Minimum Order Price - ?

Business By mom2spunkynbug Updated 24 Jan 2007 , 7:29am by hktaitai

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mom2spunkynbug Posted 23 Jan 2007 , 11:27pm
post #1 of 6

I have noticed a lot of people/companies have a minimum order price on their cakes. If you have a minimum price...what is it?

I was thinking of having one of somewhere between $30-$45 (I will just be starting out)...

5 replies
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Tomoore Posted 23 Jan 2007 , 11:42pm
post #2 of 6

I hadn't thought of that (I am just starting as well). But it makes a lot of sense...I'm starting to get a lot of attention, but it's from friends that tend to think $50 is too much. I am leaning against going lower than that because I spend so much time on the cakes.

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SugarBakerz Posted 23 Jan 2007 , 11:49pm
post #3 of 6

mmmmmmm... I don't know.. I think it sounds good, but is it going to be something that will help and not hinder your business. I am thinking like this, say you get an order for 3 dozen cupcakes.. do you charge 35-50 for that? Maybe you could do a minimum order for each item. You know like birthday cakes, sheet or shaped, 3D, wedding, cupcakes, cookies, cupcake cakes.. just a thought icon_smile.gif

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Uberhipster Posted 23 Jan 2007 , 11:51pm
post #4 of 6

I've been decorating for a year now, and still have trouble with pricing my cakes! My best suggestion, is to calculate exactly how much it will cost to make a cake (including ingredients, cake board and box, etc.) and then ask yourself how much on top of that would really make it worthwile for you. Because you may love what you do and would enjoy it even if you baked just for yourself all day, but at the end of the day, it's a job and noone does a good job at anything they do if they feel they are being taken advantage of. But then, when you're just starting out, you really need the experience and cakes to take pictures of to build a portfolio (website or photo album).

When I first started, my minimum price was $40 because if they want to pay less than that they can go to the grocery store. If they want something *special*, then $40 is worth every penny. Heck, I saw a Barbie cake at the grocery store that just had Buttercream splattered all over it and they were charging $59.99!!!

Now, a year later, my minimum is $50. I tell people it's because I only do really fancy cakes. Usually the people ordering the cake got my number from a friend because they saw my cake at their function, so they have a good idea what kind of quality to expect.

When in doubt, I ask my husband how much he thinks my cakes are worth - he's the level-headed one in the family! icon_lol.gif

Good luck!

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cupcake Posted 24 Jan 2007 , 7:16am
post #5 of 6

I have minimums on things like cookies, brownies, lemon bars, petifors, fried pies, eclairs, etc.... I do not have minimum amounts or pricing on cakes. the lowest cakes I do are 25.00 anyway.

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hktaitai Posted 24 Jan 2007 , 7:29am
post #6 of 6

I use $40 as my minimum. If the customer wants anything fancy, special filling, special design, then the price goes up from there.

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