I am doing great starting my business. I do know that my prices are not the lowest in the area, but I feel that my quality (in comparison to the area, not to CC, ways away from the awesomeness on here LOL!) I have had two people in the last week tell me "well your cakes are great, but thats high...Was not expecting that, so and so charges $XXX for something similar" While I know to expect this, it does kinda hurt, and makes me worry that it happened twice in the past week I am really questioning now if I am too expensive for our small town. I specialize in cakes, cupcakes, and cookies. I do not own a store front, I am like one week away from opening a licensed home kitchen and am booked solid from Sept. to the end of Oct! In case any of you are wondering, my cookies start at about $1 per in, cupcakes at $1.50, BC only cakes $2 per serving, BC w/ fondant accents are $2.50 per serving, and all fondant are $3.50 per serving. Topsy turvy are $1 extra to what ever finish you choose, and carved cakes start at $100. Ugh, just makes me sick! I refuse to chase someone one down and say "Hey, I will do it for Jane Doe's price" but at the same time, I am fearing I should back down a bit! Thanks for the long vent, any feed back would be nice

No matter your price point you'll always get some negative feedback.

My prices are higher than yours and I've been in business almost 10 yrs and I still get those very comments.

It's ok. Not everyone will be your client but the worst thing you can do is give your work away for free.

Keep your chin up....it sounds like you're doing something right if you are completely booked up the next couple of months.

Good luck with your new business!

By the way, I forgot to tell you that your cakes are beautiful and are worth every single penny that you're charging and more.

Don't lower your prices.

Thank you cakestyles I guess this is the part about "growing some" I will still be working on!! HAHA

Your prices are fair. Your cakes are beautiful. They were just playing you to try to get a deal. Hang in there and congratulations on your upcoming opening and success.

We get the "too expensive" reaction at least 1-2 times a week. You'll get used to it. After a while it rolls of your shoulders and you stop worrying that you are charging too much, because you realize how much your time and talent is worth! If someone doesn't want to pay, just think, "They are not my customer. Next!" Keep on keepin' on, your cakes are fabulous!

Some helpful thoughts: Once you have a website up and running, you will get less and less of that.
Post prices and pricing policies CLEARLY on the website, under its own heading, and people will stop calling for pricing and you don't have to be the big meanie all the time.
When I had a less than helpful website, people were constantly doing that on the phone with me, to the point that I dreaded the ring. Now, I RARELY get that, in fact I can't remember the last time I had that happen to me, and I run #2 in my area for price per slice.
Its so nice when technology can do your "weeding" for you, isn't it?

You are getting feedback from the general public for a premium item. They also don't see the worth in a Mercedes. Your prices are low. You need to market to the right income group.

We all tend to ignore the ten positive things that you hear, and dwell on the one negative. If you're doing fine starting your business then don't put too much stock in those people who can't afford you. That's their issue, not yours. I get the "too expensive" reation too, but I know that there are businesses in my area who are more expensive than I am, and they're doing fine. So the customers who can't afford me can't afford them either, but that doesn't mean that we'll all be lowering our prices!