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lovetofrost
Frequent Member
Joined: Sep 21, 2007
Posts: 302
Location: Georgia
Gallery Supporter Member
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 Posted:
Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:42 am |
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I need some advice. I am making a cake for my very first customer which happens to be my SIL. I am still debating on my price list for my business. So when I added up the total cost for this cake I'm doing for her I was a little sticker shocked. Am I charging too much or is it just me? I was planning on giving her a 40% discount for being family (DH suggestion). When I do the math it all adds up to $108.00. With the discount it is $65.00. This is for her daughters 1st birthday. She wants it exactly like the pic, but maybe different colors and less cupcakes (apx. 24) I just want to know if everybody else has prices like that or is it just me. This is the link for my inspriation. Thanks socake. http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_68469.html |
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beccakelly
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Jan 12, 2007
Posts: 1234
Location: Cincinnati Ohio
Birthday: Nov 13
Gallery Supporter Member
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:48 am |
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i think what you should ask yourself is: after its over will you feel ripped off if you sell it for only $65.00? i would.
i would easily charge $72 just for the 24 cupcakes (those fondant lady bug heads and flowers are going to be a pain to do).
family members usually make terrible customers. i cater to people who want to spend hundreds of dollars on cake for their events. my family is not in that group, nor am i! i think most of our family/co workers aren't either. so, either charge her what you deserve, or offer it at cost as a gift because they're family. if you try to meet in the middle, you'll get frustrated because you are getting so underpaid and your family will probably still think your over priced. |
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goal4me
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 20, 2006
Posts: 442
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:53 am |
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minie
Junior Member
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Joined: Aug 30, 2006
Posts: 94
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 7:57 am |
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I'm with Beccakelly.
Do it for cost or full price not in the middle.
She will feel like she paid you good money and you will feel like you gave it away.... |
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mom42ws
Frequent Member
Joined: Apr 25, 2007
Posts: 460
Birthday: Mar 16
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:05 am |
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For me, I offer 20% off for family and 10% for friends. I had to do this becuase I had a friend always wanting a lot of cake for nothing. But, you can't just give cakes away to family and friends because initially they are going to be your main customer base. Well, at least that's how it's been for me.
I do agree, either do it as a gift or charge more. Good luck! |
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summernoelle
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Mar 08, 2007
Posts: 1432
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:07 am |
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Wow. She is getting a deal! That is a lot of work.... |
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woodthi32
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 15, 2007
Posts: 532
Location: Oneida, NY
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:17 am |
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$65 is a STEAL. 40% is a huge discount. Will that cover your supplies? |
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woodthi32
Forum Addict
Joined: Sep 15, 2007
Posts: 532
Location: Oneida, NY
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:18 am |
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$65 is a STEAL. 40% is a huge discount. Will that cover your supplies? |
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Auryn
Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 08, 2007
Posts: 610
Location: south FL
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:19 am |
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break it down to how much you would be making per hr after covering the costs
is it worth it to you??
that cake looks like a lot of work
and remind your husband that your not free labor- id be upset if he told me to give such a steep discount
im with everyone else
either do it as a gift or charge her full price- maybe a 10 to 15% disocunt |
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ccr03
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Sep 16, 2005
Posts: 1476
Location: Independence, MO
Birthday: Jan 31
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:24 am |
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beccakelly brings up a good point. You need to figure out what you want your target market is. For me it's people who wants a good, creative, pretty cake for a reasonable price - a market I would be a part of.
So, being that this is my philosophy towards cakes, I would charge $2 a cupcake for the fondant (2x24=4 and that cake looks like a 10" so that would be 30x$2=60 for a grand total of $108. I however would give a 40% discount. The most I give for family is 20% - so that would be $86.4, and I round up so $85.
HTH |
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mommycakediva
Regular Member
Joined: Sep 17, 2007
Posts: 135
Location: Manitoba
Birthday: Mar 02
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:25 am |
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Ya family is hard to do cakes for, my one sister never wants to pay more than $20, the other wants to pay full price no matter what she says the cakes are so worth it. Its nice she says that, and she sees how much work a detailed cake can be! |
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terri76
Regular Member
Joined: Jan 14, 2008
Posts: 149
Location: Mississippi
Birthday: Sep 14
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:27 am |
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I would definately charge more. This is so cute, but lots of details and alot of your time taken to get it just right. I'm the same way you are, I feel like I'm over charging all the time and I'm always wanting to take some off the price for people I know. My husband keeps me grounded because he knows how much time I spend on a cake b/c I'm so anal and want it perfect.
So...charge what you feel is right but don't cut yourself short. If people (non cake people,family & friends) knew how much time and effort go into a cake especially one like this, they wouldn't expect anything less than regular paying customers.
Good Luck! |
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pastryjen
Forum Addict
Joined: Mar 30, 2007
Posts: 889
Location: Ontario, Canada
Birthday: Dec 20
Gallery Supporter Member
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:28 am |
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I'd do it for cost of the ingredients, the labour?...a gift.
Make sure to mention that the materials will cost X and then the x amount of hour will be my gift so that she gets the idea that cakes are not cheap. |
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Shyanne_Mommy
Frequent Member
Joined: Aug 08, 2006
Posts: 213
Location: Bartlett, TN
Birthday: Oct 23
Gallery Supporter Member
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:41 am |
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You know I have started to learn weather friends or family if they are will to pay...then have them pay for what they requested....I would only give a 10 to 15% discount....Your time is worth money too.....and considering you will be making that cake you posted....I would charge almost full, price and if you are second guessing take the picture to a bakery and see how much they would charge, and then compair your price to theirs and if SIL has a problem tell her what another baker is willing to charge. HTH
Autumn |
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mezzaluna
Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 29, 2005
Posts: 624
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Mon Apr 07, 2008 8:46 am |
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Cute cake.
I'd kick my DH in the 'nads if he ever suggested such a hefty discount.
65$ is way low... look at all those futzy details on those cuppies!! If you really feel compelled to give such an enormous discount, write out an invoice for what you would really charge and then have a line where is says 40% discount... so she knows how much the cake was really worth. |
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