How Much Should I Charge For This Cake?

Baking By chele_belle Updated 2 Nov 2008 , 7:59pm by Dinny2222

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chele_belle Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 1:48am
post #1 of 23

I have not done one of these cakes and was wondering what I should charge. I am going to buy the cigarellos on line, the cakes will be 12" and 8" only two tiers. The 12" will be chocolate cake with ganache and the 8" will be lemon with lemon BC. I live in Columbus Ohio so it is a large city. I was thinking $200 or $250.

What do you think?

TIA,
Chele
LL

22 replies
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chassidyg Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 2:21pm
post #2 of 23

People usually charge by the servings, how many servings are they looking for? Maybe 2-4 a serving. I'd go upwards of 4 though with the cigarello's and the roses.

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aligotmatt Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 2:26pm
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I would charge base price per serving, plus the cost of the cigarellos (and shipping to get them to you!) It looks like 18-22 roses. I charge $4-12 per gumpaste/fondant/candy clay flower.

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Cocoby Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 2:43pm
post #4 of 23

The 8" gives 20 servings. The 12" gives 40 servings. This means that this cake ...is a cake for 60 people = 60 servings. Considering the roses and the cigarellos ...and most important the quality and fine flavors including chocolate ganache and lemon ...what I would do is just include all of that in the final price by charging $12 per serving. TOTAL = $720

Hope this will help! Please tell me waht you think. icon_smile.gif

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chassidyg Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 2:59pm
post #5 of 23

As you can tell, I dont sell cakes, please ignore mine, and follow the other's advice icon_smile.gif

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Lady_Phoenix Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 3:03pm
post #6 of 23

I charge 3.50 a serving for cakes. Add on $6.00 per rose. Figuring 32 roses that would be $342.00. Add the cost of the cigarillos plus shipping. I am in Indiana about 15 minutes outside Louisville Ky.

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indydebi Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 5:24pm
post #7 of 23
Quote:
Quote:

I live in Columbus Ohio so it is a large city.




People who live in big cities don't have more money than people who live in small towns. People who live in small towns don't have less money than people who live in big cities. I know lots of folks in "big cities" who are barely surviving at poverty level .... and I know lots of folks who live in small towns who are making 6-figure incomes.

No matter where you live, the price is the price.... raw materials plus labor plus overhead plus margin of profit = selling price.

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chele_belle Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 9:16pm
post #8 of 23

Deb,
I put that in there as a reference point...there is more competition in a large city that's all I meant by that. If you don't have any competition you can charge what ever you want and if they really want it they will pay it. I am not looking to over charge anyone ($12 a slice seems REALLY high to me) but I don't want to short myself either. I usually do cakes for friends and threrefore usually give them a bit of a deal.

Thanks,
Chele

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Cocoby Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 9:34pm
post #9 of 23

Chele: I didn't know that the cake was for a friend of yours. Why didn't you tell us that in first place?Being that the case ...I would give the cake a total of $400 ...but if you have to pay shipping & handling also ...that will raise the price a lot. On the other hand ...you can decide to give it for $200 if you want ...but you will be using your finances to pay for the cake ...and if you have to do that ...then it will not be a business ...just a gift. And all your hard work and art is worth it to pay the big price. Just my humble opinion.

Big hug,

Cocoby icon_smile.gif

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mj812 Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 9:51pm
post #10 of 23

Hi Chele,

I'm new to the cake business. Just opening a commercial kitchen in my home, so I struggle with similar issues. Today a friend asked me to do a pumpkin cake for her son. I am probably only going to charge about 1/3 of the actual cost, because she is a friend. Basically I'm just covering my costs. I find it difficult to work for friends. Maybe I should be charging more.

I do think that when you're in the city or close you can charge more, than far from the city, but certainly your prices have to be comparable to other shops. In the city I'm close to (Halifax - 400,000) there are loads of people with money.

Love you cake! Hope this is of some help.

MJ

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indydebi Posted 25 Oct 2008 , 10:16pm
post #11 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by chele_belle

If you don't have any competition you can charge what ever you want and if they really want it they will pay it.




Oh my goodness, would you PLEASE pound that into the heads of the CC'ers who complain about how much money they aren't making, as they also point out they are practically the only non-walmart cake decorator in their county??????

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ZAKIA6 Posted 29 Oct 2008 , 4:39pm
post #12 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by chele_belle

I have not done one of these cakes and was wondering what I should charge. I am going to buy the cigarellos on line, the cakes will be 12" and 8" only two tiers. The 12" will be chocolate cake with ganache and the 8" will be lemon with lemon BC. I live in Columbus Ohio so it is a large city. I was thinking $200 or $250.

What do you think?

TIA,
Chele




if you dont mind - where are you ordering the cigarellos from?

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chele_belle Posted 29 Oct 2008 , 11:15pm
post #13 of 23

Well I was going to buy them from pastrychef.com but then I realized they are not smooth like the ones Nati makes. Turns out they didn't want to pay to have me make the cigarellos.

HTH,
Chele

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Janette Posted 29 Oct 2008 , 11:37pm
post #14 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by indydebi

Quote:
Quote:

I live in Columbus Ohio so it is a large city.



People who live in big cities don't have more money than people who live in small towns. People who live in small towns don't have less money than people who live in big cities. I know lots of folks in "big cities" who are barely surviving at poverty level .... and I know lots of folks who live in small towns who are making 6-figure incomes.

No matter where you live, the price is the price.... raw materials plus labor plus overhead plus margin of profit = selling price.




Living in MI and half the state out of work the ones that are buying cakes are buying from W**marts. Even Wedding Cakes.

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superstar Posted 29 Oct 2008 , 11:57pm
post #15 of 23

My son keeps pointing out to me that friendship & business are totally separate. H e says if someone comes into his shop to buy a fan or light fixture & asks for a discount, he is happy to work with them, but if someone wants him to do custom advising & designing on their fan & light fixture needs, they have to pay for his time & knowledge. He says cakes should be the same as any other business. I know he is right.

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CreationsByCaryl Posted 30 Oct 2008 , 12:00am
post #16 of 23

The one I did for a party in Upper Arlington, but without the roses (curls), was for $300. Each cake had 4 layers (two split), with fruit and fudge fill.

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Rocketgirl899 Posted 30 Oct 2008 , 12:04am
post #17 of 23

i do cost times 3. for basic price. (include boards, eggs, sugar, mixes.. foil, straws, EVERYTHING)

For the gumpaste flowers I charged an extra $25.. but I have never made callas before... so I probablly only charged half what I should have.



I can't speak from much actaully selling from me.. this is for my first wedding cake order..!

But I did work at a bakery and we put out about 60-70 cakes a week. They would have charged 5-6 per serving. Plus $40-$60 for the roses.

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Janette Posted 30 Oct 2008 , 12:06am
post #18 of 23

It is so hard for me. My Southern Grandmother raised me and I was taught that you do for friends and family and expect nothing in return. She would always say your goodness wil come back to you 10 fold.

Now that we are in the 21st century we know this isn't how things are done now. But, I just keep thinking about her rolling in her grave if I charged.

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Laura102777 Posted 30 Oct 2008 , 12:43am
post #19 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Janette

It is so hard for me. My Southern Grandmother raised me and I was taught that you do for friends and family and expect nothing in return. She would always say your goodness wil come back to you 10 fold.

Now that we are in the 21st century we know this isn't how things are done now. But, I just keep thinking about her rolling in her grave if I charged.




Well you have to put that into perspective. If your friend that wants the cake is a plumber and you know without a doubt that if you need a plumber they will come out any time of day and take care of things without charging, then make that cake without charging them. I have friends, but I don't have many like that.

Also, you have to take into consideration what actual paying business you will have to turn away to have time to do this favor for your friend. Southern grandmas are great, but most of the time they weren't trying to run a business or financially support a household. You have to do what you have to do.

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indydebi Posted 30 Oct 2008 , 1:13am
post #20 of 23
Quote:
Originally Posted by Janette

It is so hard for me. My Southern Grandmother raised me and I was taught that you do for friends and family and expect nothing in return. She would always say your goodness wil come back to you 10 fold.

Now that we are in the 21st century we know this isn't how things are done now. But, I just keep thinking about her rolling in her grave if I charged.




doing a favor for family is not the same as giving away the store. I don't think gramma could walk into cousin Louie's grocery store and expect to get her weekly groceries for free, or head over to Uncle Joe's gas station and fill up her car for free, then mosey over to her brother-in-law the dentist and get her dentures for free.

Personal favors are one thing ... business is something else.

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superstar Posted 30 Oct 2008 , 3:46am
post #21 of 23

Debi, you are priceless & once again you have hit the nail on the head.

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Janette Posted 30 Oct 2008 , 9:45pm
post #22 of 23

Yea, I have to look at it as a Business.

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Dinny2222 Posted 2 Nov 2008 , 7:59pm
post #23 of 23

Don't know anything about pricing but I just wanted to comment on what a beautiful, elegant cake. Stunning

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