Hello, Thanks in advance for your help.
I am a home baker (I have only done cakes for friends, family and acquaintances so far) and I live in a cottage food law state.My best friend referred me to this lady from an online mommy group we both belong to. This lady asked me for a two tiered fondant cake in the shape of gift boxes, with a tag and bows or with a figure of a pregnant lady and her and her husband. She said she wanted the cake to be black russian cake (which has lots of Kahlua and vodka.) I sent her an e-mail saying thst I can custom make anything she wants and that my fondant cakes start at $3.50 per serving but my "premium" flavors start $3.75. She sent me the following e-mail about 10 min after (and she also sent a similar e-mail to my best friend:
"Thank you Karina. I will send this over to my sister for review (as she is hosting). From what Peri said, I expected you to be a lot more affordable being that you make cakes from home as a side business. Are you licensed to have a functional kitchen for selling cakes at home? Some of your "competitors" with stores/bakeries charge less. Not to take away from your work or anything."
I know Peri didn't tell her anything because she knows about cake prices. Also, I know for a fact that my competitors charge way more. I live in the Ft.Lauderdale/Miami area and I have paid more than $5 per serving for a VERY basic single tier white fondant cake. Buttercream prices around here start around $3.00-$3.50 min. Also, I find very interesting that she didn't care if it was legal for me to sale her a cake until she found that I am too "expensive." She is probably referring to cakes from the grocery store or from people that seriously undercharge (There is a baker at our group that charges $2.50 for fondant cakes. She is probably not making any money on that and her cakes don't look very good.)
I am not sure how to respond in a nice way. I am upset that she also sent a similar e-mail to my best friend (my best friend forward the e-mail to me in disbelief.) I am tired of people thinking that because I bake from my house I need to make less money. Also, it is perfectly legal for me to sell cakes from my house.
How do I respond nicely and address every issue she mentioned in the e-mail? thanks!
I am a home baker (I have only done cakes for friends, family and acquaintances so far) and I live in a cottage food law state.My best friend referred me to this lady from an online mommy group we both belong to. This lady asked me for a two tiered fondant cake in the shape of gift boxes, with a tag and bows or with a figure of a pregnant lady and her and her husband. She said she wanted the cake to be black russian cake (which has lots of Kahlua and vodka.) I sent her an e-mail saying thst I can custom make anything she wants and that my fondant cakes start at $3.50 per serving but my "premium" flavors start $3.75. She sent me the following e-mail about 10 min after (and she also sent a similar e-mail to my best friend:
"Thank you Karina. I will send this over to my sister for review (as she is hosting). From what Peri said, I expected you to be a lot more affordable being that you make cakes from home as a side business. Are you licensed to have a functional kitchen for selling cakes at home? Some of your "competitors" with stores/bakeries charge less. Not to take away from your work or anything."
I know Peri didn't tell her anything because she knows about cake prices. Also, I know for a fact that my competitors charge way more. I live in the Ft.Lauderdale/Miami area and I have paid more than $5 per serving for a VERY basic single tier white fondant cake. Buttercream prices around here start around $3.00-$3.50 min. Also, I find very interesting that she didn't care if it was legal for me to sale her a cake until she found that I am too "expensive." She is probably referring to cakes from the grocery store or from people that seriously undercharge (There is a baker at our group that charges $2.50 for fondant cakes. She is probably not making any money on that and her cakes don't look very good.)
I am not sure how to respond in a nice way. I am upset that she also sent a similar e-mail to my best friend (my best friend forward the e-mail to me in disbelief.) I am tired of people thinking that because I bake from my house I need to make less money. Also, it is perfectly legal for me to sell cakes from my house.
How do I respond nicely and address every issue she mentioned in the e-mail? thanks!
