Price The Cake (Professional)

Business By Annabakescakes Updated 22 Feb 2013 , 10:23pm by ShelbyLyn

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Annabakescakes Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 8:40pm
post #1 of 46

I love the brightness of this, and the detail, but don't think I would ever take this much work on, by myself. What would you charge, provided you are legally allowed to charge, and have the cake skilz to pull it off as well?

It is just stunning! I need to get busy, so if someone could jump in with the details, But I think at least $6 a cake. And then $4 a serving for the top piece. I don't have a total, since I am not sure about how many there are, but an 6" square for $4.25 a serving, 18 servings, would be $76.50

45 replies
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crushed Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:17pm
post #2 of 46

AIt appears there are 68 of the smaller cakes.

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tracyaem Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:29pm
post #3 of 46

I would charge $65 for the top tier and $5/mini cake for $575 total.

 

I believe there are 102 small cakes:

 

Bottom tier is 6 x 6 = 36

Next tier is 5 x 5 = 25

Next tier is 4 x 4 = 16

Next tier is 4 x 4 (again) = 16

Top tier is 3 x 3 = 9

Total = 102

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AZCouture Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:29pm
post #4 of 46

Dude, quit picking these ridiculous far fetched scenarios!! dunce.gifthumbsdown.gificon_lol.gif

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AZCouture Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:31pm
post #5 of 46

Yeesh...I probably would not even quote a price, because I wouldn't want all that work. That tedious tiny work would keep me from making something fun and tiered, possibly sculpted for that weekend, and I'd rather hold out for that. So there's my answer. Seriously.

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-K8memphis Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:41pm
post #6 of 46

you can only count the corners once per tier

 

there's 68 cakes ~ it's:

 

  8

12

12

16

20 on the bottom

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shanter Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:43pm
post #7 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by crushed 

It appears there are 68 of the smaller cakes.

 

Correct. There are 68 minicakes (no cakes in the middle where the post is).

 

If you charge $12 per minicake, that would be $816 plus the top cake.

If you charge $15 per minicake, that would be $1020 plus the top cake.

 

I would not charge less than $12 each for these minicakes. They are a pain to make.

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crushed Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:44pm
post #8 of 46

ATo me it looks like there are center supports that take up room. I counted the perimeter only.

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jason_kraft Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:47pm
post #9 of 46

AThose mini-cakes are a pain, I would probably charge $100 for the top tier and $15 per mini-cake for a total of $1120.

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crushed Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 9:54pm
post #10 of 46

AI would charge $10 per mini cake (so $680) and $3.50 per serving for the top cake ($63). Total =$743 + delivery, setup and stand rental.

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FromScratchSF Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 10:07pm
post #11 of 46

I've been sent this photo to quote out to someone that wanted it for their birthday!  I quoted $18/mini cake plus another couple hundred for the centerpiece cake.  They said they got another quote telling them $5 per mini cake.  LOL!  I bet that baker was cursing themselves the entire time they said $5 each and probably since raised their prices!!!

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Dayti Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 10:17pm
post #12 of 46

When I first started my business, a couple wanted a few mini cakes for their wedding. I had never done them before, and since they are not much bigger than a cupcake, I charged €5 each. I was regretting it by the time I got to the second mini cake (I only had to do 35). SUCH a pain.

 

I would charge €15 each for the minis...all that piping, then painting lustre over it, the little flowers, tinting all that fondant multicoloured...I sell a 6" square as 15 portions, at €6 each, so €90. Total for top cake and mini cakes if we are counting 68 would be €1110. Plus stand rental of €25, stand deposit of €100, and delivery. 

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Annabakescakes Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 10:18pm
post #13 of 46

See, that is why I love you guys! I was just thinking about it being a lot of work for the minis, but not really that the piping and then over painting would take as long as it would, so maybe 45 minutes or more each. Which is worth way more than $6. I think for these to be done right, and my time paid for, then it really should be at least $10-$12 for my pricing. I would be kicking myself for charging $6....

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by FromScratchSF 

I've been sent this photo to quote out to someone that wanted it for their birthday!  I quoted $18/mini cake plus another couple hundred for the centerpiece cake.  They said they got another quote telling them $5 per mini cake.  LOL!  I bet that baker was cursing themselves the entire time they said $5 each and probably since raised their prices!!!

Any chance we can find those photos? icon_twisted.gif

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Annabakescakes Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 10:22pm
post #14 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCouture 

Dude, quit picking these ridiculous far fetched scenarios!! dunce.gifthumbsdown.gificon_lol.gif

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by AZCouture 

Yeesh...I probably would not even quote a price, because I wouldn't want all that work. That tedious tiny work would keep me from making something fun and tiered, possibly sculpted for that weekend, and I'd rather hold out for that. So there's my answer. Seriously.

BUT IT IS SOOO PRETTY! The kind of caker I am, I would be cussing myself while I made them, but then, when I sat back and had this beautiful cake to look at, it makes it all worth it!  But I would be asking my husband to take a vacation day to help me!

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tracyaem Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 11:13pm
post #15 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by -K8memphis 

you can only count the corners once per tier

 

there's 68 cakes ~ it's:

 

  8

12

12

16

20 on the bottom

I was only counting the corners once. If there are no cakes in the middle (i.e. perimeter only) then it's 68. If the cakes are filled in, it's 6 rows of 6 which is 36, for example. But from this pic you can't tell and I would assume they wouldn't waste all that space in the middle (particularly on the bottom tiers). But I suppose crazier things have happened...

 

Regardless, not relevant to the question as price is still per cake.

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scrumdiddlycakes Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 11:14pm
post #16 of 46

I had a bride bring in that picture as her inspiration about a year ago, we kept the shapes, but did a piped lace pattern and topped with a rose. It was a small wedding, thank heaven, just 30 small cakes and no topper cake. I charged $16 each, and would have done $90 for the topper. Going to see if I can dig up a picture, just to prove what a turd I was for agreeing to it.

 

So for the exact one pictured, $1178, and it wouldn't be enough.

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Koccy Posted 19 Feb 2013 , 11:33pm
post #17 of 46

I may accept the challenge but in my relexion, i'm sure i'll made many mistakes from a beginner...

 

For the mini cakes, I will start in mind the basic price for a standard cupcake and compare the job....

 

My cupcakes started at 3.50 for a big cupcake with a simple "rosette" of icing with a little decoration like Wilton flowesr plungers.

 

For the mini-cake,

 

1. I have to put icing for a crumbcoat (?), I put the second coat and (try) to smooth it as my little dear cakes are running on the table cause it don't want to stay in place.......

 

2. I must the good colors (I buy if I can!), roll the fondant, be sure it will not dry into the operation... covering, smoothing, cutting...

 

3. I have to prepare royal icing, piping, put the gold... going to my chiro, put the gold, going to my chiro... etc.

 

4. Doing the 4 stages sweet little flowers and put it together (and find the place to let them dry)

 

5. Find the good colors between ribbons and fondant, mesures et fix it without scrapping the pipping....

 

So! 15$ per mini cakes.... and I take the contract if there is less than 25 mini-cakes!!!!!!! Addind to that, I charge 150$ extra for the chiro...

 

For the big one.... about 80$

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Chellescakes Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 12:00am
post #18 of 46

The six inch I would charge as 18 serves , @ $6.25 each.  So that $112.50 .

 

I would charge around $18-$20 each for the mini cakes. They are a PITA to do and very time consuming. 

 

The last lot that I did , was for a friend's son's wedding.( she is a cake decorator too and my best friend and assistant )  We actually had a production line going with several of us working on each step then passing it on to the next one.  ( That was a love job) 

 

You have to board each cake individually, then ganache , then cover , pipe, handpaint gold detail, ribbon, make flowers , and match all the colours. 

 

It is a lot of work. 

 

SO if we are assuming 68 cakes $1224-$1360 plus the $112.50 for the top cake. 

 

The flowers are simple . 

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shanter Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 12:04am
post #19 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koccy 

So! 15$ per mini cakes.... and I take the contract if there is less than 25 mini-cakes!!!!!!! Addind to that, I charge 150$ extra for the chiro...

 

Is that $150 for a chiropractor? I'd need to see one also if I did that collection of minicakes.  icon_biggrin.gif

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LKing12 Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 2:15am
post #20 of 46

Would you consider doing these in a poured fondant, rather than rolled?

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kikiandkyle Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 2:24am
post #21 of 46

Nobody seems to have mentioned that the cakes are shaped, at least they appear to be very rounded on top. 

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Koccy Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 2:50am
post #22 of 46

Shanter,

 

I need to see my chiro 3 times for this cake! ahahaahah

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Koccy Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 2:53am
post #23 of 46

What does mean PITA???

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sewsugarqueen Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 2:55am
post #24 of 46

you forgot to add the cost of the 6 pack or 40 oz of your favourite booze to help you get through all those mini cakes.... willing to bet by the 4th or 5th one you could use a stiff drink!  And I thought I was crazy doing decorated cookies. 

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A Cakerellas Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 3:01am
post #25 of 46

are they really that much of a pain to make?

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SugaredSaffron Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 3:04am
post #26 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by A Cakerellas 

are they really that much of a pain to make?


YES! I've just covered 12, and its 3:00 amicon_eek.gif

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mariel9898 Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 3:05am
post #27 of 46
Quote:
Originally Posted by Koccy 

What does mean PITA???

 

Pain In The A** (substitute "s" for each *)

 

icon_biggrin.gif

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A Cakerellas Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 3:11am
post #28 of 46

thats a really good idea

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A Cakerellas Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 3:12am
post #29 of 46

what time did you start?

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FromScratchSF Posted 20 Feb 2013 , 3:19am
post #30 of 46

Yes they are a major pain.  Let me put it this way, I can cover a 14" square cake in fondant and do it just find on the 1st go - my 6", 5" and 4" cakes almost always take 2 tries.  Little buggers.

 

As for the source photo, it looks like the cakes are square but covered in really thick fondant, making the tops really rounded like that.  

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