I am new to this website and already I've learned many new things. This place is great.

I took cake decorating classes about a year ago but I do not decorate on a regular basis. For those of you that do, how long (hours) from start to finish does it take for your cakes. Do you consider clean up time as well. I understand all cakes are different but I am just looking for a general idea. Do you charge a flat rate or by the hour? I just made a cake as a favor for a close friend this past weekend. After I figured the cost of the supplies and then how much time it took me to make this cake, I really didn't know how much I would charge to make it worth my time but still reasonable. This cake took quite a bit of time and I am hoping that I will get a little faster as I make more cakes.

Thanks,
Cindy

Cake prices vary. It depends were you live. Check around your local bakeru to what their cost are. You should be charging about the same or more depending on your skill.

example: my local grocery store.

1/2 sheet is $35 with a choice of three filling and buttercream frosting.
the cake will probalby on have 5 - 6 flowers.

they chrarge extra for whip topping, choc. buttercream and differant filling or extra for flowers.

Frozen buttercream transfer I will charge $10 or more depending on the design.

I will charge about $40, now this a single pan cake with choice of filling.
a double pan cake will cost doubel the cost. Now again it depends where you live, so check around.

I bake my cakes a least three weeks ahead of time with other things and this saves me time. I then freeze the cakes, you need to wrap and protect those cakes when in the freezer. My own husband says the cakes taste the same as if I were to bake it the day before. I make my buttercream a few days ahead of time.

So, you just need to decide if it is worth it to you. Maybe make a few cakes and take to work and parties until you are sure and that you like it for a hobby or to turn into a business. Some cakes can be time consuming.

I did a 3D blues clues cake for my son birthday. I started on Friday night with the carving and put the desing together and crumb coat until the next day. Then I spent about another 2 to 3 hours finishing the cake, letting the frosting crust and the final touches. We ate the cake on Sunday and it was fresh I just had most of the head left.

Now their is a pricing matrix some of the girls use to figure out their cost. I believe I have it at home and if you want I can sent it to you. send me a private message and let me know.

If you have any other questions just e-mail.

good luck in your decision

I bake the cake a day ahead then refrigerate it, COld cakes are much easier to decorate. It takes me 3-5 hours to do my kind of decoration. That's not including making the flowers and Pearls. Those I do a month or a week ahead. I make Gumpaste Decorations only (besided the swags and Laces) because they last forever. I 'm not a big fan of Buttercreams and other creamy icings. Although I can also make them .

You can look at my photos to give you an idea as to what I do within 3-5 hours of work. Also, that's why I don't make cakes as a business. It is a lot of work.

Have a nice day.

prepping ahead of time is ideal, and yes, it's easiest to work with a frozen or chilled cake (i always do).

do note, however, that buttercream will take on air as it stands, so if you're going to make buttercream ahead of time, be sure to give it a good re-mix (stir) before using to knock the extra air out and restore the smooth texture.

First, what I always say about pricing is that you must know what your food costs are before you come up with your prices. I took a trip to the store for this exact purpose. Well worth it, I might add.

Now--as far as time goes--it really depends on the cake. Since I've been doing them more and more often--the actual decorating part has taken less and less time. Especially if I have a "plan" to start with (either in my head or on paper), I can usually "whip it out" (as my dh would say). If I'm creating as I go--it takes longer. The most time consuming part of doing cakes for me these days is the baking, cleaning, mixing icing, coloring icing, preping the cakes, torting, filling, icing and smoothing. I can decorate it in a pretty short amount of time.

Eve--I checked out your photos--your work is just beautiful!! Do you use mmf?

Lisa

from the time I start decorating not including baking time, cooling time or clean up time or the time it takes to make (from scratch) the cake batter or the icing, just to decorate, i would say i have spent as little as one hour and as long as five hours

pricing can get a bit tricky, so i guess i would say it depends on your area, the time and materials you put into it. i take about a couple of hours from start to finish.

I ussualy charge 50-100%
for family I chanrge 50% like if i spend 20 making the cake, I charge 30, 10 profit
But for ..like wedding cakes i charge 100% If i spend 200 dollars making the cake then I charge 400.