How Much Do People Think A Cake Costs To Make???

Business By TPACakeGirl Updated 23 Jun 2016 , 1:30pm by indydebi

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Apti Posted 21 Jun 2016 , 12:12am
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Love you too, 810whitechoc....

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frogcooke Posted 21 Jun 2016 , 2:28am
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Quote by @Gold Star Mom on 4 hours ago

Without running it through software, maybe $100-120...decorations are simple...three different cake batters, real fruit...


We charged 175 for that cake and the following cake combined.

3 rice crispy figures, coated in chocolate then fondant on 10" chocolate imbc cake. 

At least they seemed willing to pay lol. Unlike some people that want the world for $20

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carolinecakes Posted 21 Jun 2016 , 3:29am
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Quote by @TheItalianBaker on 6 Mar 2014 , 1:43pm

Apparently all the customers in the word think they can get a big super fancy cake for $20.

Today a man came into the bakery asking for our prices.. 2 tiers cake, fresh fruit inside and buttercream to feed 50people. I priced it $216 (10" + 8"), he said he was going to think about it because it's very expensive.. 

Oh and "I would need the cake Sunday at 10, can I let you know saturday?"

 

NO!!!!!! 

This is an old thread, back in 2014, a bakery was charging more than you are charging in 2016.


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cakebaby2 Posted 21 Jun 2016 , 11:28am
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Ladies, I've been a member here a couple of years now and this thread started a long time ago. I'll tell you something, customers don't care how much a cake costs to make, they care what they pay for it.

Everyone and their dog is making cakes and selling them, usually really cheaply too as they grab whatever work they can get

. I always paid top dollar for custom cakes because I trusted the storefronts with amazing cakes in the window.  I wasn't always delighted with the taste of the cake ( thanks to CC now I know many of them were out of a box ), but the look was awesome, which at the time I was going for.

Really cheap cakes make genuine customers suspicious so if you are a cheap baker you'll never get that high end customer you should be chasing.

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cakebaby2 Posted 21 Jun 2016 , 11:33am
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Apolgies girls, thanks to the mystery of CC these days the answer I was replying to was actually from 2011 where someone was upset at losing an order for a 3 tier cake for $170 (she was charging too much?)

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babscakes Posted 22 Jun 2016 , 8:51am
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Well, a former co-worker called me yesterday asking if I'd be interested in doing her daughters wedding cake next June.  The next sentence out of her mouth was, "We're trying to cut corners any way we can."  Right away I felt put on the spot, but I asked for information because she wanted a quote, telling her that until I speak to the bride and get a set design of what she wants, it would be just a ballpark figure.  She wants a small two tier cake "for show" and a sheet cake because she heard that would be MUCH cheaper.  (same ingredients in both - ganache filled chocolate cake with SMBC icing and BC flowers).  For 170 people.  I'm struggling with the price here.  I usually charge per slice - starting at $3 for a very basic cake and depending on the extras it goes up.  I know she's expecting a much lower price than I'm really willing to charge.  Any thoughts on how to deal with people who approach you because they think they're going to get a real deal because they know you?  And what are you charging people who are ordering small wedding cakes to feed maybe 70 and sheet cakes that need to feed 100 people?  I've actually done wedding cakes as my gift to some of my very special friends.  I'm just not able to do all this expensive work for peanuts for everyone.

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LelekBolek Posted 22 Jun 2016 , 10:43am
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@babscakes ‍ I have not yet dealt with "give me the i-know-you discount". I have done gift, or charity event cakes (small cakes), or subtracted from the cake a cost of a gift I would be purchasing - if myself, or my family are also invited to the event.

I quoted and charged full price from my friends, friends of friends, and friends of friends. They either go for it, or not, but they do not get offended, precisely because they know me. Most of them know it takes HARD WORK and time, to make something wonderful, pretty, or unusual. My best friend does not order from me, because she knows my prices, and she is cheap (no offence to her) when it comes to cakes. She will gladly eat mine, if those are available, but she knows not to ask for "cut corners" :-) I have two other friends, who pre-ordered a full price cake, quite elaborate - shapes, tiers, much decorations and original design, for 120 servings, for an event we are invited to. I am charging out of wazoo, but they know it is a fair price.  For that event, I will buy a gift separately, since giving a "gift discount" will hardly make a dent in the price, and also I consider that cake a commissioned job, separated from friendship.  

I would not do a complete wedding cake for 170 or so people, as a gift. That is too big of a gift for my wallet. 

I say, stay honest, and give her your real price. Tell her, that when it comes to cakes, the only way to cut corners, is to buy a cheap cake. 

If you want quality and a memorable showpiece - you have to commission work, and pay for that. If the sheet cake for servings is minimally decorated, and the small tiered cake is elaborate, quote/charge accordingly for each, and stick with it.  Most of all, don't feel obligated, offended, or worry about offending. Be honest, and keep that honesty in your communication. People are usually responding well to those who are not trying to scam, but offer honest opinions/quotes.

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Granpam Posted 22 Jun 2016 , 12:38pm
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Give a written quote for your basic cake and the 2 layer sheet cake and then deduct a 10% or 15% discount and let them decide if they want to use your services .  My guess is they will walk away because they are looking for way less or even free. If not and they try to pressure you for more of a discount be honest and tell them that is the most discount you can afford give.  That is how I dealt with my coworkers before I retired from my 9-5 job.  

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Natka81 Posted 22 Jun 2016 , 1:09pm
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Quote by @Granpam on 28 minutes ago

Give a written quote for your basic cake and the 2 layer sheet cake and then deduct a 10% or 15% discount and let them decide if they want to use your services .  My guess is they will walk away because they are looking for way less or even free. If not and they try to pressure you for more of a discount be honest and tell them that is the most discount you can afford give.  That is how I dealt with my coworkers before I retired from my 9-5 job.  

Good advice. She is a FORMER CO-WORKER, not even relative or friend.

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Apti Posted 22 Jun 2016 , 6:49pm
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@babscakes --

"I usually charge per slice - starting at $3 for a very basic cake and depending on the extras it goes up.  I know she's expecting a much lower price than I'm really willing to charge.  Any thoughts on how to deal with people who approach you because they think they're going to get a real deal because they know you?" 

Answer:  You charge them $3 [per slice] for a very basic cake, and depending on the extras, it goes up.


"And what are you charging people who are ordering small wedding cakes to feed maybe 70 and sheet cakes that need to feed 100 people?"

Answer:  You charge them $3 [per slice] for a very basic cake, and depending on the extras, it goes up.


IF you wish, because this person was a former co-worker, per @Granpam,   "Give a written quote for your basic cake and the 2 layer sheet cake and then deduct a 10% or 15% discount and let them decide if they want to use your services."

* * * *

@babscakes -- Here's a tough love answer:  You already knew the answer (see quotes above).  Why are you on an anonymous cake forum asking what to charge? 

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jgifford Posted 22 Jun 2016 , 7:16pm
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babscakes, if they're expecting free, ask them if they're willing to pay your bills for the time you'll be working on their cake. Somebody's got to, right? 

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babscakes Posted 22 Jun 2016 , 10:51pm
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Thanks for the input.  Appreciate it.  (Apti - hope your day gets better)  smiley.png

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costumeczar Posted 23 Jun 2016 , 12:01pm
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Here's the thing...We're too quick to give discounts to people we have tenuous connections to because we want to be "nice" and we don't put a value on our own work. I suspect that if that former co-worker is an attorney, for example, she wouldn't give you ten hours of legal work for free, so why should you give her ten hours of your work for free (or for a greatly reduced price just because she says they're cutting corners)?

If someone says to me "we're on a tight budget, I need to see what we can get for X,"  I'll tell them, but it won't be what they can get for X + $$$ just to be nice. It will be what they can get for X, which is the value that she's placed on your work.

If someone starts the conversation with "we're trying to cut corners" I'd just say "I'm not the one to help you, then, because I don't cut corners!" If they want to keep talking about it fine, but you shouldn't drop your quality or your prices just because someone's budget isn't up in your price range. This went up on my blog yesterday, ironically...The cake I'm talking about in it looked like a pile of poo, compared to the description that she gave  me when she first called me about doing it. I wasn't going to walk into that trap! http://acaketorememberva.blogspot.com/2016/06/what-to-do-if-people-want-you-to-make.html

When you're debating about whether you should do a cake at a discount for someone, ask yourself if they'd return a favor...If you're moving and call them to help you carry furniture, are they the kind of person who's suddenly busy that day? If you need someone to watch your child in an emergency, would they do it? If they'd help out then give them a discount, but if they wouldn't do a favor for you, don't bother tellign yourself that you "should" do a favor for them.

And thanks for giving me an idea about another blog post to write...  :)

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indydebi Posted 23 Jun 2016 , 1:30pm
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Quote by @costumeczar on 1 hour ago

If someone says to me "we're on a tight budget, I need to see what we can get for X,"  I'll tell them, ........

If someone starts the conversation with "we're trying to cut corners" I'd just say "I'm not the one to help you, then, because I don't cut corners!" 

My reply to "we're on a tight budget" was "So am I .... that's why I don't discount."   Another response I'd give would be "Well, that makes you like every other bride in the world!"  I would then laugh and tell them I was still waiting for the bride who would tell me "Price is no object!  The sky's the limit!"  They'd laugh with me and we'd move on.

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