Hi guys I'm having a really hard time getting my prices together and I really need some help. I have a lot of customers who want stacked birthday cakes, Anniversary cakes and Bridal shower cakes. I am planning to price per slice for them but my problem is how do I charge for them. Do I charge as much as I would per slice for wedding cakes. And if so what to do about the top layer. for wedding cakes I give the bride and groom the topper for free for the 1st anniversary. Its all the same work reguardless for the event. The main difference is the size. Most people aren't going to have 100 people at the birthday or bridal shower. Do you charge less and then include the top tier. I don't want to be in the position that a bride orders both bridal shower and wedding cake from me and sees something funny with the pricing and gets upset. I want to make my money off the deal but i want to be know as honest and far. If anyone can help me that would be great.
Thanks
Rmpizano

I see nothing wrong with pricing by slice. And it should go by servings made. I mean, if you make a 3 tier anniversary cake, they get charged for every serving. Only the wedding cakes get free top tiers. I don't think that's underhanded.

You can tell people for birthdays and such, that you price by wedding cake slice. But for parties, they might cut bigger pieces, and get fewer servings out of a 10 in cake than a wedding would. That doesn't mean they are charged less for the same amount of cake. Explain that this is the most equitable way for you to charge.

I've heard some people on the forums say that you charge the cost of your ingredients x 3. I have found this to be useful for shaped and carved cakes. Then depending on the work involved, I might add a design fee.

As long as you have a set pricing guide and stick to it, noone should be able to fault you.

If it's tiered it's priced as a wedding cake. I don't give the top tier of the wedding cake for free. I deliver with the cake an already boxed, ready for the freezer 6in tier just like the wedding cake. I also include a little note with it thanking them and wishing them a long and happy marriage.

I charge $4.00 per slice for party cakes and start at $4.25 for wedding cakes. I NEVER give away an anniversary tier, but if the couple to to the restaurant for their first anniversary, I'll make them a mini cake to match their wedding cake for free.

My party servings are just bigger than wedding servings.