How Much To Charge For Ladybug Cakes

Business By Cloves2bake Updated 11 Feb 2013 , 8:22pm by Ali3971

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Cloves2bake Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 4:33pm
post #1 of 12

Hi! I am a hobby baker/decorator but was recently asked to do a big cake job for my brothers boss.

 

For a very large (75 adults, 50 kids) birthday party for 1 year old twin girls: 

 

2 3d ladybug cakes (I used the wilton soccer ball for the body and the mini ball pan for the head on top of a 12" base (2 layers) - covered in fondant 

 

12 cupcakes with buttercream frosting (each with a leaf, flower and mini ladybug on top)

 

2 smash cakes

 

I only had a week notice and had to buy my supplies local so couldn't get any real discounts. 

 

I was promised reimbursement of my materials cost (ended up being about $250) + whatever I wanted for my labor.

 

I spent a week on this - about 35-40 hrs on it.

 

What do you think is fair? FYI I live in NYC.

11 replies
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jason_kraft Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 5:05pm
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AIf you don't have a licensed and inspected commercial kitchen you can't legally accept money for cakes made from home sold directly to customers. You can still make the cake, but it would have to be a gift.

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kikiandkyle Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 5:57pm
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Does the boss expect to be hit with a $250+ bill? I have friends who offer to pay me for supplies if I'll make them a cake but they think it will be like $10-20, not what it really costs! (Which isn't why I don't do it, it's because it's not legal where I live). 

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mariel9898 Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 6:08pm
post #4 of 12

OMG - $250 for materials? Even for NYC this sound extremely high.icon_surprised.gif

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Cloves2bake Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 6:43pm
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Most of the money went to purchase the fondant - at about $28 each for a  5lb tub of black (they didn't have smaller and I didn't have time to experiment making black), 5lb red, 10lbs of green, 5lbs of white, gum paste, cake drums, boards, specialty pans,  flour, sugar, eggs, butter, etc.

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Annabakescakes Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 6:48pm
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ADid you use it all? You only charge for what you used. You can weigh the bucket to see what is left.

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Annabakescakes Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 6:50pm
post #7 of 12

AWell, the bag from the bucket.

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DeliciousDesserts Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 8:36pm
post #8 of 12
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

Did you use it all? You only charge for what you used. You can weigh the bucket to see what is left.

 

Yes.  That wouldn't really be fair.  You will still be able to use these materials for another cake.

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Cloves2bake Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 9:20pm
post #9 of 12

Thank for the comments! There isn't a whole lot left of the fondant but would be willing to reduce their reimbursement for that though I have no plans to make any more cakes in the near future. My main concern is how much these cakes would be worth based on time spent or servings etc. regardless of the cost of the materials. Any insight into that would be really helpful.

 

thanks again!

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Cloves2bake Posted 10 Feb 2013 , 9:22pm
post #10 of 12

Whoops just noted I put 12 cupcakes but there were 24 not 12.

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Ali3971 Posted 11 Feb 2013 , 8:12pm
post #11 of 12

HMM this is hard to say but from my prices and based on the info provided I came up with $234?

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Ali3971 Posted 11 Feb 2013 , 8:22pm
post #12 of 12

HMMM ....

 

24 cupcakes with fondant decor at $4 each = $96

2 Smash cakes (assuming buttercream) $15 each= $30

2 12" (45 servings each)+ 2 Ballpan on top (12 servings each)= 57 servings x 2 cakes is 114 servings @ $3.25 a serving for Fondant cakes = $370.50

 

$370.50

$096.00

$030.00

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$496.50 would be my GUESTAMENT

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