How Much To Pay Myself Per/hour.

Decorating By Natka81 Updated 21 Apr 2014 , 3:55am by thecakewitch

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Natka81 Posted 19 Apr 2014 , 11:04pm
post #1 of 16

Hello, everyone, I am new do cake decorating bussiness and I have read many posts like how much to charge for a cake. My question is this: when I am figuring out the cost of cake, I add ingredients + over head but how much should I pay my self per/hour for time when I decorate cake? Is there "floor" and "ceiling" for that? Thank you.

15 replies
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craftybanana Posted 19 Apr 2014 , 11:54pm
post #2 of 16

Floor: minimum wage

Ceiling: what ceiling?

 

Just kidding! That's something I've been wondering too, how people pick their "hourly wage." I know some people have said anywhere from $10-30/hour, but how they come up with that I don't know. As a face-painter I got $20/hour, but I don't know how my employer came up with that seeing as how I was mediocre.

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Natka81 Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 12:07am
post #3 of 16

Thank you craftybanana! Is there a different wage for baker/decorator for different task: for example:

 1. clean up after you finish baking or decorating 

 2. making gumpaste flowers

 3. Covering cake with fondant/ making fondant decor

How do you all decorators price this stuff?  Any help !!!

Thank you.

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craftybanana Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 12:13am
post #4 of 16

I really wish I knew. like I said before, I have no idea how people price their hourly wage, just what I've read on other posts. I mostly just do cookies (and never take pictures before they get eaten, lols). I'm hoping one of the more experienced members will chime in and let us both know :detective:

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MBalaska Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 12:38am
post #5 of 16

Quote:

Originally Posted by craftybanana 
 

Floor: minimum wage

Ceiling: what ceiling?

 

Love that positive attitude.

 

Some people work faster, smarter, and better than others.  Certainly there's a mathematical formula for calculating your 'wages per hour', so start by accurately logging every minute you spend on each project......................

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Couture Gourmet Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 1:30am
post #6 of 16

ADoes anyone know a real good recipe for salted caramel cupcakes?

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enga Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 1:37am
post #7 of 16

It would depend on your cash flow I guess. For me, it was whatever was left, lolz. These old thread might give you some insight.

 

http://cakecentral.com/t/62311/how-much-do-you-pay-yourself-per-hour-b-b/15

http://cakecentral.com/t/31096/how-do-you-know-when-you-can-start-paying-yourself

 

I saw this online, thought it was a humorous approach to the question.

 

http://www.contractortalk.com/f16/self-employed-guys-how-do-you-pay-yourself-107434/

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howsweet Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 1:45am
post #8 of 16

AA practical way to do it is act like you're actually going to act like a real business. Set your wage to be approximately what you'd pay an employee. And then see what's left over in profit. If you pay yourself a wage of $12 per hour and there's nothing leftover, then you could say you made no profit.

Think about it, if the owner of a restaurant has no money left over after all the bills and employees are paid, why bother? It would be easier to go get a job as a cake decorator than run a restaurant for $12 an hour.

The same applies to all of us. If there's no profit leftover after we've paid ourselves, then it would be much easier to get a job as a cake decorator. Working as an employee is much less taxing. Why take on the responsibilities of have being a business owner when you can have fewer responsibilities for the same money?

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Natka81 Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 2:34am
post #9 of 16

Thank you all! Howsweet I got you. Now I understand. 

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Claire138 Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 5:32am
post #10 of 16

I'll just chime in and add my tuppence h'penny bit with; I also think that on some cakes you make more than you thought you would bc it didn't take as long as you calculated and in some you make less bc the opposite has occurred. All par for the course.

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craftybanana Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 4:40pm
post #11 of 16

Ah, that does put it into perspective, thanks as well! I hate picking numbers from a hat.

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Claire138 Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 4:55pm
post #12 of 16

You're welcome;-D

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MimiFix Posted 20 Apr 2014 , 5:52pm
post #13 of 16

As an FYI - pricing your products to include hourly wage, cost-of-goods, overhead, and profit, is important. But it's not the same thing as actually paying yourself by taking money from your business account and putting it into your pocket. To stay in business you must first pay your bills, then set some aside for the next few bills.  

 

After I got married, my uninitiated husband (who had always worked for someone) asked me how we got paid. I said, "We pay all the bills, set enough aside to cover a few months worth of bills, and then if there's anything left, it belongs to us."

 

Retail business owners will understand this immediately. Some home-based business owners, however, may not get this concept if they are supplementing their business with personal income.

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Natka81 Posted 21 Apr 2014 , 2:23am
post #14 of 16

Thank you, MimiFix for your post.

I am a home based business, I am in business for 4 years now.

I bake and sell to a store 8" crumb decorated cakes that do not require a lot of time spend decorating.

And I am making an ok hourly wage for that, after I subtract all expences.

 

But baking special occasion cakes is a big difference.

 

Also have been baking/decorating cakes for family/ friends.

 

But I am glad I have not advertised my business right now, because from all girls posts here I  realized that I still have a lot to learn  how to run business, before I go beyond baking/decorating for my family and friends.

 

And my goal to build my cakery business assuming that I am retail bakery, but do it from my home.

Thank you all!

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myfabcreations Posted 21 Apr 2014 , 3:36am
post #15 of 16

AHello everyone. I am new to page & also to baking. I kinda got started by do my kids class & family party treats. Now I'm getting orders. I did a 9 in ninja turtle fondant cake ( his face) & cupcakes for my godsons bday but how much should I charge if someone ask to make it for them?

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thecakewitch Posted 21 Apr 2014 , 3:55am
post #16 of 16

A

Original message sent by myfabcreations

Hello everyone. I am new to page & also to baking. I kinda got started by do my kids class & family party treats. Now I'm getting orders. I did a 9 in ninja turtle fondant cake ( his face) & cupcakes for my godsons bday but how much should I charge if someone ask to make it for them?

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