The cake took me a total 20 hours combined. I have two kids so it was a lot of stop and start. I'm just trying to get an idea.
I would charge $5 per serving and $55 more or less for the three large art pieces -- please don't take the rest of this post the wrong way -- I am just making an observation from nearly fifty years of professional baking experience as well as working from home -- including the secret to success --
see that's the real issue -- although I know you were just flexing your baking muscles with this one -- and getting some information -- and it's cute for sure -- if it took you 20 hours that's half a work week -- if it took ten that's a quarter of a work week -- so you would need to charge way way more than anyone would be willing to pay to begin to make it worth your while -- that cake would take a pro a few hours from the flour and eggs stage to being placed in the box -- you need to be able to pop out several of those on a friday and saturday plus a few one tier cakes, sheets & rounds to make it worth your while --
the typical home baker is just a few cakes from burn out by attempting to go into sales with only a few cute cakes under their belt -- speed is the critical factor for success and that comes from working long and hard at this -- usually on the clock somewhere -- but with entire states full of entrepreneurial people out there who don't understand this the market remains so saturated baking is not really viable in my opinion -- unless you do gluten free or sugar free -- you need a niche nobody else has --
best to you
The below is exactly why I just laugh when people say I should open my own business. To be able to make a living off of cake decorating I feel like I would lose all the enjoyment I get from it. I take a long time on my cakes because 1) I am still a novice and 2) it is just a hobby. For me to actually make a decent profit off of my cakes I would have to charge an obscene amount that people would think I was crazy. Or get super quick really fast. I currently charge $4.50/serving for my cakes and if one only looked at ingredient costs then I make a good profit. But if I were to factor in an hourly wage for myself I would be crazy in the hole.
Quote by @-K8memphis on 45 minutes ago
see that's the real issue -- although I know you were just flexing your baking muscles with this one -- and getting some information -- and it's cute for sure -- if it took you 20 hours that's half a work week -- if it took ten that's a quarter of a work week -- so you would need to charge way way more than anyone would be willing to pay to begin to make it worth your while -- that cake would take a pro a few hours from the flour and eggs stage to being placed in the box -- you need to be able to pop out several of those on a friday and saturday plus a few one tier cakes, sheets & rounds to make it worth your while --
As I mentioned I only do this as a hobby. Just recently people started asking me to make them their cakes for different events. I'm not really concerned about how long it took me at the moment simply because I'm just starting. Obviously I'm not gonna be fast at it. I'm no professional. With time I'll be faster at it. It's kinda like typing. Not everyone types super fast when they're first learning. Practice makes perfect. And as far as flexing my skills. In Noway was that what I was trying to do. I have done other cakes too, this is the only one that was requested and not for my kids.
thank you, freckles -- and SO MANY people want to push the cake maker into making a business out of it -- a good cake does not a business make -- it's a very strange phenomena that people say that ALL the time -- "you should start a business" -- no, actually you probably should not -- on one hand it's a nice compliment on the other it's pure ignorance on their part ...until the next time they see a cute cake, "blablabla" -- weird!
I am in full agreement with you Freckles0829 and -K8memphis! I do cake decorating and sugar art for fun and there is nothing fun about dealing with the public and trying to fulfil someone else's vision, at least for me. I piddle when I am decorating - back one day, make frosting and fondant another, make decorations in advance, etc. No stress allowed! This is my hobby and my entertainment and I have no desire for it to be otherwise. As I've told many a person, I would rather cut tobacco and take up hay than to be a professional cake decorator. It is a whole lot easier! Cake baking and decorating is HARD work! Then there are deliveries!!!
As I mentioned I only do this as a hobby. Just recently people started asking me to make them their cakes for different events. I'm not really concerned about how long it took me at the moment simply because I'm just starting. Obviously I'm not gonna be fast at it. I'm no professional. With time I'll be faster at it. It's kinda like typing. Not everyone types super fast when they're first learning. Practice makes perfect. And as far as flexing my skills. In Noway was that what I was trying to do. I have done other cakes too, this is the only one that was requested and not for my kids.
I have absolutely no intent on going full into a business.
Not yet anyway. Obviously I know my own limits and what I can and cannot do.
yes sort of like learning to be proficient in typing including authoring the manuscript, compiling the book, publishing, printing, marketing, delivering and selling it 
accounts payable, receivable and customer service, etc
Your replies are extremely condescending. Never once did I say I was opening this huge business. I legit said that I was NEW TO SELLING THEM. Getting an opinion on how much i should sell such for. No need to get offended that just started making cakes and did an okay job in my opinion. Honestly, that's kinda how it feels, like you're mad I made it. I also not once said that anyone said I should open up shop. Lol just that people really liked my cakes and wanted to buy them.
I have no idea what you're talking about now -- please stop
You can stop at anytime,you're on my forum.. You're the one saying thanks anyways? For what though? I'm saying no, thank you!! For showing me how people can be so rude! Your comeback "yes sort of like learning to be proficient in typing including authoring the manuscript, compiling the book, publishing, printing, marketing, delivering and selling it 
accounts payable, receivable and customer service, etc " was unwarranted in response to what I said. you're coming off extremely patronizing. All I asked for was what I should sell a cake for? I didnt ask why i shouldn't sell my cake, i didnt ask why i should or should not go into business. And i most definitely wasnt "flexing" my skill. You're entire response sounded condescending not helpful. Like you were really mad at the fact that I was able to accomplish what I did being a beginner and you've been at it 40 years. You claim to want to help people succeed in their endeavors, but honestly seems to me like you want to tear down those who do great on their first try.
Cedescakes, you are way out of line. No one has condensended to you in any way. We, poor stupid us, thought we were giving you honest answers. I can see not one word at which you should have taken offense.
Clearly were reading in different context. I dont know what flexing to yall means but to me its showing off. And not in a good way. So telling me I'm just flexing my skills with this one is very condescending towards me.
When I said I'm just starting out and itll take me time to figure how to do this in a faster manner and comparing myself to learning to type. Her response wasnt necessary.
Yall took my post as I'm starting a business. Not one time did I say that I was, yet you decided to tell me how I shouldn't because I'm slower and lack the skills to get them out fast enough. I NEVER SAID I WAS OPENING SHOP. I seriously asked a question on what I should price a cake at and everyone took it that I wanted to start a full on bakery. If anyone is out of line its everyone telling me I'm not good enough to have a business.
It's not just friends and family that have said it, I have had legit bakers who own companies tell me I should start doing it. I never realized that post a picture of something I made and asking one question opened the door for people to assume something entirely different from what I asked.
Quote by @SandraSmiley on 36 minutes ago
Cedescakes, you are way out of line. No one has condensended to you in any way. We, poor stupid us, thought we were giving you honest answers. I can see not one word at which you should have taken offense.
Yeah, you definitely took things 100% the wrong way. I believe when K8memphis said "flexing your baking muscles" she just meant that you were trying new and possibly more difficult decorating techniques/advancing your abilities (kind of like training for a marathon) not that you were trying to show off. It is great that you and others think you did an amazing job on your cake because it is a really well done cake and you should be proud of it. I have made cakes where when I was done I gave myself a few pats on the back. I am sure everyone on here has. Absolutely nothing wrong with being proud of your work because you should be.
I really don't understand where you took offense. In your threads people noted how much they charge. I myself said that I charge $4.50/serving and noted that I am a hobby baker as well and do not factor in my time in my price. But you need to determine your own price because only you know how much it cost ingredient/supplies wise to make your cakes. And only you really know your area and how much cakes go for. Pricing is one of those things where everyone can tell you what they sell at but in the end it is your costs and area that determine your selling point.
Many times other conversations can occur within a thread. So people giving their opinions as to why they don't want to open a business is just us conversing with each other and is in no way bashing you or cake. Just some side conversation/opinions. Also realize that this is a public forum and anyone can post on it. It doesn't really go over well to tell people how to post. Just like with all types of social media if you don't like something just keep scrolling. No point in getting into a shouting match. Remember we are talking about cakes not world peace.
"Just starting out" is the name of the thread. By the skill of the cake, we can assume that (starting out) did not refer to the cake decorating (nice cake, BTW). And following with a pricing question, leads us all to believe that you are just starting out to SELL CAKES.
No insults were thrown, just good experienced advice. No one wants to stop any one from dreaming, planning and going for it. But then again, I read here about a person who needed the $$$$, and talked about opening a shop. Needing to support young kids. Not impossible, but certainly VERY improbable. A business, is not about the cake...it is about turning a profit.
When you post about "just starting out" + pricing question = business . That simple...you charge $1, you are a taxable, liability incurring business. That "just starting out" leap can be a big jump. Everyone here just chimed in to be sure you had a parachute. Sheesh! Say thank you....
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