I'm just starting out and I'm having difficulty pricing my cakes. I've made three wedding cakes and have been told all three times that I don't charge nearly enough. So, I've decided to start increasing my prices. Do you think $400.00 is too much to ask for this cake, as is? The pan sizes would be 12", 10", 8", and 6", which would make the total servings about 135. Any help/opinions would be greatly appreciated!
No, I don't think it's too much. How do you figure your pricing, though? Do you have a structure? Ex: $xx amount per serving
Hi, your cake is beautiful. $400.00 is definetly not enough. It is fondant covered , right. If so, and the beautiful lace and bow,etc. I would charge at least $650-00, and that is not delivering it. Do you have filling, etc. I usually do. hth
cupcakesnbuttercream- I've never really used a set formula before, but I figured this one at about $3.00 per serving.
icer101- Yes, it is covered in fondant. And we haven't discussed flavors, yet. She just wanted a quick quote.
Thank you for your fast responses!
cupcakesnbuttercream- I've never really used a set formula before, but I figured this one at about $3.00 per serving.
icer101- Yes, it is covered in fondant. And we haven't discussed flavors, yet. She just wanted a quick quote.
Thank you for your fast responses!
I recommend coming up with a basic pricing guide. It'll make things a lot easier on you
you also need to price for your area... I think starting at $3 a serving is good for fondant covered in your area.
Thank you all for your input! I gave the bride the $400 quote and she happily accepted!
We missed one very important point. The cake you showed us is a photo. You said you're new to decorating. Can you make a cake that looks exactly like the one in the photo. If not then your price is perfect. If so then it's about $200 too low.
We missed one very important point. The cake you showed us is a photo. You said you're new to decorating. Can you make a cake that looks exactly like the one in the photo. If not then your price is perfect. If so then it's about $200 too low.
I looked at your photos - - I'd say you'll have no problem making the cake. But raise your price next time.
Have you bought the lace molds yet?
^^ I was thinking the same thing. Those molds are not cheap. But hey, they'll be an investment. OP if you can make a cake that looks exactly like that, they I think you've undercharged again.
Next time ask a bit more. If you really want to come up to the standard, get your feet wet. If you think $400 is a good price add another $100. If you don't you might get a customer who will think its too high and find yourself allowing them to talk you back down. Don't be afraid to ask for what its worth. You can always offer to make changes that will work for both you and the customer.
DeniseNH- I'm pretty confident in my ability to replicate the cake. When I said I'm "new" to decorating, I guess I really meant that I'm new to charging full price for my cakes. I've been decorating for about 3 years now and I've done tons of free cakes for friends and family and tons of cakes at "cost" for others. Every time I deliver a cake and ask for payment, people go on and on about how much undercharging because my work is great. I'm not trying to sound cocky, but as I said, I'm pretty confident in my skills
AZCouture- I haven't bought the lace molds yet, but Vgcea said, they're an investment
You'll probably do a better job than the picture!
But next time, I would charge whenever new items have to be purchased. You may call it an investment now, but if you don't use it very much, you just short-changed yourself. At least charge half the total...and by charge I mean work it into your per serving cost. The bakery I worked for always did that whenever they had to buy special equipment to do a specific design...or when they had to buy gum paste flowers they couldn't make themselves. We ended up with a lot of stuff that was only used once, but at least it didn't detract from the profit off the cake it was used for.
Yeah, hindsight is definitely 20/20, lol. I will do that next time, carmijok. And for this time, I'll just hope and pray I get to use them again!
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