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How much for this cake?

post #1 of 40
9/18/05 at 2:43pm
Thread Starter 
How much should I charge for this cake? The customer originally asked for a barbie doll cake on top of a sheet cake and I quoted $45. Then she e-mailed me this instead. Does $40 sound like too much for this?
LL
Angela
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Angela
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post #2 of 40
9/18/05 at 2:50pm
I think that would be more than the Barbie because of the fondant and having to take the time to make the bows.
I am so bad at charging enough and then I end up eating the cost, NO pun intended.
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post #3 of 40
9/18/05 at 2:52pm
I am by far an expert with the whole cake decorating thing since I recently started, but I would charge a little bit more than $40. Think about the number of servings. If you charge according to servings then that should help. Most people charge about $2.00-$3.00 per serving. Hope this helps.
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post #4 of 40
9/18/05 at 2:55pm
Thread Starter 
I know what you mean. The bows are a lot of work, but I hate to ask too much. I think I will just tell her $45. Our customers sometimes do not realize how much work goes in to our cakes. This lady has been really nice and I don't think that she would say that that is too much. ARGH! I have just got to stick with my price and get over it! I wish I knew where she found the pic of that cake, so I could see how they charged.
Angela
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Angela
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post #5 of 40
9/18/05 at 2:58pm
Well, for starters, most people charge $15 for a fondant bow, now these don't appear to be really big bows, but that should give you an idea. The cut outs are fast to do, the cake looks like it is buttercream iced. Depends on how large these cakes are too, they look fairly high, it is hard to say how large they are but that is all to be factored in. If you are using prepared rolled fondant that will up your costs and most of us do add gumpaste or Gum-tex powder to the bows to make them keep shape.
Do you know what sized cakes you will be making? Not how many servings she wants, how large the cakes will be. I have noticed a few folks here going by serving sizes and that is wrong. If a person wants larger cakes and only needs a few servings, that isn't your problem For example a Spiderman cake made with a large round and all, may well serve 40-60 people to get the sizes in proportion, it isn't your problem if they only need 10 servings, you charge by the cake size and design.
Hugs Squirrelly
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post #6 of 40
9/18/05 at 3:03pm
Thread Starter 
I think she wants a 10" and a 6". I only use MMF.
Angela
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Angela
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post #7 of 40
9/18/05 at 3:27pm
Well, I charge $50 for a 10 inch two layer, 2 inch deep layers and $60 for a 10 inch, 2 layer each layer three inches deep.
This cake by Wilton sizes, party sizes serves 42.
Well, you are looking at about 2 1/2 cake recipes to do 3 inch pans and about 16 cups batter or just over three recipes to make 2, 2 inch layers. Plus all of the icing. Plus the time to do the bows, personally I don't like marshmallow fondant for these, but that is me.
I would likely charge about $80. And even at that, this works out to less than $2 a serving. If you made both bows for a total of $15, at your price of $45 or so, you are way low for the cake, in my opinion. Way less than a dollar a serving.
Never mind how nice she is or how nice you are, she isn't doing you a favour ordering, you are providing a service for a fee. Your Barbie cake would be worth a minimum of $60.
Haha, not trying to pick on you here, you are exactly lije the rest of us, embarassed about pricing.
Hugs Squirrelly
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post #8 of 40
9/18/05 at 3:54pm
I know that it is difficult to charge a lot for a cake, especially if you havent done hundreds of cakes. However, I keep reminding myself that if someone doesn't want to pay what I charge, then they wouldn't appreciate it anyway. If someone wants a cheap cake then they should go to Costco and get a $15 cake that is full of preservatives and junk!

As far as the cost of your cake goes, I would charge atleast $90 because you are going to get about 45 servings...(I know, most people say that you will get way more servings out of that; but I don't go by the wilton chart because I have found that most people do not know how to cut a cake and cut larger pieces). If you charge $90 you are at $2 a serving; and I have never come across a bakery or a website that charges under $2 a serving. Squirellycakes is right, now matter how nice she is, you are still providing your services and talents to her and she has to pay for them!
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post #9 of 40
9/18/05 at 4:03pm
Simple...if you don't want to gauge her in price but don't want to undersell yourself...charge her $45.00 for the cake..but EXTRA for the bows...In Miami that top bow would be an extra $25.00 and the side bows..about...$10.00-$15.00 dollars each.

Don't undersell yourself...even the original cake sounds too low in price.

Doll cakes out here start at $25.00 to $35.00 and that's not a fondant dress. add that to the cost of a sheet cake..

C'mon people, chin up...hands out, if they don't pay, they don't get your cakes..no matter how nice they are.

If they are super nice you can always....give them a "gimme"....a small free cake that takes nothing in time and effort, but a maybe a great flavor or experimental technique to show appreciation?
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post #10 of 40
9/18/05 at 4:40pm
Pastry Diva are you talking about a full Barbie or the doll pick cake? A full Barbie on a Wondermold with a sheet cake underneath, which is what I understood originally on this post, would be way more. And include the cost of the Barbie.
Yes, either way, with bows included or as extras, it seems that most of us would be looking in the $80-$90 range.
Hugs Squirrelly
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post #11 of 40
9/18/05 at 5:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by angelcake4u

How much should I charge for this cake? The customer originally asked for a barbie doll cake on top of a sheet cake and I quoted $45. Then she e-mailed me this instead. Does $40 sound like too much for this?



How big is the cake? How much does it feed? The fondant bows should be added as extra cost to the servings of the cake...

How much do they charge in your area per slice? That may help a bit to come up with the cost of this cake.

Its pretty though. I like it a lot...
Its always about cake!!
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Its always about cake!!
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post #12 of 40
9/18/05 at 5:17pm
we need to stop nickle and diming ourselves here. Let's decide for once and for all to stop charging by the slice! Most reastaurants now charge as much as 3.50 to 4.50 for a slice of chocolate cake!

Why don't we start charging by the work involved? Every cake that a custom cake decorator makes is an edible work of art. Let's start charging accordingly.

SquirrleyCakes....$80-90.00 for that 2 tiered cake with the bows..sounds about reasonable!
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post #13 of 40
9/18/05 at 5:29pm
Thread Starter 
Wow, okay I feel crazy for even asking if $40 was too much! The only website that I could for a cake decorator close to me was in Nashville. She starts birthday cakes at $1.50 a serving. I would not compare me to her though. She has more experience and is in Nashville. I live in a much smaller area and barely have a year of experience. There is not many people in my area that do these kind of cakes. I just don't feel right charging the same as someone in FL or CA. I am just thinking that prices vary depending on where you are for everything. I dont' really like to go by number of servings, either. It takes just has long to decorate an 8" or a 10". I went ahead and e-mailed her back with a quote $55. After I gain experience and a client base, I would feel like I could charge more. I do appreciate all of your comments and sugestions. icon_biggrin.gif

Thanks,
Angela
Angela
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Angela
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post #14 of 40
9/18/05 at 5:33pm
I agree after this post and some other post last week ..........i decided that was IT!!!!! so this week I have 3 cakes due and they are the last people who get MY SPECIALS!!! IM charging a regular price and if they say no of well........I always said that well if anything its good practice...... but My husband said if I want to practice then make him a cake!! and take a picture..... Hes funny!
I didn't choose cake decorating.......cake decorating chose me!
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I didn't choose cake decorating.......cake decorating chose me!
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post #15 of 40
9/18/05 at 5:44pm
I agree with lasting moments, As of 9-1, my prices have gone up (thanks t a lot of the techniques learned here). My husband is also willing to let me decorate for him. I would even take it to the rescue mission and let them have it for free if I feel the need to do some decorating without an order. But I am finished with underpricing myself. Everybody who orders from me, tell me my "cakes taste so good and you can't get decorations like that at the store".
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

"Quality Cakes Aren't Cheap and Cheap Cakes Aren't Quality"

It's not "just cake!"
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I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

"Quality Cakes Aren't Cheap and Cheap Cakes Aren't Quality"

It's not "just cake!"
Reply
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