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Mini cakes pricing

post #1 of 25
2/28/12 at 1:14pm
Thread Starter 
I know there are lots of threads about pricing and I know that you'll say it depends on one's location, amount of time spent, delivery charges etc.

I have a friend who asked me to give her a quote for 10 mini cakes- she said it should be a bit bigger than cupcakes (though I told her it is too small for a give way, so we agreed it will be 5-inch ) , to be used as her give-aways for her daughter's pageant night supporters.

And so I said, they will be 5 inches round carrot cake, covered with fondant , ribbons, gumpaste flower/s and an initial at the middle, small cake boxes, etc.

I told her $5/ mini cake .

She said it was a bit too high for her and will think about it. I feel like I know I made the right pricing for that, considering she is my friend .

what do you think guys? did I over charge her? or it's just right? I live near Raleigh, NC.
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post #2 of 25
2/28/12 at 1:21pm
$5 is just about covering expenses. By the time you figure boxes and boards fondant and that's beforeyou even count the cake ingredients
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post #3 of 25
2/28/12 at 1:31pm
I do a lot of 4" mini cakes and I charge $7.50 for plain buttercream, $10.00 for fondant and $15.00 for really detailed. Sounds like yours are going to be of the "really detailed" persuasion.

You're undercharging. I think your friend wants custom cakes at cupcake prices. Let her price a cakelet at Cupcake Envy - - they start at $40 for 2 servings.
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post #4 of 25
2/28/12 at 1:45pm
1. $5.00 is WAY too low.
2. Your friend thinks $5.00 is too much to spend on her daughter's pageant night supporters??
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post #5 of 25
2/28/12 at 2:06pm
$5 is CRAZY LOW. That's a fancy cupcake price. Especially if you have to provide packaging. You should be in the $20-$30 each range. Small = expensive.
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Answers to the most often asked questions re: SPS. SPS instructions are on Page 15 of the Sticky at the top of the Cake Decorating Forum. Supplies can be ordered from Oasis Supply, Global or BakeryCrafts.
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post #6 of 25
2/28/12 at 2:11pm
When you look at the costs involved in making a mini cake, they aren't all that different from regular-sized cake.

The smallest cake we make is an 8" round and starts at $44, and if someone wanted one mini 5" cake the price would still be $44. With 10 mini-cakes you are beginning to realize some benefits from economies of scale so I would probably drop the price to the $30-35 range for a total of $300-350 for ten 5" cakes.

If $5 each is too expensive for your friend, it sounds like she will have to settle for cupcakes.
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Recent Articles: The Magic Pricing Formula • Copyright Law
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post #7 of 25
2/28/12 at 2:23pm
Okay, 5" is not a mini cake. That is a cake, that would have regular cake serving prices. My mini cakes are 3" by 2 1/2". The cheapest I have done one is for $10 and it didn't have all the decorations you are talking about. I can't even see how $5 would cover your cost and time. You would be paying to make these cakes and her $5 would be just to help off set the cost. Also, do you have 5" cake rings or cake pan? I just ask, so you can see how really big 5" is for a mini cake.
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post #8 of 25
2/28/12 at 2:39pm
I have to agree 5 inch is not a mini cake, it's a cake! $5.00 is not a a price for any cake. Your friend got a really really really good price and you are going to be kicking yourself and hating your friend when you are working on those things. With $50.00 for this order, you will be upside down in no time.
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post #9 of 25
2/28/12 at 2:45pm
10 5" cakes for $50 icon_eek.gif Does she even realize how long that will take? You will definately not make anything on it and your friend saying that is too much is shocking....goodluck icon_biggrin.gif
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post #10 of 25
2/28/12 at 2:46pm
Just so you know the 5" cake would start at $42.
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post #11 of 25
2/28/12 at 4:17pm
Thread Starter 
Wow guys ! i appreciate your comments !
now i dont feel guilty that i gave her that price (it's actually a friendly price or let's say it's priced for a friend).
the quote was like that because i wanted to do it for experience too and when people saw how pretty the mini cakes will be , then by word of mouth, im pretty sure ill get some clients.
and i guess my friend didnt realize that.

also, i dont understand why my friend didnt want to spend $5 for her daughter's supporters.

anyway, thanks a lot . your inputs are highly appreciated.
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post #12 of 25
2/28/12 at 10:51pm
My 6 inch cakes are $30.00 and up. And that's with a homestyle frosting.

I do have one 6 inch cakes I do for $48.00. But it is one design only, I have colors on hand, and I have done them so much that It takes very little time, maybe 15 minutes total to decorate. So my cost to your friend would have been $480.00. You are lucky you passed on that one. You would have hated doing them for nothing.
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post #13 of 25
2/29/12 at 4:56am
Quote:
Originally Posted by rhina0723

I have a friend who asked me to give her a quote for 10 mini cakes... to be used as her give-aways for her daughter's pageant night supporters...I told her $5/ mini cake.. She said it was a bit too high for her and will think about it. I feel like I know I made the right pricing for that, considering she is my friend ..

Your friend may have expected there would be no charge or only ingredient reimbursement. Since she was giving the cakes away...
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website www.BakingFix.com
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Facebook http://www.facebook.com/MimiFix
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post #14 of 25
3/1/12 at 4:26am
I make mini cakes/smash cakes and charge $15-$18, and people are willing to pay that price.
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Wilton graduate and proud cake business owner under FL Cottage Food Law. More cake photos here: www.FROSTEDChicCakes.com
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post #15 of 25
3/1/12 at 9:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bluedaisies

I make mini cakes/smash cakes and charge $15-$18, and people are willing to pay that price.



Sorry for going off topic but how big are those? icon_confused.gif I would charge $20-30 for a smash cake of 4"-6" inches. (With simple details)
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Started my business legally February 2012! Commercial kitchen and all!
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