Another "what Would You Charge?" Post

Business By IsaacsMom Updated 13 Mar 2006 , 8:24pm by CakesByEllen

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IsaacsMom Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 11:44pm
post #1 of 13

I got my first cake order (yippee!) and, of corse, I'm having trouble figuring out what to charge.

It's the doll cake with the wondermold pan with a separate cake underneath. I've bought the ingredients and figured up the cost of making the cake. With the ingredients, doll, dowels and boards it comes to approx. $15.

I was thinking about charging $35. What do you think? I'm supossed to call her and let her know the cost.

Thanks!

12 replies
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reenie Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 11:50pm
post #2 of 13

TexasSugar said she charges 3 times what it costs you to make it if it's custom, or 2.5 times for other cakes, but never less than twice what it cost you.

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MomLittr Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 11:53pm
post #3 of 13

I too am doing my first "paid" cake this week - a 11x15, one layer, double chocolate rum cake (from the Cake Mix Doctor book), with a chocolate ganache covering, a few buttercream roses in the corner, and Happy Birthday on the top. Once I figued my costs, I multiplied it by 3 and came up with the price of $55. A cake this size, I feel, should be $45, so what I am going to do is give my co-worker a "first customer discount" of either $10 or $15 off the price, and let her know it is discounted. She was expecting to pay $40, but with all the extra chocolate, rum, etc.... I feel it is worth a good $45. Enough of me, now for you, I think $35 is an excellent deal for the customer - if you multiplied your costs by 3, it would be $45. At 2-1/2 times, that comes to $37.50, so you charging $40 would not be unreasonable to me. I do agree that pricing is really hard sometimes.

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mommachris Posted 12 Mar 2006 , 11:58pm
post #4 of 13

another "rule" is $12 per cake mix, but I think that since the doll cakes are a bit more labor intensive that you have the right price. My dd just did one and the ruffles took for ever and her hand was killing her when she finished.
By the way:
I saw a really ugly, slash and burn decorating job, on a doll cake sitting in the baker's window at an upscale grocery store in the Pismo Beach area ( California).

That nasty looking thing had a huge $40 price tag in bold letters.
I was embarassed for the baker. So much money for an ugly cake icon_confused.gif

Sorry to go on a toot. Sloppy work and over charging drive me nuts. icon_razz.gif
mommachris

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smashcakes Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 12:22am
post #5 of 13

i think it's a very fair price (but i UNDERcharge always) the targets in my area sell their barbie doll cakes for about 30, so i think 35-(40 if they want a fancy dress) is more than fair

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klg1152 Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 12:51am
post #6 of 13

Three times your cost is a good place to start

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chocomama Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 2:43am
post #7 of 13

I just asked this question about the very first cake I made (which is in My Photos). Someone said that she would charge $30 for it but that seems expensive for such a simple cake. That said, I wouldn't want to charge $12 for it, either! I guess I should probably check out some bakeries in my area, right? Opinions?

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MomLittr Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 3:16am
post #8 of 13

I think the "$12 per cake mix" is a base price, from there you would multiply by 3 to get your final cost. Another way is charging per serving, so in my particular case being it is a rectangle, that came out at $52.50 (35 servings at $1.50 per for the size I am making). Once I add the cost of the box and board, it comes to $55.

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chocomama Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 5:37am
post #9 of 13

OK, so if I have a basic 9in layer cake and use 2 box mixes along with the filling and icing ingredients I should start out by charging about $12/mix? Am I getting this right? I just looked at the pricing matrix briefly but will really have to study it more. I don't want to just pull prices out of my head and like the per piece method but that's another problem... How do you figure out realistic cuts? Looking at Wilton's site hasn't helped me b/c I think the cuts are really, really small.

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amandarv33 Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 7:34am
post #10 of 13

I'm doing my first paid cake this week with an order for one yhe week after. Anyone done baby einstein?

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itsacake Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 5:25pm
post #11 of 13

Don't forget your time is worth something too. You need to take that into account.

Shalom,
itsacake

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vanillabean Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 7:42pm
post #12 of 13

Hi, I am new here, but I wanted to say congratulations on your first paid order!!!!

I always get at least 3 times my cost for a basic cake, or I don't book the client. I have figured in every little detail on my cost because all the little extras really add up. I keep a list handy on my computer of how much each type of cake, dessert, icing, etc. will cost me so I can refer to it easily. It takes time to figure it all out, but it really does make things easier in the long run.

Oh, and just my two cents, but if you start out pricing yourself too cheap, word will spread that you do ALL your stuff that cheap. Then it gets hard to raise your prices. I try to never discount my work for anyone either. It gets hard to draw the line on who you consider discount worthy, and someone always gets their nose out of joint, weither it be you or the client.

I hope I don't come off sounding pushy about the pricing, but I have been in the biz for 12 years, and I have had to figure out a lot of things the hard way. icon_cry.gif

Good luck to you!!

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CakesByEllen Posted 13 Mar 2006 , 8:24pm
post #13 of 13

Due to the labor and details needed with a doll cake, I would charge $35 for the wondermold part. Since you are adding a cake below, I would charge a minimum of $5.00 for the extra layer (I think I would charge $7.50 personally). So I guess my answer is $42.50.

Congrats and good luck!

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