I made this cake for my daughters 5th birthday. It's my first and only structured cake...so far!
I was asked how much I would charge for this cake, and I have no idea.
I don't know if it makes sense to charge by the slice because of all the RKTs. I used four entire 11x15 cakes. Two for the body and two for the grass. The legs, tail, neck, head, and horn were all RKTs. The body and grass were covered in bc only. The tail was covered in MMF. THe horn in white modeling chocolate. The mane was white modeling chocolate. IF I had to transport it, I would also cover the body in MMF to be safe, and to look more polished. I've only covered two cakes with fondant before, so this is assuming that I could do it.
I used way more supplies than expected, esp b/c everything was from scratch.
It was my first cake with PVC, so I know that I need to modify the porportions a little. This was as small as I could make it b/c of the PVC connectors. The with if the frame was 7 inches. I didn't measure the height. It was about 2.5-3 feet tall.
So.. how do I price it? I live an hour from NYC in Long Island.
Any comments GREATLY appreciated. and I hope one day I'll be able to make cakes likes the ones posted before on this forum.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2045478
After my previous post about the unicorn cake, I used the pricing list posted by JamieAnn.
My calculations: $6.00/serving using four 11x15s is the same as two full sheets. Using the party serving chart I rounded off to 200 servings. That's $1,200 dollars. The fillings are listed as extra; at $.25 extra per serving that's another $410.
I know I can't charge that now for it because I'm a beginner and the cake doesn't look perfect. I mainly wanted to get an idea for future reference (far in the future), but is this really what someone would charge?! It did take a few days for me to do, but it was also my first time doing that.
I'm not asking that to insult anyone. Many of the cakes I've seen on this sight are perfection.
My cake: http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2045478
made this cake for my nephews, don't sell cakes, just wondering how much you would charge for this cake. 10 round is peanutbutter cake with chocolate fudge filling/ 8 round is cookies and cream cake with cookies and cream filling, only made the 3 aliens and sketch, buzz, woody, jesse and army men are toys. oh yea half moon is chocolate cake. 
Is anyone from Ohio?
I am sure the prices are different in different areas.
Most of my 3 tier birthday cakes are between $90 and $150.
4"-6"-8" or 4"-7"- 9" and 4"- 8"- 10"
I was only charging $40, for the smallest size, when I first started and started charging more as I became a little more confident. I would like to charge a little more but not to sure if Ohioians will pay much more than that.
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1977778
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1991288
Am I still under charging? What is the going prices?
You are super undercharging!
My 2 tier cakes start at $150, 3 tiers start at $250.
Figure out all your costs... ingredients, (Don't forget about cakes boards, supports, boxes, etc) Add up the hours you work including baking
and I'm sure you are paying yourself under minimum wage. Why do that to yourself! Your cakes are nice!
Here are a few of my recent cakes:
Green Bay Packers Cake - $78
I used the Wilton football pan
Mocha cake with ganache & caramel filling
20 servings?? Thats a guess b/c of the weird shape
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2021756
Mardi Gras Cake - $108[/b]
8" Bottom tier, 6" top tier, can't remember the flavors...
32 Servings
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1981821
Jimmy Buffet Cake
I didn't charge for this one because it was for a good family friend, but I would have charged $500
Pina Colada w/ Coconut filling, yellow cake with chocolate buttercream & red velvet with cream cheese filling
Approx 100 Servings
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2036129
I charged $90 for 30 cupcakes ( I threw in 6 extra cause my batter baked 36 and I'm on a diet!..)
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2025641
Charged $175 but if its requested again I will charge $250
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1985961
Charged $110
(The door opened and shut and so did the lid on the clock)
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2020166
Charged $325
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1994094
Charged $90
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1964730
made this cake for my nephews, don't sell cakes, just wondering how much you would charge for this cake. 10 round is peanutbutter cake with chocolate fudge filling/ 8 round is cookies and cream cake with cookies and cream filling, only made the 3 aliens and sketch, buzz, woody, jesse and army men are toys. oh yea half moon is chocolate cake.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2033992
i finally got my pic attach....lol
Ok I know I was undercharging...I just didnt know how much. I Charged $50 for this camping cake. Took a couple of days, on and off not sure exactly how long.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2047081
Is anyone from Ohio?
I am sure the prices are different in different areas.
Most of my 3 tier birthday cakes are between $90 and $150.
4"-6"-8" or 4"-7"- 9" and 4"- 8"- 10"
I was only charging $40, for the smallest size, when I first started and started charging more as I became a little more confident. I would like to charge a little more but not to sure if Ohioians will pay much more than that.
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1977778
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1991288
Am I still under charging? What is the going prices?
You are super undercharging!
My 2 tier cakes start at $150, 3 tiers start at $250.
Figure out all your costs... ingredients, (Don't forget about cakes boards, supports, boxes, etc) Add up the hours you work including baking
and I'm sure you are paying yourself under minimum wage. Why do that to yourself! Your cakes are nice!
No, you're not undercharging. You have to charge appropriately for your area or you will be out of business. There are thousands of posts on CC about how people charge too low. However, I'd Love to see them set up shop in those areas and charge the same high prices and make it work. It simply wouldn't happen. I mean no offense to anyone! I would LOVE to make as much money as some others do. I've tried it and I lost customers. I've been doing this for 12 years...I know my area. We all do wonderful work! I'm happy for those of you who get the bucks. I'm jealous. Maybe someday, I'll move! 
(that jungle animal cake is adorable!)
Thank you all for helping
I think I will stay close to what I am charging to keep the cake orders coming!
There are shops 30 minutes north of me in Sarasota that charge a minimum of $5 a serving and then there are shops 15 minutes south of me in Port Charlotte that only charge $4 a serving which includes fondant. I agree that it depends on your market on what people will pay, honestly I have priced a few of my cakes way low just to get the experience so that when Florida's Cottage Food Act passes I will have a more diverse portfolio. That being said though, the cakes that I have done for less have been for friends and I have told them if someone asks what the cake cost, to tell them what it "would" cost and not what they paid 
ok, hope this doesnt sound too dumb, but how to you calculate how many servings each cake size yields?
Like how many servings is a 9x13 etc..
Wilton industry standard serving guide:
http://www.wilton.com/cakes/making-cakes/baking-wedding-cake-2-inch-pans.cfm
Hi guys, I was just wondering how much would you charge for this cake ?
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1529566
And FYI I will be asking the same question about other cakes that I made.
Thanks everyone
Hi again, please guys, how much would you charge for this one.
Chess board 13x13x3 edible chocolate pieces. Check it out and let me know.
Tyvm
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1529585
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1851958
Ok how much should I charge for this cake?
Sorry about all the posts, it's just that I love this forum and I am thinking about starting a business soon
I will post a few more k thanks!
Over here in Germany (as a military spouse and regardless of my day time career) we are not allowed to bake cakes and sell them, as it creates competition for the commissary. So the bakers over here has to either charge illegally or give cakes away. I give my cakes away and if they want to tip me they can (most often the tip = the cost of the cake or close).
Luau cake I would normally charge $150. It took me 15 hours from start to finish to make this cake in one day. The request was a simple cake to match the baby shower invites...but nothing that screamed "baby".
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2055563
20 Year Retirement Cake - This cake I would charge $250. The ribbons were all the retiree's ribbons from his service career, which took me 9 hours to make all 15 ribbons using fondant. This cake took me in total about 3 days (keep in mind I have a full time job with the DoD) from baking to decorating.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2044529
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1851958
Ok how much should I charge for this cake?
Sorry about all the posts, it's just that I love this forum and I am thinking about starting a business soon
I will post a few more k thanks!
One of the things that helped me understand pricing was the CakeBoss software and also creating my own price list...saved me hours of time and brain cells trying to figure out how much to charge....you know, a lot of time goes into figuring out the right price for a cake you just poured your time and creative effort into. So I can totally relate to your post.
"I" would charge $135 for the cake. I'm not for sure of your cake sizes, it looks like a 10 inch and an 8 inch round cake. $90 for the cake and $45 for the supplies, fondant and decor. I pass on the cost of boxes and boards to the customers as a separate unit.
made this cake for my nephews, don't sell cakes, just wondering how much you would charge for this cake. 10 round is peanutbutter cake with chocolate fudge filling/ 8 round is cookies and cream cake with cookies and cream filling, only made the 3 aliens and sketch, buzz, woody, jesse and army men are toys. oh yea half moon is chocolate cake.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2033992
i finally got my pic attach....lol
Hi there I think I would definitely charge like 300 or more!!! Great cake
I am finding this all very interesting i am in uk and for a 3tier stacked wedding cake (6 8 & 10 inch) i would charge £150 (gbp) but if i did the msame cake for a birthday or other occasion it would be a lot less, i did 2 tier stacked 6 & 10 , and charged £50. People just wouldnt pay loads unless its for a wedding. The shops are the same too
Told my SIL that I wouldn't charge less than $60.00 for this one if she was paying for it (not a chance that would ever happen), especially since I had only 3.5 hours to complete it. It was a good thing I had a 9 inch round vanilla layer in the freezer, and that I always keep fondant, gumpaste, candy clay, and buttercream on hand just in case.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2053787
I am so glad I found this forum. I have made a few cakes, all for free to family or friends. I'm not sure what I would charge. I was asked for a price on a wedding cake of a 3 tiered cake, and I estimated it at $300 and never heard back from the girl. So anyways, here are a few pictures of my cakes, if anyone can give me a guess as to what I should have charged I would appreciate it. Thanks!
Best Friend's wedding cake
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2042284
I estimated this cake at maybe... $500?
Best Friend's bridal shower cake
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2031914
Maybe $75
Friend's baby shower cake
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2029286
Maybe $50
Another Friend's baby shower cake
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2029305
Maybe $50
Mom's birthday cake
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1979305
$25?
Friend's daughter birthday cake
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1970497
$75?
Friend's bridal shower cake, along with 24 cupcakes
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1979258
$50?
My son's 1st birthday cake
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2031899
$50?
Would $50 be about right for a cake like this? I only bake freebies for family and friends, but I'm curious. My technique has improved a little since I did this cake. I also now have a pretty cake stand.
I also live in a very rural area where people just don't spend a lot of money.
ACK! I can't figure out how to link a picture! If you just go to my photos (there are only about 8 of them) it is the fall cake with the leaves and acorns...
Thanks!
This one I charged 200 for. It had chocolate ganache and fresh raspberries inside.
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/2077891
I did this cake for neighbor I charged $50 but she gave me $70
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2043101
I also did this cake for my neighbor charged $30 she gave me $50
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1692077
I did this cake for friend of my sons I Charged $20
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1416279
I charged $25 for this one
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2003835
I did this one for my sons first bday wouldnt have a clue what to charge for it
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1758725
I feel like I under charge for cakes but I feel guilty charging to much[/img]
So waht happened eveyone muxt have gotten real busy no one has really posted anything so here's mine, I am update
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2029403 I undercharged for this one but it was a friend @ $140.00
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2042502 charged $125.00
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2085887 charged $140 but had gumpaste characters too.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2085895 charged $285.00 fro this one
keep them coming I really like this site
WOW, you all do great work. I too under charge but this isn't a business for me, I work full time. I also don't have the confidence to charge more.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1781314[url] I think I got 90 for this one.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1720686[/url] 65 for this one.
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1768651[url] 175 for this one with 100 cupcakes![/url]
6" WASC with vanilla BC filling and 10" WASC with strawberry filling
$60
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2089878
8" round and 36 cupcakes to match the invites
$47
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1883654
10" round with fondatn accents - popcorn is BC -
$50
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1768424
single 8", single 6" and then pyrex bowl layers stacked and carved
$25 - way undercharged!
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1742807
6" round, 8" round and smash cake
$45
https://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/photo.php?fbid=10150116177175948&set=a.146912855947.136642.521985947&type=1&theater
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