How Do I Price...

Decorating By KelMel Updated 9 Sep 2009 , 2:33pm by kelleym

KelMel Posted 9 Sep 2009 , 4:00am

Hey everyone,

I am very very new at this. I have only done 4 cakes total and 1 of those I did by myself. Well some people who have seen what I've done have requested cakes... 1 for a birthday party, 1 for a baby shower, and tonight a girl I went to college with asked for 3 cakes!!!

I was wondering how you all priced your cakes. I hate that question when people ask because I'm such a people pleaser I wish I could just make it for them for free but I know that'll just put me and my husband in a hole. Any advice is apprechiated!!!!
Thanks so much!

5 replies

ApplegumKitchen Posted 9 Sep 2009 , 6:27am

post #2 of 6

You write all the numbers that fall between 1 and 1,000 on little slips of paper and put them into a box. Every time you make a cake you draw a number out of the box - whatever comes out is what you charge

Seriously, you do KNOW what you have to do - you have to cover your costs and make a profit that YOU are happy with.

If you are still having trouble - try reading some of the 5,691 posts that come up under a SEARCH for 'pricing'

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-fsearch-results.html

CakeWhizz Posted 9 Sep 2009 , 7:19am

post #3 of 6

Quote:

Originally Posted by KelMel

Hey everyone,

I am very very new at this. I have only done 4 cakes total and 1 of those I did by myself. Well some people who have seen what I've done have requested cakes... 1 for a birthday party, 1 for a baby shower, and tonight a girl I went to college with asked for 3 cakes!!!

I was wondering how you all priced your cakes. I hate that question when people ask because I'm such a people pleaser I wish I could just make it for them for free but I know that'll just put me and my husband in a hole. Any advice is apprechiated!!!!
Thanks so much!

This post reminds me of myself a year or so ago! My advice is to do the following
1. find out what other bakeries in your area charge
2. find out what other people who do similar work to you charge
3. work out what your costs (materials plus LABOUR and delivery) are, factor in a good profit and charge a suitable price.

Please do not be shy about charging people what your work is worth. Real friends and family members who really love and support you will not try to stiff you or take advantage. You might be taking the risk of people going elsewhere but you need to establish some ground rules right at the beginning if you want to run this as a business.