how much should I charge for just decorating a rum cake (already baked by the client). She wants a Tiffany's box. It's the first request I get and I really don't know.

Well...how big is the cake, will you cover it in fondant? How much time are you putting in? That will better help determine how much you should charge.

I would'nt do it, what if the cake tastes horrible or does'nt hold up to your decorations and you get the blame for the cake?

The only way I would do it is...
1. If I knew for certain the cake tasted awesome.
2. If I knew it would stand up to decorating.
3. If I could be the one to bake it.

And even afer that I would still charge my per serving rate.

That is to me like quilting a top pieced by someone else. Not gonna happen!

No way in &*#$)$% would I do that.

There are many legal aspects to doing something like that.
What if the guests get sick? Most likely they will come back on YOU.....not the baker or will not believe you didn't bake it.

When I first started my business four years, I decorated other people's cakes a few times. The bride's mom or grandmother wanted to make the wedding cake - you know the story! Every single time, it proved to be a nightmare that ended up taking more time than if I made it myself. The cakes were not the right size (even though I gave them specific sizes), they weren't high enough and so on. Plus, some of them looked dry or unappetizing!! I was embarassed to have my name attached to it! I had to build them up with styrofoam bases or carve them down so I just won't do it anymore.

Having said that, pricewise I took $100 off the price that I would have charged them if I made the cake. That $100 took care of the cake ingredients and the baking labour. (For example, basic three tier cake $350 - $100 = $250 for decorating only).

One word of advice......make sure they absolutely understand the size and height requirements they need to bake in order for you to get the finished look they want. They will most likely get it wrong, but at least you will be covered. It will also help if you give them the specifics in email or written form just so you will have it on record.

Good Luck!!!

I had a friend who asked me to decorate a cake that she would bake for a baby shower. I nicely told her that I can only do projects that I make from beginning to end.

I think my friend thought that she'd be saving me some work if she did the baking. I didn't want my cakes associated with a taste/texture/whatever that I had no control over.

That's what I'm thinking too. I don't want to be responsable for a bad taste cake.

Thanks everyone to confirm my taught

No way! That is like having someone else season your soup...The old story when everyone added "just a little salt..." I wouldn't want my name and reputation linked to an unknown entity.

Ugh. No way. Ever.