So, I want to get started in selling cakes and just had a great opportunty to get my name out there. (I was volunteered to do cakes for my church's social!) So I did 4 sheet cakes 12*18, box mixes, buttercream icing and just basic designs. So how do you price things like that? I know my supplies were about 50. Baking and decorating (very skewed b/c I had my 7month old slowing me down and I was in the church's kitchen and didn't know where anything was and had to go searching the building for stuff!) took about 10 hours, maybe more. Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!
mommy1st Newbie
Joined: Dec 30, 2006
Posts: 5
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:35 am
I'm guessing your cakes were 1/2 sheets from the size given. Here they sell for 27.99 buttercream iced. That is just with no filling and simple decorations. If you start really decorating the cakes fancy (drawings, fondant work, ect.) you have to price accordingly for the time spent. good luck
vdrsolo Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 29, 2007
Posts: 795
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:47 am
$27.99????
It's not worth me turning on my oven for that. I charge a MINIMUM of $45 for a 12x18.
My 12x18 starts at $35. I live in a very rural area and no one has complained!! If you want to do this for a living you have to get your time out of the cakes. I under priced way to long and have decided if they want good cake with good design then they will be willing to pay more than the Walmart price! Just don't under price yourself, your time is worth money too!!!! Good luck.
confectioneista Frequent Member
Joined: Sep 10, 2007
Posts: 237
Location: Richmond, KY
Birthday: Dec 03
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:49 am
Have you tried using one of the cake matrix documents here on CC? There is one that was designed for professionals (Alice's cake matrix) and one that is for hobbiests (Home&hobby cake matrix). Either of those will help you with your pricing, etc. All of the work has been done for you so all you have to do is tweek it a little to account for the prices you're paying, etc. and that's it (instructions come with the matrixes). HTH!
indydebi Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Jul 07, 2006
Posts: 13699
Location: Indianapolis IN
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 6:49 am
A 12x18, when cut in standard 2x2x2 serving sizes, serves 54, so if you had 4 of these, you had cake for 200.
At my sheet cake price of $1.50/serving, that would be $300 worth of cake ($75 per sheet). I do BC only.
I don't compare my sheet pricing with grocery store pricing.
With the larger sheets like this, you have longer baking time, more cardboards are required to suppport the weight of the larger cake, they take up more space for delivery (and if you don't think space is money, then you just don't get it yet.... try delivering two 24x18's in a little Toyota hatchback vs having to have a cargo van or an SUV!), etc., so your basic overhead costs are higher to start with on these.
justme50 Frequent Member
Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 480
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:06 am
My standard half sheet is 12x16. For basic flavors and decorations (that means no filling, no fondant, no carving and no elaborate designs) I charge $35. But, those really are buttercream only and pretty plain jane cakes. I call them my Wal Mart cakes, only better. Yours are slightly larger, I'd probably go with $40 each.
With that style cake, I am competing with Wal Mart so if I want to sell them, I have to be competitive. My advice is to try and go higher end. Offer your customers what Wal Mart can't deliver and you can charge a whole lot more.
But, I do have customers who actually want the lower end style cake. I can make a profit at that price, they're super easy to do and so I make them when asked to.
diamondjacks Regular Member
Joined: Jun 21, 2007
Posts: 107
Location: Upstate, SC
Birthday: Jan 13
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:18 am
I just wanted to add this to my posting list I too am starting to find a retail location to get this stuff up and rolling !!! 40 - 75 sounds GREAT!
soccermom17 Frequent Member
Joined: Nov 04, 2006
Posts: 288
Location: New Hartford, Iowa
Birthday: Aug 02
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 7:28 am
My 12 x 18 is $45.00, that's with a border and greeting (happy birthday, etc) and maybe a couple of roses or simple vine with a few drop flowers. For the cakes that are scored and buds on top for weddings, $50.00 These are starting prices. If it's a premium cake flavor I add $5.00. If they want an elaborate design or character, I start at $10 depending on what the design is that they want. Hope this helps. 9 x 13 $25, 11 x 15 $35, 12 x 18 $45 starting prices.
My pricing for a general flavored 12x18 cake would be $1.25/serving x 54 servings = $67.50 per cake. Grand total for 4 cakes - $270.
If they wanted a specialty flavor for the cakes it is $1.50/serving x 54 servings = $81.00 per cake. Grand total for 4 cakes - $324.
That is without filling and just plain Jane decorations.
HTH!
rambem00 Newbie
Joined: Sep 01, 2007
Posts: 6
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 8:25 am
Wow, you guys are awesome!! Thanks for your input. I did find the matrix and need some more time to figure it all out. I did learn that I need more support for these size cakes. I got them iced all nice and smooth and when they were moved from the church building to outside, they got all crackled. ( I was not the one who moved them ) and I learned that someone stacked one cake box on top of another! I was extremely upset at that. no one could really tell but I could!
justme50 Frequent Member
Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 480
Posted:
Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:54 pm
Mine will crackle too if I don't use a heavy duty board or 2 cardboard sheets.
That's one of the reasons I always carry a supple of edible glitter flakes, it's amazing what that stuff will hide!
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Yours are slightly larger, I'd probably go with $40 each.
I too am starting to find a retail location to get this stuff up and rolling !!! 40 - 75 sounds GREAT!
