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Do you charge more for...?

post #1 of 9
2/5/13 at 8:31am
Thread Starter 

Do you charge more for....

 

1.  Stacked cakes over 3 tiers?  just because of the extra care and supports involved, not to mention stress :) ??? just wondering.

 

2. For fresh fruits in cakes?  ie whats your method of mark-up for that?

---i guess the same goes for (for example) if a bride wants a ton of pearls on her cake and you know that it will take one whole container of pearls to cover the cake or the tier or whatever... how do you mark those up?

 

3.  Do you charge for the SPS system (if you use them) or do you just absorb the cost into the cake?  Do you quote the cost of that to your bride? Or is it included into another part of the quote? Just curious bc i know most bakers have a base price per serving but not every cake would require supports or SPS...so for those cakes that do require it/them, how do you cover the cost of them?

 

sorry for the random questions! just little bits and bobbles that have been on my mind :)

Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

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Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

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post #2 of 9
2/5/13 at 8:42am

I have my base, and that includes only buttercream... then I charge a fee for stacking each tier, I charge extra for fondant or fondant accents and I have a cost breakdown that I give to the customer. Also, it depends on how much detail is invloved and how much time you think you're going to spend on it. As far as fruit filling, I wouldn't charge anymore than maybe 5-10 bucks per tier,  but I most certainly would charge extra! I do for bavarian cream. I don't know what SPS is, so I guess I don't use it LOL Hope this helps :)

“If I was made of cake I'd eat myself before somebody else could.”
― Emma Donoghue

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“If I was made of cake I'd eat myself before somebody else could.”
― Emma Donoghue

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post #3 of 9
2/5/13 at 9:55am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bittersweety View Post

Do you charge more for....

 

1.  Stacked cakes over 3 tiers?  just because of the extra care and supports involved, not to mention stress :) ??? just wondering.

 

2. For fresh fruits in cakes?  ie whats your method of mark-up for that?

---i guess the same goes for (for example) if a bride wants a ton of pearls on her cake and you know that it will take one whole container of pearls to cover the cake or the tier or whatever... how do you mark those up?

 

3.  Do you charge for the SPS system (if you use them) or do you just absorb the cost into the cake?  Do you quote the cost of that to your bride? Or is it included into another part of the quote? Just curious bc i know most bakers have a base price per serving but not every cake would require supports or SPS...so for those cakes that do require it/them, how do you cover the cost of them?

 

sorry for the random questions! just little bits and bobbles that have been on my mind :)

1. No, I don't itemize out for the support system. (If it's causing you stress then you need to absorb that into your "learning new skills" column in your own head. You can't charge extra for learning on the job) I include it in my costs just as if it was adding fruits or a premium cake flavor, etc...

 

2. Yes, I  do charge more for fresh fruit in the filling, it can be very costly at times. I estimate how much fruit (how many pints) each tier needs X the current price of that fruit. Then I add in a dollar amount for my labor to purchase the fruit.

 

3. Again I don't charge supports out separately to the client because almost every cake I do has supports.....just as they all  have a base. I do account for them in my costs.

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http://pinterest.com/realcake/

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www.realcakecompany.com

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post #4 of 9
2/5/13 at 10:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bittersweety View Post

Do you charge more for....

 

1.  Stacked cakes over 3 tiers?  just because of the extra care and supports involved, not to mention stress :) ??? just wondering.

 

Yes & no.  I charge flat fees for unstacked cakes (6" starts at $30) and per serving for any stacked cake.

 

2. For fresh fruits in cakes?  ie whats your method of mark-up for that?

---i guess the same goes for (for example) if a bride wants a ton of pearls on her cake and you know that it will take one whole container of pearls to cover the cake or the tier or whatever... how do you mark those up?

 

Yes.  Like Stitches, I charge according to how much fruit I estimate I will need.  I add the cost of that fruit to what I charge for regular filling.

 

3.  Do you charge for the SPS system (if you use them) or do you just absorb the cost into the cake?  Do you quote the cost of that to your bride? Or is it included into another part of the quote? Just curious bc i know most bakers have a base price per serving but not every cake would require supports or SPS...so for those cakes that do require it/them, how do you cover the cost of them?

 

It is listed as "Plates & Columns" on my contract and is $30.

 

sorry for the random questions! just little bits and bobbles that have been on my mind :)

www.VeryDeliciousDesserts.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delicious-Desserts/207874222593145

 

It's never "just cake!"

 

You may get a cake for $way to little but you won't get this cake!

Groom's Cakes
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Retirement
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www.VeryDeliciousDesserts.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delicious-Desserts/207874222593145

 

It's never "just cake!"

 

You may get a cake for $way to little but you won't get this cake!

Groom's Cakes
(1 photos)
Other / Mixed Shaped Wedding Cakes
(3 photos)
Retirement
(1 photos)
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post #5 of 9
2/5/13 at 10:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Stitches View Post

1. No, I don't itemize out for the support system. (If it's causing you stress then you need to absorb that into your "learning new skills" column in your own head. You can't charge extra for learning on the job) I include it in my costs just as if it was adding fruits or a premium cake flavor, etc...

 

2. Yes, I  do charge more for fresh fruit in the filling, it can be very costly at times. I estimate how much fruit (how many pints) each tier needs X the current price of that fruit. Then I add in a dollar amount for my labor to purchase the fruit.

 

3. Again I don't charge supports out separately to the client because almost every cake I do has supports.....just as they all  have a base. I do account for them in my costs.

 as for 1. i meant more along the lines of, what do you charge for additional supports that are needed for taller stacked cakes, and if so, what is your mark up and how do you figure it?  do you just come up with a cost for all the supports and the charge to stack a multiple tiered cake, and then divide that # among the total servings? as far as stress, i guess i meant more like "extra time and work". 

 

haha, i'm not gonna sit outside the reception venue weeping in my car because i have a 5 tier cake to assemble and no idea how to do it....  oh man that would be awful.... i hope thats never happened to anyone... :(

Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

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Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

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post #6 of 9
2/5/13 at 10:34am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by DeliciousDesserts View Post
 

 i'm intrigued!  so for unstacked cakes you charge a flat fee but for stacked its by the serving...can you ellaborate on that? that kind of sounds like a dillema i've been having so i'm interested to hear how you do this.  Do customers ever question it?

 

Also, i like the idea of having a "plates and columns" fee on the contract.  it makes it seem like the serving amounts aren;t any higher than they need to be by adding that cost in, but obviously a bride/groom should understand the need for these and in theory wouldn't question it if was seperated out... i love it!

 

thanks!

Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

Reply

Bake, Eat, Be Happy.

 

http://www.thebittersweetbakery.net

http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Bittersweet-Bakery/172903602815439

Reply
post #7 of 9
2/5/13 at 10:46am
We sell single tier cakes at flat prices and multiple tier cakes at a higher per-serving price, the per-serving price for multi-tier cakes includes the cost of supports necessary for a taller cake so if a cake doesn't need as much support we pocket the extra as profit.

For fillings we have standard fillings which are included, and a higher price is charged for premium fillings like fresh fruit.

Basically, if you can remove something and still have a viable cake it is broken out separately. Something like supports are not itemized since the cake would not be stable without them.
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post #8 of 9
2/5/13 at 11:07am
Quote:
Originally Posted by bittersweety View Post

 i'm intrigued!  so for unstacked cakes you charge a flat fee but for stacked its by the serving...can you ellaborate on that? that kind of sounds like a dillema i've been having so i'm interested to hear how you do this.  Do customers ever question it?

Also, i like the idea of having a "plates and columns" fee on the contract.  it makes it seem like the serving amounts aren;t any higher than they need to be by adding that cost in, but obviously a bride/groom should understand the need for these and in theory wouldn't question it if was seperated out... i love it!

thanks!

In my area, it would be difficult to charge per serving for single tier cakes ...even if it was presented as a whole price. It would also get into the whole party size, wedding serving debate.

I find mos clients think just that! They also view it as a minimal cost ($30). The expertise to assemble it is included in the per serving fee *wink*

www.VeryDeliciousDesserts.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delicious-Desserts/207874222593145

 

It's never "just cake!"

 

You may get a cake for $way to little but you won't get this cake!

Groom's Cakes
(1 photos)
Other / Mixed Shaped Wedding Cakes
(3 photos)
Retirement
(1 photos)
Reply

www.VeryDeliciousDesserts.com

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Delicious-Desserts/207874222593145

 

It's never "just cake!"

 

You may get a cake for $way to little but you won't get this cake!

Groom's Cakes
(1 photos)
Other / Mixed Shaped Wedding Cakes
(3 photos)
Retirement
(1 photos)
Reply
post #9 of 9
2/5/13 at 11:45am

I do charge an "equipment fee" that covers the drum and SPS.  I always explained it this way, "The equipment is the support inside your cake.  Without it your cake will fall down."  The answer always is/was "Oh YES!  we want that!"

 

I charge $10 per tier and don't charge for the top tier.  For example, a three tier cake would have a $20 equipment fee.

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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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.
Reply
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