I'm making a wedding cake for this lady, she paid me 35$ for a round cake for a party awhile back, and it is exactly what she wants for her daughters wedding cake. She wants 10 of them EXACTLY like the one I made for her party, to go on a satelite cake stand.

Now I am unsure of how to charge her. Should I just charge her 35$ per cake, since they're just individual cakes, or should I charge per serving because it's wedding cake?

My friend who also does cake decorating says I should charge per serving, but how do I justify that when it's the same cake I just charged her a different price for?

Melissa

oooooh - tricky!!!
these clients are getting too smart for their own good!

So 10 cakes at $35 is $350. How many people will be at the wedding?

What is the average price per serving for a wedding cake in your area?

You could say yes to the $35 for each cake, but you must charge her for set up and delivery. Is the cake complex or easy?

The cake is really easy, especially since there will be no stacking involved. I think there's a picture of it in my photos, the all-white one.

I need to check into rates around this area. This is my first wedding cake. I can't remember exactly the figures that I came up with, but I did figure that even if I only charged 1.50 per serving, I would still make more than simply charging per cake. I just don't know how I could justify charging more for the exact same cake I've made for her previously.

How much do people generally charge for set up & delivery?

Melissa

well I don't charge for set up, but you could - if you needed to increase your revenues and not piss off your costumer by telling her that the same cake is now more money.

Deliver is normally based on distance. I dont charge in my immediate area, but i do charge for going outside of those boundries (gas is EXPENSIVE).

If there are 100 people at this wedding, then you'd be makinf $3.50 per serving - which is a nice price - you would be prifiting $2 per serving.

...not sure how large the round cake is but are you saying that each cake will serve more than 23 slices? ...23 slices x $1.50/slice =$34.50 per cake...that would mean that she would get about 233 slices (i.e. approx. that many guests)...

...you could also tell her that the increase in price is due to the volume of cakes being done since it requires more planning, storage, cooking times, etc etc

...also could say there is a surcharge for wedding cakes if you do anything different with wedding cakes that you don't do for regular orders.

I would think the opposite and charge her the same price as the individual cake. I wouldn't charge her more, since she is giving you repeat business, and perhaps you will get more business from the wedding. If you are delivering the cakes, it is generally acceptable to charge a per mile charge such as $1.00 per mile (one way).

I'm not a pro or anything .. but this is my opinion .. if you were willing to charge $35 before why not charge the same now. It doesn't sound like it would be alot more work.. and I agree with the person that said that you'll have the opportunity to get more orders from the wedding guests.

It is repeat business and alot of it. Girlfriend you are doing 10 cakes for one person. Charge for it. I would charge per serving. The fact that you are decorating, cooking, and storing cost way more than 35$ a cake. And the time it will take you over the course of a week. I'm tired after doing two cakes. I couldn't imagine doing ten for one client. Tell her birthday and weddings are two very different events and the mass amount of cake batter and etc. is well worth charging per slice/serving.

Good Luck!!!

If it were me...I would stick with the $35 per cake...afterall, it is the exact same cake, right? I do think you could get away with a delivery and set up charge.

Also, who is providing the satellite cake stand? If you are providing the stand, then there is some extra money that could be made there..just a thought!!

I agree with Mrs Missy..... charge per cake since she it a repeat customer. Once a HAPPY customer, usually a repeat customer. However, if she expects you to deliever and set up, by all means, charge her for that service due to the fact that you will be responsible for the cake pretty much until it is cut. If she picks and sets up, once those cakes leave your house she is on her own. Follow your business sense on this one!

Debbi

If the cake serves 25 people, then it's about 1.40/slice. That doesn't sound too bad for a simple cake, at least in my region of the country. As long as she is not asking for a complicated filling. I'd still charge her 50.00 for delivery and set up. That's not too bad! You could always make the roses ahead of time and freeze them, as well as the cakes. The frosting could be made in large batches a few days before. You could assembly line them and be done in a day. After that, you can reevaluate your prices.

Your white cake is very pretty. Looks like you may have made it in July? I think counted 13 strawberries, I dont know how much they are where you live, but right now in michigan they are expensive. that's 130 strawberries. Anyways, if you believe you will get good repeat business from her, I would just charge by the cake, make her think she's getting a good deal, charge for delivery and setup, and if she wants you to serve the cake you can charge for that. How much is it costing to do one cake? If she thinks you are charging her birthday price and not wedding price you may get a tip anyways. Good luck with you cakes.

Thanks so much everyone. I actually DON'T have the picture in my photos... I thought I did. It is the same style as the pink & green one though, the one that says 'happy birthday alison' on it, only it is done completely in ivory, and of course no writing on it.
It is going to be a red velvet cake with strawberry filling.

I think I will just charge her the 35$ per cake, then perhaps a set up fee. She has the cake stand already.

Thanks for all your input!

Melissa

Yes, I was going to suggest just doing the $35 per cake. She's a repeat customer, and if you were satisfied with the price for the first one, she's not coming to you because you gave her a deal. Repeat business, at a perfect event to gather more clientell? 35 bucks should do it!

She's giving you a lot of business and she's not asking for wedding services (stacking, big decorating). A $35 cake is a $35 cake. Don't raise your prices.