So I am having a hard time figuring out how to properly price my cakes.
I must say im new to cake decorating and my stuff is not perfect but i do the best I can. I dont have pastry school or any of that im all self taught so i sort of feel like I cant charge what a bakery charges since I dont have their training.
I had my prices set to a certain price per size of cake and once i calculated it i had it at $35 for a 6 in and basically up $10 for each 2 inches added to that size. for basic buttercream. i made a cake and realized i hardly got $5 to cover the cost of my gas to go shopping, my electriciy and gas to cook the cake and all my time making the cake, buttercream, fondant and decorating the cake.
now i have it set to ...
Basic with all buttercream starts at $3.00 per serving
Buttercream with basic fondant decorations start at $3.50 per serving
Fondant covered cakes start at $4.00 per serving
Serving sizes are based on an average serving of 1.5 x 2 x 4
Sheet cakes are a single layer with servings of 1.5 x 2 x 2
Round Cakes - 2 Layers of cake 1 layer of filling
6 in - 9 servings
8 in - 16 servings
10 in - 26 servings
12 in - 37 servings
14 in - 51 servings
16 in - 66 servings
Square Cakes - 2 Layers of Cake 1 layer of filling
6 in - 12 servings
8 in - 21 servings
10 in - 33 servings
12 in - 48 servings
14 in - 65 servings
16 in - 85 servings
Sheet Cakes 1 layer of cake NO filling
9x13x2 - 29 servings
11x15x2 - 41 servings
12x18x2 - 54 servings
16x24x2 - 96 servings
should I stick with this or should I switch to 1x2x4 inch servings? if so should I change the price per serving up or down? one batch of basic white batter makes about 5 1/2 cups of batter and cost me about $4 to make. I use buttercream dream recipe that also makes 6 cups and cost about $4 as well
my MMF cost about $5 to make with the flavoirings I add. then have to add in cupcake liners, boxes boards or cupcake holders.
Im just so un sure. I hate feeling like im ripping people off since i cant hardly get any orders now. I was posting on craigslist but people on there are already looking for a deal and wont pay the price for quality ingredients.
People love the taste of my cakes but I just cant get the word out to the right neighborhood. i live in a big city where there are lots of lower income people and the people with the money are on the other side of town and im sure there are great cake decorators there. what should I do. i need to be able to get atleast 2-3 orders a week for good size cakes. We financially arent making it with my husbands pay check. even just $300 a month profit would make a world of difference for us. but i dont want to slave for $2 profit on a dozen cupcakes over and over agian.
I dont do wedding cakes right now but should i use wedding cake slices for all cakes prices?
I must say im new to cake decorating and my stuff is not perfect but i do the best I can. I dont have pastry school or any of that im all self taught so i sort of feel like I cant charge what a bakery charges since I dont have their training.
I had my prices set to a certain price per size of cake and once i calculated it i had it at $35 for a 6 in and basically up $10 for each 2 inches added to that size. for basic buttercream. i made a cake and realized i hardly got $5 to cover the cost of my gas to go shopping, my electriciy and gas to cook the cake and all my time making the cake, buttercream, fondant and decorating the cake.
now i have it set to ...
Basic with all buttercream starts at $3.00 per serving
Buttercream with basic fondant decorations start at $3.50 per serving
Fondant covered cakes start at $4.00 per serving
Serving sizes are based on an average serving of 1.5 x 2 x 4
Sheet cakes are a single layer with servings of 1.5 x 2 x 2
Round Cakes - 2 Layers of cake 1 layer of filling
6 in - 9 servings
8 in - 16 servings
10 in - 26 servings
12 in - 37 servings
14 in - 51 servings
16 in - 66 servings
Square Cakes - 2 Layers of Cake 1 layer of filling
6 in - 12 servings
8 in - 21 servings
10 in - 33 servings
12 in - 48 servings
14 in - 65 servings
16 in - 85 servings
Sheet Cakes 1 layer of cake NO filling
9x13x2 - 29 servings
11x15x2 - 41 servings
12x18x2 - 54 servings
16x24x2 - 96 servings
should I stick with this or should I switch to 1x2x4 inch servings? if so should I change the price per serving up or down? one batch of basic white batter makes about 5 1/2 cups of batter and cost me about $4 to make. I use buttercream dream recipe that also makes 6 cups and cost about $4 as well
my MMF cost about $5 to make with the flavoirings I add. then have to add in cupcake liners, boxes boards or cupcake holders.
Im just so un sure. I hate feeling like im ripping people off since i cant hardly get any orders now. I was posting on craigslist but people on there are already looking for a deal and wont pay the price for quality ingredients.
People love the taste of my cakes but I just cant get the word out to the right neighborhood. i live in a big city where there are lots of lower income people and the people with the money are on the other side of town and im sure there are great cake decorators there. what should I do. i need to be able to get atleast 2-3 orders a week for good size cakes. We financially arent making it with my husbands pay check. even just $300 a month profit would make a world of difference for us. but i dont want to slave for $2 profit on a dozen cupcakes over and over agian.
I dont do wedding cakes right now but should i use wedding cake slices for all cakes prices?
Slow and steady wins the race.... as long as the cottage food law says in place.
Slow and steady wins the race.... as long as the cottage food law says in place.
