they liked so they called me. They didn't think the colors were right for a boy and girls. So I made three little cakes, two pink mickey heads and one blue mickey head on top. I only covered it in buttercream because I definitely didnt have time to do fondant or anything else. They asked me how much, and because they were friends I gave a discount, and they never paid me!!!!!!

I am at a point where I will not justify my prices to anyone anymore.

Thats my price if you want to pay it great I will make your cake for you .....if you question the price move on to the supermarket and buy one off the shelf. It makes no difference to me....Well it does really its the difference of standing in the kitchen for hours and hours to make next to nothing or sitting down and relaxing.

About time people woke up to the fact a cake is not about the ingredents cost its payiing for the skills of the person making it.

Tell the people that wont pay your prices to crank up their own ovens and bake a cake themselves!!

If people start to complain about price where I work, I have to be generous and give the some options. The grocery store, Wal mart, or for less than $2.00 you can buy a box mix and make it yourself. ( Just trying to be helpful!)
Most of the complainers are on cakes that are tiered. Sure the cakes on the cake shows are COOL and you WANT one.... Then you have to PAY for it. If that is too much we can to the same concept in a sheet cake. oh and next year when you kids birthday is on the SAME DAY! call me more than the day before to order a cake. Sorry I better go I am starting to rant.

TPACakegirl- Yeah I see what you mean now. I havan't been making cakes for very long, about 2 years maybe. I used to give them away absolutely for free just to grow my portfolio. Now even when I tell someone $60 I feel like they think that is crazy. The grocery stores around here sell their cakes for like $30-$40, so when they hear my price their eyes jsut about bug out of their heads. These grocery stores just dont do the kind of decorating that I do, and they just settle for it. Oh well I guess when the right person comes along it'll be worth it. And I do know there arent many or even any bakeries around ehre that do specialty cakes. Their loss I guess.

Now those are some really great friends to have! Really. Because they make you snap into shape right quick. After that, you think long and hard when the next request comes along from ANYONE, and sooner rather than later, you're doing yourself more and more favours!