Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating Business › How much do people think a cake costs to make???
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:

How much do people think a cake costs to make??? - Page 2

post #16 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:03am
I think that cake shows do real cake sellers an injustice- when you watch a cake show you really don't see how much work goes into it. The cake is done from start to finish in less than an hour ( plus commercial breaks)!
www.cantstopbaking.blogspot.com
Join in the craziness!
Reply
www.cantstopbaking.blogspot.com
Join in the craziness!
Reply
post #17 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:07am
I would rather someone say "no thank you" to my price than to be cursing myself while decorating for giving too cheap of a price. I cant remember who's quote this is but it is my favorite. "Good cake aint cheap and cheap cake aint good" icon_smile.gif
Reply
Reply
post #18 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by grandmomof1

I really think it would be great if the "Cake shows" would actually list the prices of their work much like they do on Fabulous Cakes. People are getting their ideas from the things these shows are putting out. They are totally unaware of the amount of work that goes into creating a character or animal or building. If you want true art then you have to pay for it. If it doesn't matter whether you have "true art" then go buy the cracker jacks because you get exactly what you pay for, cracker jacks.




I'd like to see the prices of some of the cakes here on CC as well!
Maybe there would be less of "how much for this cake" !!!
May your layers be many and your frosting be thick! - Stampin Up
Reply
May your layers be many and your frosting be thick! - Stampin Up
Reply
post #19 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:08am
Me too..I just this morning received an email saying....."While I love your cakes I don't like the Prices" Well Laddie Da....I didn't email you...You emailed me for a cake for 30 people and only want to spend fifty bucks.I told her Nope in not so many words!!!
Busy Bakin Kakes For Kids!!!

Mom to Mitchell 11 yrs and Delaney 9 yrs
Reply
Busy Bakin Kakes For Kids!!!

Mom to Mitchell 11 yrs and Delaney 9 yrs
Reply
post #20 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:08am
Did you see that last episode of Fabulous Cake where the one cake cost $7000.00?
Reply
Reply
post #21 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:09am
I so agree!! I recently started making cakes out of my home - I also work full time and have 5 kids so it is just a hobby that I want to eventually build on. But when people call for tiered cakes, covered in fondant, hand made flowers, or cakes in shapes of intricate things, I'm not sure what goes through their minds!
I have been fairly lucky so far with customers, but have had a few tell me they can get it cheaper elsehwere, unless I want to match that price. I politely tell them "good luck" but that I can not do it for that price. I'm sorry, but wedding cakes are charged in bakeries at $4-8 A SERVING and they are able to buy everything in bulk and have fantastic conveniences at hand.
No some of us of course aren't as experienced as these bakery bakers, but the money I put into cakes, and all of the TIME that goes into them, I sure as heck am going to charge for.
If you can't "justify" spending that kind of money on something you just eat, then go buy a slab cake from your Grocery store.

OK - done my rant for the day!!
Crystal Davis
www.icingonthecakecd.ca
Reply
Crystal Davis
www.icingonthecakecd.ca
Reply
post #22 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:12am
I'd like to see the prices of some of the cakes here on CC as well!
Maybe there would be less of "how much for this cake" !!![/quote]
That might be a good idea. It could give some people confidence to charge what they are worth, when they see people do!
Reply
Reply
post #23 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:13am
Quote:
Originally Posted by jo3d33

I would rather someone say "no thank you" to my price than to be cursing myself while decorating for giving too cheap of a price. I cant remember who's quote this is but it is my favorite. "Good cake aint cheap and cheap cake aint good" icon_smile.gif



You know it's funny, I told that exact quote to the last Bridezilla that came my way and look out -- the explosion was tremendous!!! icon_rolleyes.gificon_razz.gif
To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
Reply
To find "THE RECIPE LINKS ARE HERE" thread, click on "Forums", then "Recipes" and it's the first sticky. Latest updates are on (the bottom of) page 10 here: http://cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopic-625803-135.html
Reply
post #24 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:16am
I'm really to the point that I'd rather make cakes only for the people who are willing to pay a reasonable price. Let the rest of them go to a grocery store if they want. Reducing the cost just makes us have to work so much harder. I'm all for making more money on the cakes that I do get. I've looked at the cakes made by everyone posting on this forum and they are amazing cakes. We shouldn't be charging the same as a grocery store sheet cake for specialty cakes. Look at the money people throw into the rest of the party. The cost of a good cake should be understandable. In other words, this is my price, take it or leave it. (Unless I want to do free or reduced cakes for friends. )
Reply
Reply
post #25 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:17am
Thread Starter 
This is why I still have a full-time job outside of the cake world. If I went strictly by what people are wanting to pay for cakes, I would be upside down on my business. You simply can't have a business or a hobby, where you're losing money. I say that if someone doesn't want to pay for the supplies, don't do the cake unless you're okay with losing money. If someone wants to pay Walmart prices, then they should get a Walmart cake. I also think it's very selfish of someone to expect you to take a loss when they obviously refuse to lose any money themselves.

My godchild's mother spends $150 per month making her brown hair blonde. Approx. $50/week doing her nails and hair. She also spends $1500/month on private daycare for her precious baby. I don't think the $125 for the cake is what is going to break her.

I think what really got me motivated to start charging more, besides seeing the increasing balance on my credit card, is when I realized that I spent almost $300 in supplies for my boss's 50th bday cake, not even counting the hours of labor, and he acted like I went to a grocery store and got him a cake. Never again!!!!

On a side note: Did you know that Charm City Cakes has a $1000 minimum for their cakes?
Reply
Reply
post #26 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:34am
It was a huge awakening for me this past weekend when my hubby used cake boss software to track my expenses on what i thought was a profitable sheet cake selling for $60. IT turned out that i only made 35 dollars on the cake after expenses!!, the cake ingredietns were 20 dollars and then the rice krispy modeling chocolate football was 5$ expense. Took me several hours...

People will never understand all the work that goes into a cake, stand firm on prices and raise them if your not getting paid for your time.
Yes I am legal. Now move on and bake..
Reply
Yes I am legal. Now move on and bake..
Reply
post #27 of 191
2/7/11 at 11:54am
I read the Cake Boss article on pricing and decided to create a spreadsheet to see what a cake actually cost me, as I have been asked to do a very large cake for about 300 people. When I first told my husband what I wanted to charge he thought it was too high. When I showed him my cost only calculations, that did not include electricty, storage, transportation and time, he quickly changed his tune. He realized I was being more than fair. Breaking down the costs really helped me put things into perspective. I know I am still offering a good deal as I can not predict how long this is going to take me and I still do what I do because it is a challenge and a pleasure, but I now feel more confident and justified when I give a price. People who ask me to do a cake for them do so because they want something is unique. I have to remember this. We don't ask artists to charge poster prices for their paintings.
Reply
Reply
post #28 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:22pm
I just wanted to say to my customer....what do you do for a living? How much do you get paid? Then say to her, you know, I don't think you're worth that much, I would never pay YOU that much for that job!!!!

What ever happened to just saying - Thank you for your time but I don't think I'm going to be able to purchase a cake from you at this time. I appriciate the time you've spent helping me so far..... Instead of, I can't believe your cake costs that much, can you do something to bring the price down and I can't ever justify paying that much for a cake for my HUSBAND's 50th Birthday!! (I hope her husband treats her just as nice as she treats him on her 50th!!!icon_smile.gif

No need to be rude and insulting by saying it's rediculous to charge what we charge for our hard work and talent...what is wrong with people? I would never in a million years say something like that to someone about their product!

Would she take her husband out to dinner with their friends for his bday and then tell everyone they weren't allowed to order dessert which would most likely be priced at leat $5+ per person?? I wouldn't want to be her friends!!! icon_smile.gif
"He who passes on dessert drives home with a stomach full of regret."
Reply
"He who passes on dessert drives home with a stomach full of regret."
Reply
post #29 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:23pm
I can totally sympatize with everyone's reply. I had a co-worker ask me to do a murder mystery themed cake for her daughter and she was sparing "no expenses." I told her roughly how much it was going to cost, sketched it out for her and she agreed. Being a co-worker and a friend I figured everything was all good. Nope! She asked me 3 days before the birthday how much she owed me and I told her 120 for her 2 tiered cake with ALLLLLLLLL of the gumpaste figures, she told me "Oh, I was expecting $40.00. I can't afford that so I am going to have to cancel." icon_mad.gif I was furious. First of all....$40.00 is an insult! Second....that doesn't even cover the cost to make it. Third.....I have already made the gumpaste figures and she refused to pay me for them. It was a learning experience and I decided to take the high road on that one. I am pretty up front about pricing before I even discuss designs anymore. People watch too much Ace of Cakes and Cake Boss that it has given them a syndrome of "Jimmy Choo taste on a Payless budget." I was glad to see the show "Fabulous Cakes" does state prices!
Reply
Reply
post #30 of 191
2/7/11 at 12:39pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by ryannrochelle

People watch too much Ace of Cakes and that it has given them a syndrome of "Jimmy Choo taste on a Payless budget." I was glad to see the show "Fabulous Cakes" does state prices!



AMEN sister!!! lol!!!
Reply
Reply
New Posts  All Forums:Forum Nav:
  Return Home
  Back to Forum: Cake Decorating Business
Cake Central › Cake Forums › Cake Talk › Cake Decorating Business › How much do people think a cake costs to make???