I was asked to do a red velvet cake I believe it's 6 inches is 30.00 too much to ask for if not what would be a good price. She's offering 40.00 but I'm not sure what to tell her?

I charge $30 for anniversary tiers, and that's a special lower rate for brides I've done cakes for. If she's offering $40 for a decorated cake, that seems fair. Just make sure that she knows what size a 6" cake is, a lot of times people don't realize how small it is.

Oh she knows I had done one for my daughter and she took it to work. I only covered it with cream cheese icing. I was going to charge less than 30.00 but I wasn't sure. Thanks

She's offering? Oh how nice of her. Not! Well, anyways, no you're not asking too much. Is this decorated at all?

No decoration she wants it plain just with the icing, but is there a way to decorated cream cheese icing? I know it sounds dumb

Ah, well....anything's possible I guess! I suppose I'd be glad to get an order I didn't have to do a single thing to, lol!

I've decided to make it an 8 inch only because she offered me more than what I asked for this time only do you think I am being too nice? Now I have to make a police shirt cake covered in fondant & it's for about 70 people and the pan is a 17.2 x 12.7 x 2.7 it's really for roasting but it's the perfect size for what they want. Only I have no idea what to charge.

You need to figure your prices out before you start making cakes for people.

If she is willing to give you 40 for the cake that you've made her before, consider that the beginning of your market research. If you only want to charge her 30, then do that, but I wouldn't make a bigger cake for her. If she says she wants a 6" round, then make a 6" round.

Ok, thank you for the advice I new to all this cake selling stuff

I agree. How can you be selling cakes if you have absolutely no sort of pricing structure at all?

Giving a customer a cake twice as big as the one she ordered for the same amount of money because you wanted to be nice...... well, ummmm..... No. Comment.

Ok I'll make her the 6 inch. It's the first time I sell a cake that is why I was asking but I thank you all for steering me in the right direction.

There are many of posts on here about pricing, how to figure pricing and so on. Before you start selling cakes I'd sit down and figure out what your price will be. You will have a better chance of sticking to it and being consisant with it if you have your numbers infront of you.

If a customer orders a certain size you give them that size. If she wants to pay for a 6in then she gets a 6in. If you make them a cake for 25 servings then they pay for 25 servings.

The only exception to this rule would be if they wanted a serving size that fits inbetween. As an example (sorry I don't know cake servings off the top of my head) they want 15 servings but you offer a cake that is 10 servings or 20 servings. If they go with the size that is 20 servings, they pay for 20 servings, not just the 15 they ordered.

I have to ask though, if she is offering your $40, why in the world do you think $30 is overpriced? Apparently she likes your cakes and thought $40 is a fair price.

First, you need Cake Boss ( the program not the TV show) for your pricing starting point, it will really help you decide where your base is and how much you are spending out of pocket ( ingredients, labor, disposable materials, overhead, driving to the store to get supplies). This is all factored in. $40 is a minimum for me, I won't turn my oven on for less!

You'll get there, this is a great place for advice, I didn't know where to start either until someone told me to compared my work to art, people are willing to pay for things they can't do themselves, be confident in your work and DO NOT feel bad.

Remember that everyone wants a deal, and people talk about your pricing. I am a teacher and did cakes for three women at school, I walked into the faculty room and caught them talking about what they paid, it wasn't bad but people will tell others prices just as much as they rave abotu your product!

Good Luck!