Concerned About All These Pricing Threads....
Decorating By Deb_ Updated 25 Jan 2010 , 6:28pm by Katiebelle74
Maybe if someone made outline on [how] to charge for a cake we could give them a link to the answer.
I agree with you somewhat. The crazy thing is that the answers really already here! Maybe they should be a sticky or something so they are easy to find. While it will make it easy to find, I think it is just as important for members to do their part. Instead of coming to CC asking how much to charge for a specific cake, perhaps, those interested should be more concerned with the the method on calculating their expenses and then, the costs of the cake. Once you learn that, you can apply that to ANY cake. However, it seems that some people just want to skip that step and come to CC asking for the price on the cake without taking the time to figure out any part of it. There are way too many variables involved for someone to just give an answer as to what they think another person should charge. However, I think it's much easier to agree on method/formula for calculating this. Learning the method also allows you to be more confident in explaining to the customer just how they came up with the price and actually sticking to your price!
That does actually exist as a sticky in the Business Forum here's a link to it.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-5711.html
There's another one also called "Alice's pricing matrix" right above this one.
If you notice the date it's been there since 2005 
Hallelujah!! Cakesweetiecake you hit the nail on the head directly.
When was the last time ANYONE seen a question asking "How do I figure cost"?
Mike
NEVER....probably because that would actually require some thought.
Maybe because we're older and we weren't raised in this technological age, but I notice my 2 kids, ages 20 and 21 are the same way.
They're so used to the internet giving them "instant gratification" that if they have to do a little research they flip out.
I remember going to the Library when I was educating myself before opening my hair salon....imagine that....the Library. 
The thread about how do hobby bakers afford the hobby. There are posts in there about making a cake that costs 40-50 bucks. Unless your buying ingredients from the King of Dubai no way is a cak going to cost that much. Were not talking elborate cakes here either.
Mike
When was the last time ANYONE seen a question asking "How do I figure cost"?
Mike
Well, That's easy enough. Call the grocery store and see what they would charge, then subtract four dollars and you have your price right there.
The thread about how do hobby bakers afford the hobby. There are posts in there about making a cake that costs 40-50 bucks. Unless your buying ingredients from the King of Dubai no way is a cake going to cost that much. Were not talking elaborate cakes here either.
Mike
When I first started doing cakes the receipts I pulled up shocked me. I was like wow all the extra things you need to make these design elements on the cakes cost a lot! The average person does not realize those costs. And it takes a while to buy things if you are on a budget. I was rolling our fondant with straight sided glass when I fists started... because I didn't see you needed a rolling pin-DOH! Things add up!
When you buy stuff like that it doesn't figure into the initial cost of the cake. That would be like rolling in the cost of the oven to bake it in. If it's a specialty item that you'll never use again sure roll into the cost, but things you would normally use, no.
Mike
Maybe if someone made outline on [how] to charge for a cake we could give them a link to the answer.
I agree with you somewhat. The crazy thing is that the answers really already here! Maybe they should be a sticky or something so they are easy to find. While it will make it easy to find, I think it is just as important for members to do their part. Instead of coming to CC asking how much to charge for a specific cake, perhaps, those interested should be more concerned with the the method on calculating their expenses and then, the costs of the cake. Once you learn that, you can apply that to ANY cake. However, it seems that some people just want to skip that step and come to CC asking for the price on the cake without taking the time to figure out any part of it. There are way too many variables involved for someone to just give an answer as to what they think another person should charge. However, I think it's much easier to agree on method/formula for calculating this. Learning the method also allows you to be more confident in explaining to the customer just how they came up with the price and actually sticking to your price!
That does actually exist as a sticky in the Business Forum here's a link to it.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-5711.html
There's another one also called "Alice's pricing matrix" right above this one.
If you notice the date it's been there since 2005
Oh, yeah! Sorry. I forgot about those threads. 
Mike for me everything is included in the cost to make the cake because I don't charge and I make them for family and friends.... so sometimes it costs me $60-$80 to make a cake if I need special cutters or things for it. I look for good eals but can't buy whlesale for boards and ribbons and ingreedients so they cost more. My hubby always says how much did that cake cost to make...? I say, "Less then your power tools that are sitting in the garage don't earn you a living sweetie,"
Mike for me everything is included in the cost to make the cake because I don't charge and I make them for family and friends.... so sometimes it costs me $60-$80 to make a cake if I need special cutters or things for it. I look for good eals but can't buy whlesale for boards and ribbons and ingreedients so they cost more. My hubby always says how much did that cake cost to make...? I say, "Less then your power tools that are sitting in the garage don't earn you a living sweetie,"
No your hobby cost you 45.00 the cake cost you 15.
Mike
The thread about how do hobby bakers afford the hobby. There are posts in there about making a cake that costs 40-50 bucks. Unless your buying ingredients from the King of Dubai no way is a cak going to cost that much. Were not talking elborate cakes here either.
Mike
Where i live (Asia) it can easily cost me 40 to 50 bucks to make a simple cake. I'm talking 9" or 10". For instance if I'm making chocolate cake, with ganache filling & frosting, I have to use imported chocolates because the quality & flavor of local chocolate isn't great. Since I haven't yet found a supplier for imported chocolates, I get mine from the few supermarkets that sell imported stuff. A 3oz bar of Lindt Excellence is about $6-7. If I'm making a 9" chocolate cake I use about 18 oz of chocolate, at a cost of a whopping $36-$42 for the chocolate alone.
Forget about baking from a mix being cheaper. Cake mix starts at $8 a box!
Expensive hobby indeed. Which is why I scrapped the idea of selling cakes here. Mine would cost a fortune even before profit.
Nope ingredients for cake and extra add ins, premium flavor oils, chocolate as mentioned above... making fondant from scratch... it adds up I have never spent less then $25.00 on just ingredients for a plain cake add in that chocolate and making ganache and it goes up more. It's a huge difference when you buy from wholesale or from the regular store for everything. And if you have to order on line for something not carried in a store nearby... I am paying for those shipping charges as well.
JanH it would be worth it if I made cakes more often, but I don't so I can't see spending on the membership since that would about equal what I would save- scratch that because I know those stores and you see stuff you never saw before and now need even though you never knew it existed before.. and now you're spending more money then originally...LOL
I buy that (same) chocolate because of it being dairy free. It is costly!!!! But yummy.
Ok not the same but costly Dagoba or Sunspire. $7.00 for 9oz. Plus shipping if they are out in the store and won't get any in before I need it.
Nope ingredients for cake and extra add ins, premium flavor oils, chocolate as mentioned above... making fondant from scratch... it adds up I have never spent less then $25.00 on just ingredients for a plain cake add in that chocolate and making ganache and it goes up more. It's a huge difference when you buy from wholesale or from the regular store for everything. And if you have to order on line for something not carried in a store nearby... I am paying for those shipping charges as well.
Maybe I'm not getting this. Not trying to be difficult how can you spend 25 on ingredients for a plain cake?
Mike
I really don't want to get all up in this mess but I do have something to say for repetitive threads! Searching for pictures on this site is really easy, but I find that searching for recipes and thread subjects can be difficult. More than once I have tried to search for a topic that I know has been discussed, but cannot find the thread titles. This site does not have the most user friendly search engine!
Also, I think that a lot of the people asking price questions are really new, and don't even realize you need a license to sell cakes in most states. They mostly just need some direction on calculating time and cost and a little help.
I really don't want to get all up in this mess but I do have something to say for repetitive threads! Searching for pictures on this site is really easy, but I find that searching for recipes and thread subjects can be difficult. More than once I have tried to search for a topic that I know has been discussed, but cannot find the thread titles. This site does not have the most user friendly search engine!
Also, I think that a lot of the people asking price questions are really new, and don't even realize you need a license to sell cakes in most states. They mostly just need some direction on calculating time and cost and a little help.
Don't bother with the search function on this site, it will drive you batty. Instead, go to Google, type in what you think is as close to the topic of the thread you are looking for, and put Cake Central at the end of what you type in. That will help, I promise!
Maybe if someone made outline on [how] to charge for a cake we could give them a link to the answer.
I actually wrote this article so I could stop repeating myself so often, but now it is my top page for search engine hits:
http://tinyurl.com/lanq45
I really don't want to get all up in this mess but I do have something to say for repetitive threads! Searching for pictures on this site is really easy, but I find that searching for recipes and thread subjects can be difficult. More than once I have tried to search for a topic that I know has been discussed, but cannot find the thread titles. This site does not have the most user friendly search engine!
Also, I think that a lot of the people asking price questions are really new, and don't even realize you need a license to sell cakes in most states. They mostly just need some direction on calculating time and cost and a little help.
Don't bother with the search function on this site, it will drive you batty. Instead, go to Google, type in what you think is as close to the topic of the thread you are looking for, and put Cake Central at the end of what you type in. That will help, I promise!
a ha!
Oh gosh... the search function on this site is horrible... I will agree with you there. You end up with the most bizzare threads sometimes. 
I don't think anyone here would not give some help and guidance if asked. I think this thread was started to do just that... to get the wheels turning on what it takes to think about pricing.
I never knew about the advanced google search until Jamie posted about it. (thanks Jamie!) I can see how easily a newbie would get frustrated trying to get information from the search button on here, I have been on here for years and rarely does it ever work for me.
Maybe if someone made outline on [how] to charge for a cake we could give them a link to the answer.
I agree with you somewhat. The crazy thing is that the answers really already here! Maybe they should be a sticky or something so they are easy to find. While it will make it easy to find, I think it is just as important for members to do their part. Instead of coming to CC asking how much to charge for a specific cake, perhaps, those interested should be more concerned with the the method on calculating their expenses and then, the costs of the cake. Once you learn that, you can apply that to ANY cake. However, it seems that some people just want to skip that step and come to CC asking for the price on the cake without taking the time to figure out any part of it. There are way too many variables involved for someone to just give an answer as to what they think another person should charge. However, I think it's much easier to agree on method/formula for calculating this. Learning the method also allows you to be more confident in explaining to the customer just how they came up with the price and actually sticking to your price!
Well said! This is exasctly what started this thread. People skipping ALL of their own research and asking "How much for this cake" or "I booked a cake, how much should I charge". There are a lot of variables to this question.
I just noticed back a few thousand pages...."what be $2 here in the sticks would be $8 in New York."
Well, this is where I do not go along with opinions like this.
If I were to buy such things, I know dang good and well the new Prada purse in Barneys New York is going to be very close to whatever Macy's in ruraltown USA is selling for. And there is a Macy's within 100 miles of anyone, or similar store (Nordtstroms, whatever)
People can either get a properly priced cake, or they can get Walmart. It's pretty simple.
...supplies x2 or what .
I am making 150 cookies this week. It will cost me about $15 (including gas, electric, boxes, etc.) Should I charge $30? I never understood that logic.
...supplies x2 or what .
I am making 150 cookies this week. It will cost me about $15 (including gas, electric, boxes, etc.) Should I charge $30? I never understood that logic.
Oh hell no. 
Maybe I'm not getting this. Not trying to be difficult how can you spend 25 on ingredients for a plain cake?
Define "Plain Cake". For me, to do a 9x13 filled chocolate cake iced and filled in buttercream, assuming I have the cocoa powder already on hand for the cake, I get my stuff on sale, and the only doctoring I do is just adding an extra box of pudding and a tablespoon of vanilla extract to it....
2 boxes DH mix = $2.20 total
2 boxes instant pudding mix = $1.45 total
2 1lb boxes powdered sugar = $3 total
1 doz eggs = $2.20
1 pint whole milk = $1.69
1 box Dream Whip = $4.99
1 box butter = $2.50
before tax, I'm already at $18.03. I usually do a lot more doctoring to my cakes and add fillings, so it can easily get to $25. I spent over $100 on ingrienient supplies for a wedding cake I did for a friend last month.
(for the record, eggs and whole milk are not staples in my house so I have to buy them every time.)
So yeah, for a hobbyist who only makes one cake a month on average, it can get pretty expensive to make a cake!
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