So I've just been asked to provide petit fours for 600 people and I have no idea how much to charge. I normally charge by the cake size and not the number of servings. I normally charge about $60 for approx. 9x14" cake which I would say would serve 24. and the cost to me for making it including fondant etc. would be about $20-25.
I will use my same recipes for the petit fours. Does 600 people mean 600 petit fours or is there a number per person generally used and how much is a reasonable charge?
Thanks!!!!
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seriously, mega bucks! i dont know the number needed, i would do 600 on the basis on 1 for each guest, maybe someone else will chip in with more experienced advice.
they take so much time. if you are baking at home, will you have the space (counter, fridge, freezer - depending on your process) for that many cakes?
have you done petit fours before? if so, im sure u will know the issues.
it takes a lot of time just to assamble the cakes, even before you start trying to ice them. then you have to think about the decor - 600 gumpaste shapes? lots of time and money there! even for a simple squiggle, you will need the space to have the cakes set out on the counter.
dont be afraid to price high! if its 2am in the morning and you are still going, even $10s a piece wont seem like enough.
just price like your normal cakes - ie: work out the ingredients, the extras (gas, power, kitchen roll, toothpicks etc), then a price for your time - which is where the big numbers will come in, and it will take more time than your regular cake.
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As my daughter likes to say, "Oh my lanta!" Have you ever done petit fours before? If not, I'd try my hand at some before I even price them. They are difficult! Just like the previous poster so rightly put it-- at 2 am-- even $10 each won't seem like enough. Maybe we need a tutorial on these. Some people make them look like--- "a piece of cake"! 
http://bakerella.blogspot.com/search?q=petit+fours
good info on how to do them, plus links to another tutorial. very helpful! and its worth looking on you tube too.
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Petit fours for 600 people?!?! Wow...your brave. I guess I would ask if it's the only dessert or part of a dessert buffet. Aks them how many they actually want.
Thanks ladies...The more I actually thought about it, the more I realized there would be no way I could do it...did I mention he wanted them for Saturday??? Like, next saturday?!?! I was hoping he didn't want them filled with jam, just plain cake iced and poured fondant but no such luck....
this is a guy that dh works with and he does catering on the side, he normally does them himself but decided that he doesn't want to anymore, I said, I'd be happy to help him out but not on my own with such short notice...I don't know how he was going to do it himself and work full time...maybe I'm gonna ask for a lesson!!!
I told him if he wanted mini cupcakes instead, I'd be happy to do that...easy enough, no filling, just an icing swirl...but the petit fours are a no go...DH was annoyed cause he knew it'd be a contract worth a lot of $$ but I told him my sanity is more important and I'm just not confident that I could turn out 600 of the quality that I would want, in such a short time...
Thanks for your help!
I think that's what I would have done too. Wow! Talk about short notice! I think you have a good idea about getting a lesson. I'd like that myself!
it takes a lot of time just to assamble the cakes, even before you start trying to ice them. then you have to think about the decor - 600 gumpaste shapes? lots of time and money there! even for a simple squiggle, you will need the space to have the cakes set out on the counter.
dont be afraid to price high! if its 2am in the morning and you are still going, even $10s a piece wont seem like enough.
Smaller foods do NOT have a smaller price. As I posted and explained in this blog entry, "Less is more ..... WORK!" http://cateritsimple.blogspot.com/search/label/appetizer
I'm a caterer and I have a commercial kitchen with oven and counter space that is more than most home kitchens .... and even *I* would seriously back off and think about taking on this project with just 6 days notice.
I made 5 dozen of these and it took me an entire afternoon .... and I started with a pre-baked frozen cake from GFS!!! 
If you do take this on, ask him how many he wans ... do not assume. And definitely tack on a rush fee/PITA fee.
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