Just out of curiosity, what do you charge for mini cakes? I know cake prices vary from area to area, but i'm curious to what the average is? I'm going to be making mini cake boxes (3x3" little gift boxes, covered in fondant with a bow and ribbon) and have NO idea what to charge? Technically they're about 1.5 servings... right? Thanks everyone! I love how helpeful ccers are!
So you would charge $15 for a little 3x3" box with bow and ribbon on top?
Mini cakes are a real pain, especially if you are doing them in volume like for wedding favours. There must have been a recent article promoting them in one of the bridal magazines because I've had two requests for quotes today. I just cringed because I absolutely hate doing them 
I made half a dozen a couple of years ago for a wedding show display thinking "these aren't so bad", then that summer I had to make 200 for a wedding. Not fun at all!!!
I only charged $5 (what a fool) at the time and since then I've doubled the price to $10 (which is really high for the market here) and I'm still getting people asking for them! Money is good but it's not worth the stress!
So you would charge $15 for a little 3x3" box with bow and ribbon on top?
Actually, I wouldn't charge anything, because I'd turn down the order. I *might* do a small number of them as a present for somone (or several someones) very dear to me, but that's the only way I'd do them.
Now, if I were set up in a store front bakery and had assembly-line room and assistants, then I probably would take the order. Given that this is theoretical and I therefore have no idea what the actual overhead would end up being for me in such a set-up, all I can say is I'd charge somewhere between $15 and $30 for them.
Sorry I can't give you a more specific price.
I highly encourage you to make a few and see how long they take you BEFORE you quote the customer. You don't want to end up making a pittance for a wage because you underestimated how long they were going to take.
Prterrell makes a good point - do the dry run with a few to gauge your time and expenses. When you do come up with your costs (ingredients plus all the other expenses you should factor in), keep in mind that the pricing for these is very deceptive. The actual cost of your normal cake serving price does NOT reflect the time and labour you will put into these mini cakes. The actual time you will spend to make and decorate them will be significantly more.
These little cakes are hard to handle and time consuming to decorate, first with buttercream and then with fondant. Plus any flowers or decoration for the top.
Even if you make your sheet cakes and freeze them, and prepare your flowers or whatever beforehand (which I thoroughly recommend), the assembly time is enormous! And make sure you have lots of space to work in. If you're a one-person show or even with the help of your DH, it's still going to take more time than you've bargained for.
So you would charge $15 for a little 3x3" box with bow and ribbon on top?
I'd charge $5 for a box with a bow. now if you want a CAKE inside of it, that's a different story! 
My rule is "1/4 the size is 4 times the price". Little food does not mean a little price tag.
As everyone mentioned .... do them once and you'll find out why they are costly. It's not the material in the 3x3" cake ... it's the labor cost that's excessive.
I don't know what is worse: getting a flat tire at 10 PM on the highway when its minus 4 degrees outside, or being in a warm and cosy kitchen having to make 20 mini cakes...
lololol roflmao!! That is awesome 
Well since they are for a life long friend, I've already decided to do them, I just want to make it worth my while too. I made the bows yesterday, and those are out of the way. I've also made all my fondant and set that in the fridge as well. I'll make sure and post pics. I hope i'm not going to be pulling out hairs thurs night! lol My goal is to finish them all by thurs night/friday afternoon, and then sit back and enjoy a nice glass... ahem bottle... of wine until saturday rolls around I've got my boys taken care of with gparents, which i'm so grateful for, so wish me luck ladies!
I thought it was just me, guys. I started making mini cakes recently and at first I was thinking, "Aww, mini cakes are so cute. I can't wait to do these! I have all of these great decorating ideas." Until I started to do them. The first time, I thought it was taking me as long as it would take to do an 8 inch cake. I quickly dismissed it thinking, "Don't be silly, girl. A 4 incher can't take the same amount of time to decorate as a 6 or 8 incher!" Glad to see I am not crazy! I have big hands for a woman 
and mini cakes are challening to ice and fondant is another story. So, I will be doing these babies sparingly for sure!
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