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mndy204
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 31, 2008
Posts: 40
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Birthday: Sep 16
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 Posted:
Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:03 am |
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Hi all. I am relatively new to this site and have been lurking a while, commenting on photos, etc. My question is this, I have just gotten my first paying job, YAY!! I need to make 70 football themed cupcakes to take to my sister's work for football day. They want me to charge for all of my supplies and add enough in to make a profit. I'm totally lost on what to charge to make a profit. I'm pretty new to all of this, but I think that the football cupcakes can be without a lot of stress.
What would you all charge for a beginner just wanting some experience?
Also does anyone have any tips on whether or not I should do homemade cupcakes or box?
Thank you all so much!! |
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babybundt
Regular Member
Joined: May 23, 2007
Posts: 150
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:10 am |
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i use a box mix for my cupcakes and get lots of compliments on them.so i think a box mix would work fine. a lot of folks add up the cost to make the cupcakes and then multiply that by 3 to get the price to charge. i hope that helps............. |
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step0nmi
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Oct 02, 2006
Posts: 2887
Location: WI
Birthday: Feb 02
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:20 am |
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| babybundt wrote: | | i use a box mix for my cupcakes and get lots of compliments on them.so i think a box mix would work fine. a lot of folks add up the cost to make the cupcakes and then multiply that by 3 to get the price to charge. i hope that helps............. |
totally agree! don't forget that you can start making them a day in advance! you can just put them in a container so they don't dry out.  and I think that a $1 a cupcake for a beginner is a good starting price. I think that would make a profit for you!  Good luck! |
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melvin01
Frequent Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 271
Location: Austin, TX
Birthday: Jun 05
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:37 am |
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I just made 170 mini cupcakes and baked them two days before they were due, frosted half the same night, finished frosting the other half the night before. That is usually how I do it, bake 2 days in advance and, depending on amount and how detailed the decoration, do that the night before. I also cover them in saran wrap once the unfrosted cupcakes are cooled if I leave them out or put them in the fridge (I find that either refrigerated or left out are fine for a day or so as long as there is no one else you need to worry about doing "quality control" on them.)
Also making your own frosting helps make them taste more "home made" as opposed to the junk they sell in the grocery store (uck!).
Do you know what design you are using to decorate them? A grass tip is very handy with any kind of sports ideas and a chocolate mold of a football would be fun to use with that.
Congrats on the paying gig!! |
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melvin01
Frequent Member
Joined: May 03, 2007
Posts: 271
Location: Austin, TX
Birthday: Jun 05
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:41 am |
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I just made 170 mini cupcakes and baked them two days before they were due, frosted half the same night, finished frosting the other half the night before. That is usually how I do it, bake 2 days in advance and, depending on amount and how detailed the decoration, do that the night before. I also cover them in saran wrap once the unfrosted cupcakes are cooled if I leave them out or put them in the fridge (I find that either refrigerated or left out are fine for a day or so as long as there is no one else you need to worry about doing "quality control" on them.)
Also making your own frosting helps make them taste more "home made" as opposed to the junk they sell in the grocery store (uck!).
Do you know what design you are using to decorate them? A grass tip is very handy with any kind of sports ideas and a chocolate mold of a football would be fun to use with that.
Congrats on the paying gig!! |
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yaadie
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 11, 2007
Posts: 66
Location: courtice, Ontario, canada
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:54 am |
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I think personally that $1 is too low, but that depends I guess on your location. I charge $2 -$2.50 per cupcake, (canadian)
and I am a beginner, and I never have anyone haggle over the price... |
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Michelle104
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Jan 18, 2007
Posts: 1597
Location: MO
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:15 am |
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I'm a beginner too and I chg $1.50 for just swirl of icing and maybe sugar or a few sprinkles but if there's more deco than that I chg $2. I haven't had anyone turn it down either! good luck and have fun!!!  |
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mndy204
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 31, 2008
Posts: 40
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Birthday: Sep 16
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:19 am |
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| Quote: | | Do you know what design you are using to decorate them? A grass tip is very handy with any kind of sports ideas and a chocolate mold of a football would be fun to use with that. |
I found some football themed cupcakes in the Wilton Cupcake Fun magazine so I'm going to do that. There's a helmet and there's also grass with a football and a goal post. So, it'll be 2 different kinds of cupcakes.
I'm thinking of making a recipe in the magazine for the cupcakes too and maybe doing 2 or 3 different kinds of cupcakes. They are all started from box mix so I figure that can't be too bad. I'm overly excited so I'm afraid I'm going to go over the top. 
Thank you so much for your help!!! I really appreciate it! |
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Meemawfish
Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 12, 2008
Posts: 629
Location: Thomson GA
Birthday: Jun 23
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:40 am |
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Good luck and I'm sure they will turn out great. Welcome to the wonderful world of Cuppies. |
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mndy204
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 31, 2008
Posts: 40
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Birthday: Sep 16
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:52 am |
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Thank you so much!! I'm really excited!! |
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jkalman
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 4239
Location: Southern New Hampshire
Birthday: Oct 28
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:53 am |
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Do what you want.. and make sure you tell them they got your "you're my very first customer discount"..  |
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mndy204
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 31, 2008
Posts: 40
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Birthday: Sep 16
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:57 am |
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| jkalman wrote: | | Do what you want.. and make sure you tell them they got your "you're my very first customer discount".. |
Good idea!!! Thank you!! |
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Michelle104
Forum Fanatic
Joined: Jan 18, 2007
Posts: 1597
Location: MO
Gallery Supporter Member
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:58 am |
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mndy204
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 31, 2008
Posts: 40
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Birthday: Sep 16
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:03 pm |
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| babybundt wrote: | | i use a box mix for my cupcakes and get lots of compliments on them.so i think a box mix would work fine. a lot of folks add up the cost to make the cupcakes and then multiply that by 3 to get the price to charge. i hope that helps............. |
I think I am going to make a box mix and just doctor it up a little or try a recipe out of a magazine I have, all of those recipes are from box mixes. I think that'll be much less stressful. Thank you very much for your help. |
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jkalman
Forum SuperStar!
Joined: Mar 12, 2007
Posts: 4239
Location: Southern New Hampshire
Birthday: Oct 28
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Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:07 pm |
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Thanks!! See that way they won't expect the super saver discounted price all the time.. and you can go over the top. Because we all remember those first orders.. the ones where you just wanted to try everything.. and you felt nervous about pricing.. .
I wouldn't go under $1.50/cuppie though.. I charge $4.50 each for custom decorated cupcakes.. make sure you make yoruself some money. Remember ALL of the steps in making them when factoring in you level of work.. not just the decorating, but the shopping, the cooking, the cleaning.. everything. |
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