How many of you have a minimum. Not cake size as much as price. I just got a request for a 8 serving cake, which would be a 6 inch round but honestly it isnt worth it to turn my oven on for what my price per serving is.
I notice in looking at websites that alot of cake business so. If you have one what is it, if you dont mind sharing.
I just stopped doing the 6" cakes....had my last one last week. It totally is not worth the time and money. They were $25. I didn't even get minimum wage on those....and that last customer was the biggest pain in my butt ever! (smallest cake, biggest demander, go figure!) I guess I can thank her though, because otherwise, I might not have realized how little I actually made on those!!
Now, I have a $40 minimum order...for my pricing, that equates to a 16 serving single layer, basic flavor cake.
I will do the small 6" cake if that's what they really want, but I'll charge $40 for it. Just not worth doing a cake for less than that IMO.
Yes...a $40.00 minimum and even somedays I think that is too low....
The smallest cake we make is an 8" round double layer, starting at $44. Customers are welcome to order a 6" round if they wish, but the price will still start at $44.
We do have other products available for less than $44 -- a dozen cupcakes starts at $30, and a dozen muffins starts at $24. But we don't really have to worry about turning on the ovens for just a $24 muffin order since we're pretty busy every weekend, and those smaller orders are great for making use of slack time.
I'll do a 6" cake if someone wants it, but they are paying for an 8" cake. that's my minimum charge is the price of an 8" cake, or for a dozen cupcakes of the same type. Since I bake to order, I can't do a mix and match for only a dozen.
I bake for my friends and family and quite often they want just a 6" cake. So what I have been doing is when I make larger cakes or cupcakes, I take the extra batter and put it in 6" round pans and bake it. Then it goes in the freezer. If they want a 6" cake, they have to be willing to take whatever is frozen. I too like to have only 6" cakes for my own family birthdays and mini celebrations. Too much cake in the house means too much of ME in the house.
I have a $125.00 minimum, if all they want is a 6" cake that's fine but it will be $125.00
My busy season is May - September (weddings, weddings and more weddings). During that time my price minimum for custom cake orders is $400. I don't have a minimun on cupcakes because I find those really easy and not time consuming.
From October to April I have a minimum of $50 because I slow way down and little orders are not as much of a pain in butt.
I'm right there with you Mindy. I need to set a minimum, it's so sad when your doing a cake and the whole time your saying, this is so not worth it. I actually need to relook at all my prices. People call and I just say 40 bucks...50 bucks... always scared to overcharge, but I need to sit down and look at how much it COST me and how much time goes into it. It would be nice to actually buy some cake supplies verses breaking even after busting my butt.
$150 for cupcakes and $225 for Novelty/3D. Wedding cakes starts at $300.
$150 for cupcakes and $225 for Novelty/3D. Wedding cakes starts at $300.
150 for cupcakes? I'm curious how many cupcakes does that include, like enough for a big event like a wedding?
I'm so like you Athenarose, when people call I just call out a price.
$100, and that gets a minimally decorated 6". Can't say I've ever had anyone order just the minimum. I might as well up it to $200, cause that's the lowest priced cake I've done in years.
I'm right there with you Mindy. I need to set a minimum, it's so sad when your doing a cake and the whole time your saying, this is so not worth it. I actually need to relook at all my prices. People call and I just say 40 bucks...50 bucks... always scared to overcharge, but I need to sit down and look at how much it COST me and how much time goes into it. It would be nice to actually buy some cake supplies verses breaking even after busting my butt.
Oh please read my article, item #1. This is exactly what I used to do when I started my cake business back in 2006, and it is not good business and it's not sustainable. I wrote this article based on hard-learned experience. If you look in my gallery, there is a 9" round with 4 hand-sculpted fondant rubber ducks on top. It is homemade Italian Cream cake, from scratch, with pecans, nuts, cream cheese filling, etc. etc. When it was ordered, I told the lady on the phone $30, quickly followed by, "isthatokay?" After the fact, I calculated that I had spent $24 on ingredients and supplies.
Figure out your costs, get a pricing structure in place, and never throw out numbers off the top of your head. You and your customers will both be better off. 
I have a minimum of $65, which is a standard 8", super basic decorations. And then a minimum of $60 for cupcakes - 2 dz for standard buttercream.
You HAVE to have a minimum, or you'll get requests for a cake that serves 4 people and costs $25!!
Oh please read my article, item #1. This is exactly what I used to do when I started my cake business back in 2006, and it is not good business and it's not sustainable. I wrote this article based on hard-learned experience. If you look in my gallery, there is a 9" round with 4 hand-sculpted fondant rubber ducks on top. It is homemade Italian Cream cake, from scratch, with pecans, nuts, cream cheese filling, etc. etc. When it was ordered, I told the lady on the phone $30, quickly followed by, "isthatokay?" After the fact, I calculated that I had spent $24 on ingredients and supplies.
Figure out your costs, get a pricing structure in place, and never throw out numbers off the top of your head. You and your customers will both be better off.
Ty kelleym! I read the article and actually I'm going to reread it later (got family in town). The sad part was I knew what I was doing was wrong. I learned cake decorating from a lady that had a cake shop and she taught me about the business and I went to culinary school and learn all about how to break down a recipe cost. I have been decorating for almost 12 yrs now but took the last few yrs off (my husband joined the USCG and we moved alot). I just started up again this yr doing it for more than just my family and things took off to fast. I use to have my pricing/contract and all that figured out. Now I'm in a new state and years and cake decorating have changed and so have the prices. My problem is I get at least a call a week and I was really eager to get back in the groove and do more modern (baking is much like fashion when it comes to fads and styles) I just need to say I'm not taking any orders and get myself sitiutated again. At least I know what I need to do. Did you create cake boss? I am going to take a look at that also.
My minimum is 1 dozen standard cupcakes or 2 dozen mini for $42.00 (basic buttercream or ganache swirl), and my cake minimum is a very basic 4" starting at $32.00 (covered in fondant, basic border, very simple decorations).
Yep, I've had a $40.00 min. for quite sometime. Just recently decided to go to $50.00.
I just have a minimum that will go into effect Sept 1st of $75... I know it's an odd number, however since I've moved into the commercial kitchen I don't know what a profit looks like. My plan is to raise it every 6 to 8 months.I do have other options to get with the cake like cupcakes cookies & cake pops & cheesecake. I just looked at one website & her minimum was $300. I'm also wanting to get away from little orders. It would be better if each time I went to the kitchen I was working on at least 3 different clients cakes however, that's not the case each time. Some times it's discouraging but I keep going....
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