How much to charge?!

I think that you were definitely reasonably priced.  For all of that work, you were charging less than two dollars a serving.  I think you could have even gone higher because of the 3 inch cake layers.  People have budgets of what they want to spend in their head, which is fine, but things cost what they cost.  So if they want to stick to their budget, they just can't get your cake.  It's not fair for them to think that you are overpriced and not that you just don't fit into their budget.

Please also read other recent posts about pricing. If you are being undercut, then somebody else is charging less than minimum wage and that is as much a violation as unsanitary food.

NEVER NEVER let yourself be paid less than you are worth.

"reasonably priced" translates to "Super cheap and so am I."

I think your price was too low for all that work.   I would have charged about  $240 give or take.    Don't worry about that customer she isn't worth you time.   Like BakingIrene said "Never let yourself be paid less than your worth!"

I get inquires and when I price out their cake I never hear back from them.  I don't worry about it.

Take Care 

MsGF

In my experience, people see a cake they want but do not understand the actual number of servings the cake provides.  So when a bakery gives a price serving price x the number of servings the picture they sent you provides = sticker shock from the customer.

It is important to ask the customer how many servings they need.  Then give suggestions:

1. you can have the exact cake in the picture for $309 (what I would have charged for a cake that size with fondant decorations) but you will have a lot of cake left over since you only need 20 servings (or whatever the actual serving amount she needs).

2. I can make you a 1 tier cake that feeds X (number of servings she really needs for $X.  (depending on how many servings she needs, her only option from me may be a single tier cake because I hate icing and stacking tiny tiers)

3. You can tell me your budget and I will let you know what I can do for you within that price range.  (now, if she says her budget is $20 then direct her to walmart, giant eagle, publix, sam's club....)

Pick a price and stick with it.  Put that price on your website, FB and anywhere else you can.  That will help weed out people that either can't afford you or don't want to spend that much on cake.

I thought you were actually cheap for all the work and detail that goes into the cake. There are many kinds of people and sometimes they appreciate the work and sometimes they just want a cake for the price they want. Trust me one prospect will think its too high but two more will come and appreciate the work. It's ok though we just have to brush your shoulders off and keep baking...lol...

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetangeljake 

Help i Need Quick Response cake going out today! I think I'm underpricing my work but afraid I will loose business if I raise my prices. I'm doing a two tier cake with fondant decorations! Bottom layer is 10" w/buttercream icing and a pacman scene in fondant, top tier is a 4" rubrics cube iced in buttercream wfondant decorations then for the topper I made a cassette tape out73962231 of fondant and added small fondant pacman and 4 little goblins on wires What would be a fair price for this cake?? The cake is similar to these two cakes put together

[IMG]

Personally, I would charge $214 for a tiered cake those sizes iced in buttercream with fondant decorations.

Bumping your price will affect your clients. Some won't be able to now afford you, but if your skills are good (I didn't look to see if you have posted any pictures) then you will draw in new clients with a higher budget.

In October I bumped my prices up $1/serving.  I am now $4/serving for buttercream and $4.50/serving for fondant.  I am booking wedding cakes (what I mostly do) at the same pace as before.  Only now I am getting more money for the same amount of work.

Quote:

Originally Posted by jason_kraft 


The cake is going out today and you haven't set a price for it yet?

That's what I thought, too, when I read this!

IF this is the case then, frankly you need to make a lot of changes to the way you do business.

What are you going to do when the customer comes to get the cake or you deliver it?  Let them name their own price?  Or if you are just now giving them the price when they get the cake - what are you going to do when they say "Oh I wasn't expecting it to be so much money!  I only have $x." 

The customer should have been given a price as soon as you found out how many servings the cake was going to be and the details for the cake. 

Quote:

Originally Posted by cakesbycathy 

That's what I thought, too, when I read this!

IF this is the case then, frankly you need to make a lot of changes to the way you do business.

 

What are you going to do when the customer comes to get the cake or you deliver it?  Let them name their own price?  Or if you are just now giving them the price when they get the cake - what are you going to do when they say "Oh I wasn't expecting it to be so much money!  I only have $x." 

 

The customer should have been given a price as soon as you found out how many servings the cake was going to be and the details for the cake. 

Oh my God, yes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetangeljake 

What would be a fair price for this cake?? 

[IMG]

Fair price? Probably the $20 the customer will be handing you. :(