Cake Pics With Prices

Decorating By cupcakefrost Updated 2 May 2016 , 4:23pm by kakeladi

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:47am
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Hi everyone!

Thanks for all of the pricing guides. They are a big help. However, sometimes I am still unsure how much to charge for a particular design, especially if it's a new design that I have no idea how long it will take me. The per slice price is great, but of course, some designs are more complex than others, so that is a big factor in pricing as well.

So, I thought it would be a great idea to post pics of cakes we've sold, along with the price that we've sold them. Is that allowed here? If so, I will post mine too, of course. I am somewhat new to this forum (been a member for a while, but rarely have time to log on), so don't want to post pics and prices if it's not allowed here, but maybe there are some people who are also interested in seeing examples of cakes and their pricing.

Thanks!

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Katherinej51679 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:11am
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I think that is a great idea...on the cake shows, i always wish they would give the prices!!! They make it look effortless and I have clients that want a life size barbie doll for $50! (ok, that was sarcasm, but really!) I am not sure if it is allowed or not and I know that prices also vary by location. I hope some more experienced decorators answer this bc I want to know, as well!

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:47am
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Katherinej51679

I think that is a great idea...on the cake shows, i always wish they would give the prices!!! They make it look effortless and I have clients that want a life size barbie doll for $50! (ok, that was sarcasm, but really!) I am not sure if it is allowed or not and I know that prices also vary by location. I hope some more experienced decorators answer this bc I want to know, as well!



I know what you mean about the cake shows!!!! I always wish they would quote the prices so people would know how much to expect to pay! I am tired of people balking at a $200-300 quote for a cake I know they would pay at least twice as much for at one of those fancy bakeries.
There is a new show actually, Fabulous Cakes, which does quote the prices, and I love it!
If no one says it's not allowed by tomorrow, I'll start thumbs_up.gif

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Katherinej51679 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 1:10pm
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I have seen Fabulous Cakes....and I balk at those prices sometimes, only bc I know that nobody around here (Dothan, AL) would pay that! LOL But then I think, man, I am in the wrong city! Yes, I do wish they would tell prices on all the shows....and on CC. I have a decorator friend and we always tell each other about our orders and my first question is always, "and what did you charge for that?" Her prices have really helped my confidence. When I first started out, I would sweat when I had to tell someone their cake was $50 but when I see her making 8 cakes a week and all over $100, its not so hard. Also, the 2 of us together won a local competition (don't laugh, it was called the national peanut festival cake decorating contest) and that really helped me in raising my prices. But MOST of the time, I work for family and friends and barter cake for things...this past wk, I did for "free" cakes and have a lot of cleaning to do today!

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:13pm
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OK, here is my first pic. This is a two-tiered chocolate cake with ganache filling and crushed oreos. The teapot and cup are rice krispies treats and the little sweets are fondant. I charged 150 for a friend, but would normally charge 225.
I'm adding a link to the pic (hopefully doing it correctly)
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1915996

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:15pm
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This Bible cake was for a christening, and fed about 40 people. I charged 175.
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1592458

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:17pm
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For this slot machine cake, I charged 250, but I definitely undercharged, as it took me waaaay too long. It was one of my first cakes icon_smile.gif.
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1612935

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:18pm
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Are the pics not coming out? I added the attachment, but can't see them here.

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FullHouse Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:24pm
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There's a bug that isn't allowing us to attach pics in the forums. You can add a link to your pic (but I just looked in your photos). Nice job on the cakes, thanks for sharing your info.

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:28pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FullHouse

There's a bug that isn't allowing us to attach pics in the forums. You can add a link to your pic (but I just looked in your photos). Nice job on the cakes, thanks for sharing your info.


Thanks, FullHouse! I love your profile cake! I'm actually doing a similar one in a few weeks, but with an elephant and different colors icon_smile.gif.
Can you please tell me how I can add a link to my pics?

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:32pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cupcakefrost

Quote:
Originally Posted by FullHouse

There's a bug that isn't allowing us to attach pics in the forums. You can add a link to your pic (but I just looked in your photos). Nice job on the cakes, thanks for sharing your info.


Thanks, FullHouse! I love your profile cake! I'm actually doing a similar one in a few weeks, but with an elephant and different colors icon_smile.gif.
Can you please tell me how I can add a link to my pics?




Got it, never mind. I figured it out icon_smile.gif. Thanks though!

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FullHouse Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:38pm
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Thanks, that was for a friend's baby shower (no charge), inspired by Pink Cake Box designs. Actually the 1st tiered cake and 2nd fondant cake I'd ever done.

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:42pm
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WOW, nice work, especially for only the 2nd time using fondant! It took me forever to learn how not to get creases near the bottom, lol. I just scanned your pics, they are awesome!!

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FullHouse Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:46pm
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I donated my Charlotte's Web / Farm cake to my son's drama group,
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1940664
but probably would charge $274.00 if I sold it, though I'm not sure that would be considered a fair price or not. 12" & 9" chocolate cakes, vanilla buttercream filling, MFF figures.

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FullHouse Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:48pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cupcakefrost

WOW, nice work, especially for only the 2nd time using fondant! It took me forever to learn how not to get creases near the bottom, lol. I just scanned your pics, they are awesome!!




Thanks, so are yours. That cake was covered with Wilton fondant. I make my own now, but I teach Wilton and every time I use it in class I wish it tasted better because it is so much easier to work with.

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:53pm
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FullHouse, I think that sounds like a fair price. That cake is beautiful!! I love the little sheep! icon_smile.gif
I know what you mean about the Wilton fondant. I've never tried to make my own. . . seems like too much of a hassle, lol. I use Fondarific or Satin Ice, but I do use Wilton for some sculpture work, like bows or small pieces that have to dry faster, since it is stiffer than the other two fondants.

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pinkpiggie78 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 2:59pm
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I think it would be helpful to list how many the cake serves and where you are located... maybe even how many hours it took to torte, fill, stack, decorate, etc. For me, without these items, it's hard to compare.

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Dayyi Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:08pm
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I love this topic. One of the most hard things to do in this business when starting up is pricing. Then after all the hard work and sweat, you say, " darn i think I priced it to low" This is a great and honest topic! Thanks FullHouse! Can we share pics of cakes that we've priced?

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:14pm
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That's a great idea, Pinkpiggie. I'm in NY. I'll add those details on the cakes I post from now on.
Davyi, I know!!! I always think I undercharge, because the cakes take me about twice as long as I estimate, lol. I think this is a great way to get an idea of how to price our cakes.

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:20pm
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I charged 250 for these cupcakes, including the stand. There were 50 cupcakes in all, vanilla with cannoli cream icing, brown sugar on stand, and crushed cannoli shells on some of the cupcakes. Took me about an hour of planning and sketching, 2 hours baking, and 10 hours decorating, I think. Maybe it took longer, can't remember icon_smile.gif.
Long Island, NY
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1854547

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markiesjules Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:21pm
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This is a great topic. I really appreciate the pricing and serving sizes with the cake pics. It helps me tremendously!! I only make cakes for family and friends, but they seem to think a box of cake mix and a bag of powdered sugar will make a 2 tier cake with decorations. Or that $20 will make a cake plus figures. icon_surprised.gif
Now I give them of list of ingredients I need, they buy the items and it is a reality check for them. thumbs_up.gif

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FullHouse Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:22pm
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Pinkpiggie, I'm in an upper middle class area of NC. The baking, making fondant, making icing, torting, filling took me about 5 hours (I'm slow and SO want an agbay). The decorating took about 8-9 hours, I think - hard to tell, because with little ones around, I have to stop and start quite a bit so the fondant was colored at one time, figures were done one night, barn the next day, etc.

I also think I work slow, but not sure how long someone else would take doing the same thing. I don't like to base pricing on my time, because I feel like I work a little slower than I should - but I'd be happy for others to weigh in on how long it takes them to do similar work.

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cupcakefrost Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:22pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dayyi

I love this topic. One of the most hard things to do in this business when starting up is pricing. Then after all the hard work and sweat, you say, " darn i think I priced it to low" This is a great and honest topic! Thanks FullHouse! Can we share pics of cakes that we've priced?



Please, start sharing!! icon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gificon_biggrin.gif

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FullHouse Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:25pm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cupcakefrost

I charged 250 for these cupcakes, including the stand. There were 50 cupcakes in all, vanilla with cannoli cream icing, brown sugar on stand, and crushed cannoli shells on some of the cupcakes. Took me about an hour of planning and sketching, 2 hours baking, and 10 hours decorating, I think. Maybe it took longer, can't remember icon_smile.gif.
Long Island, NY
http://cakecentral.com//gallery/1854547




I'm originally from Long Island icon_smile.gif. I know its OT, but Cannoli cream icing sounds amazing - my dad would love that for his birthday next month. Would you be willing to share your recipe?

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Niki11784 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:34pm
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Located in northern NJ...3 hours to make this. I am almost embarrassed to post this with a price- I charged $65. But if I would charge anything more, I would not get a single order....
http://cakecentral.com/gallery/1948007

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suzieQ929 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:38pm
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Thank you so much for this topic. I am very self concious of the prices of my cakes. I don't know if it's because I don't think people will pay it, or if I think they won't realize the cost and time put into it. I have the software CakeBoss, and thank God for it, because I never realized all the little supplies I was leaving out. Now, I go into the program, put in what I think I will use and the time it will take me, and it calculates it. Not that it makes it any easier for me to tell someone what the price is! What I have been doing lately though, is going into my order after I completed the cake and collected the payment, and updating the supplies I used and the time it took me...I then realized how much I SHOULD HAVE charged! Anyways, I have only been making cakes for others outside my family/friends for not even a year, so I am still totally new. I will try and attach some pictures, and please, I would love the honest feedback.
Thanks!

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. This cake took me 20 hours. It was all B/C with gumpast roses that were sprayed. This was my first and only wedding cake so far. My supples cost me almost $100. I didn't charge for this as it was an exchange for services, however, I would have charged $410.00, not that I know if anyone would have paid that for it!

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Niki11784 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:40pm
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By the way, I started using the cake central equation to figure out my prices- (total cost of supplies + hours X $ per hour) + %25 of that. I charge $10 per hour ( WAY too little I know)

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suzieQ929 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:41pm
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Okay, it didn't attach...hhhmmm...and I'm outside Chicago

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pinkpiggie78 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:41pm
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Fullhouse, I just got the Agbay... all I can say is WHOA... AWESOME. And I understand about the stop/start thing... I have a boy who will be one this week and an almost 4 yr old.... but I usually estimate on how long it should take me or 75% of what it did take me.

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suzieQ929 Posted 21 Feb 2011 , 3:43pm
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