I have a cake due in like 6 days and they just ordered it tonight...they wanted some orchids on their cake and I'm wondering how much should I charge for each one...because I have to rush make them....

i would charge at least $6 a piece for them. They take awhile to make and you don't have alot of time to make them in.

cost of ingredients plus hourly rate-times-hours-to-make plus upcharge for overhead and profit.

Example: $4 materials plus 3 hours x $10 = $34 plus $15 margin = $49 for 6 gumpaste flowers = $8.25 each flower.

thanks for your replies!

Indydebi: I love your blog...I was thinking about doing it one price too, so no little charges on the side, so if I charge $3.50 per serving like you, will the flowers be included in the charge? I personally hate math...dont want to add extra for flowers then more for decorations...so and so

I always told brides that some things merit an add'l charge, and I used gumpaste flowers as the example. I told them, "If it costs me extra, then you're going to pay extra for it." And they ALWAYS understood that.

But I cant see how adding a ribbon or scrolls-n-dots costs the bakery that much extra. It's minimal so just cover it in your price. One place's base price of $2.00/serving + charing for every little thing can end up costing more than my flat-priced $3.50/serving.

The reaction I got from brides was awesome. The look on their face was priceless when they found out "you mean I can have ANY flavor cake and ANY decoration and it won't cost extra???"

And I became their hero.

i want to be convinent with the customers AND myself...so I should charge more if it's more work and cost for me right? Thanks!!! everyone on CC is so helpful!!

Diane Simmons ( cake decorator in Michigan and cake person extroidinare) charges (and this was 4 yrs ago) 5.00 per flower. Now prices have gone up in that time so yes I would charge at least 7.00 plus a rush charge.
Who orders like that at the last minute....crazy people!

I get angry at that...but they JUST found out about me...so thats why its all last minute...

I would charge $10 per flower. Some bakeries charge $ 50 for 3 magnolias.

I think it's very important to know what the flower costs if one was to buy it fresh, then look at your time involved and decide how much per hour you want to be paid. For instance, a fresh calla runs 8-10.00 in fresh but I can whip one up in about a minute. I don't under charge because of what they cost fresh.

Jen