What Would You Charge? (Pic Included)

Business By BubbleGumBG Updated 3 Apr 2013 , 3:14am by SystemMod2

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BubbleGumBG Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 7:24pm
post #1 of 37

My first cake order. I've done cakes for family and friends, but have just started spreading the word to others. I used 6 in. and 8 in. pans. I told her $35, but she paid 40. I know alot of folks in my area don't have much money, but I know that those who do have the money will be willing to pay the right price. Anyway, after making the cake and figuring prices, I had about $15 into it. 6-8 hours? I should have timed how long each step took. But out of curiosity, what would you charge for something like this?

 

 

36 replies
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ddaigle Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 7:30pm
post #2 of 37

Wow...I think no matter where you live....that is hugely under priced.    I know pricing varies from state-to-state....but my 6/8 "STARTS" at $99.....that's before any of those triangles, skull heads, rolled (pita) fondant border, bow, topper, and whatever I can't see.   

 

And I'm sure $99 for a stripped 6/8 is way cheaper than many other people in other areas.  

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jason_kraft Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 7:52pm
post #3 of 37

A$200-250

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LittleBroccoli Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 9:52pm
post #4 of 37

AI love this cake! Definitely underpriced. But I think pricing cakes is as much as a learning curve as creating the things! When I've under charged I kick myself but I do a great job get great pictures (of which you've done both) and tell myself it will be great marketing.

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LittleBroccoli Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 10:00pm
post #5 of 37

ABy the way you asked how would you price something like this. I charge a base price, which is your price per portion x size of cake. There's your blank canvas. Then I charge for each tier dependant on the intricacy and time required ie those Diamonds look like a complete pita. Sugar flowers, bows or skulls etc extra on top, dependant on how long they take to create + cost ingredients. Hope that helps?

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Dani1081 Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 10:01pm
post #6 of 37

I would have charge $60 - $70 for it here.  People won't pay $200 for 20 servings of cake - not even wedding cake - here in Missouri. 

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jason_kraft Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 10:24pm
post #7 of 37

A6" + 8" rounds = 36 servings.

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DeliciousDesserts Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 10:35pm
post #8 of 37

I just recently did a cake with the same theme.  This is a 9" white cake with buttercream frosting covered with Fondarific:  http://cakecentral.com/g/i/2958668/a/8/monsters-high-birthday-cake-my-cousin-is-allergic-to-tree-nuts-for-her-birthday-i-created-a-special-white-cake-with-buttercream-frosting-it-is-covered-with-a-mix-of-pettinice-fondarific-fondants-the-skull-logo-was-created-with-a-mix-of/flat/0

 

This was for my cousin's daughter and I did not charge her.  If I was going to charge (and if the logo wasn't copyright protected), I would have charged at least $65.  My price is almost double for almost half.  Pricing does vary according to region, market, and skill level.  

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eatmycakebaby Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 11:12pm
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I too am in an area where people do have a lot of money.  The only time I under price a cake is when I havent done it before and Im not sure how it will turn out. I recently did a wrestling ring and it was a 10in square cake and I only charged the man $65, because I had never done one before.  $65 dollars for that cake would have been underselling it. 

I am in the poorest part of NC but a cake like that with the detail and the materials, I would hav enot sold it for less than $85.  When I just started out selling my cakes to other people besides friends and family  I was giving away my cakes too.  If you go ahead and bring your prices up with the work you are doing trust me @ $85-90 you are doing them a favor.  The cake looks really nice by the way and keep up the good work.  I go by my serving sizes for my base pricing.  Print out the wilton serving chart and just adjust it to your area for how much you are going to charge pre serving.  Right now Im at $2 a serving so times that by 32 would have started them off at 64-65 dollars. 

 

BUT DAMN THESE PEOPLE UP HERE HOLLERING 100-200 DOLLARS I HAVE TO MOVE QUICKLY icon_lol.gif

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Annabakescakes Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 11:21pm
post #10 of 37

AI would do it for $135, but it would be a little more professional looking, and not take quite as long.

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eatmycakebaby Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 11:24pm
post #11 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

I would do it for $135, but it would be a little more professional looking, and not take quite as long.

well that was a low blow ugh.....................

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Annabakescakes Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 11:32pm
post #12 of 37

A

Original message sent by eatmycakebaby

well that was a low blow ugh.....................

that's not how I meant it, so check yourself. For the purposes of pricing, the way the cake turns out is a factor. I can't command the prices that Ron Ben Israel does, because his cakes are way more professional looking than mine. Facts are facts, they don't have feelings.

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BubbleGumBG Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 11:44pm
post #13 of 37

DeliciousDesserst, Love your cake! It's so clean and perfected! Mine wasn't quite as professional looking. It wasn't as good as I'd have liked, but with time and practice I'll get there.

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BubbleGumBG Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 11:51pm
post #14 of 37

 Annabakescakes, I won't lie, the comment stings a little. But it is what it is. I was disappointed with how it came out, but wasn't about to spend more time on it, for the price I was charging. I am by no means a professional, but I get a step closer with every cake!

 

jason_kraft, I have yet to get a handle on the serving size thing. There's Wilton's and there's Earlene's. This cake was for 15-20 people. I have another order for 30 and planned on doing the same 2 tiers. Not quite sure how to do a 2 tier cake for 20 people and what chart to go by for party cakes . . . 

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eatmycakebaby Posted 2 Apr 2013 , 11:53pm
post #15 of 37

CHILD SWERVE talking about a check myself.. chicken fly  you should have just stated what you would have charged for the cake as is, that was the point of her putting the picture up here. its a nice cake point black period.

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Annabakescakes Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:16am
post #16 of 37

A

Original message sent by eatmycakebaby

CHILD SWERVE talking about a check myself.. chicken fly  you should have just stated what you would have charged for the cake as is, that was the point of her putting the picture up here. its a nice cake point black period.

FYI, it's "point blank".

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kazita Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:24am
post #17 of 37

AI personally think the cake is very cute ( other than the cardboard that its on ) I'm guilty of using cardboards but after reading on here and looking at all the cakes here with pretty cakeboards or at least a cake drum. I think you way under charged for this cake it has nice fondant work. I'm not gonna go into the legality of not being able to sell cakes from your home unless you are licensed, I caused enough drama the other day with that. Anyways I think you could of got at least $3 a severing for this particular cake.

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enga Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:24am
post #18 of 37

Woooow!, just wow, roflmbo. Nice cake btw.
 

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FrostedMoon Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:35am
post #19 of 37

AI think you did a great job! I too am relatively new to this business and still working on my skill level, but I would charge around $100. I do live in an area where some people will pay 400-500 for a 4 year old's birthday cake, but that's from a long established bakery.

Think of it this way. If you go out to dinner you probably easily pay $3-5 for dessert that probably doesn't taste or look as good as your cake. So if your cake looks professional, it's not crazy to expect people to pay that per serving. Assuming 36 servings, that's $108-$180.

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enga Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:37am
post #20 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by enga 

Woooow!, just wow, roflmbo. Nice cake btw

BubbleGumBG, that is a really nice cake, the Emo kids, (lovers of  every thing dark and cute), from where I'm from would love it.

 

I think it could go for 100.00 plus in my neck of the woods,jmo.

 

Good Luck with your cakes

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kazita Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:37am
post #21 of 37

ADeliciousdesserts that darn cake of yours looks so perfect I swear its fake!

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DeliciousDesserts Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:51am
post #22 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by BubbleGumBG 

DeliciousDesserst, Love your cake! It's so clean and perfected! Mine wasn't quite as professional looking. It wasn't as good as I'd have liked, but with time and practice I'll get there.

 

Well, thank you so much for the compliment.  Yes, you will.  There are cakes, from my early days, I wouldn't dare post on here ... or anywhere!

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

I would do it for $135, but it would be a little more professional looking, and not take quite as long.

 

 

Quote:
Originally Posted by eatmycakebaby 

well that was a low blow ugh.....................

 

Trust me when I say AnnaBakesCakes did not mean to be offensive.  Sometimes, ya gotta read "just what's written." Anna does more professional work and the level of skill is absolutely a factor.  It's not fair to suggest a price knowing that the cake would look different according to skill.  However, this does give the OP a bit of guidance.  
 
I am not as talented as Jim Smeal (crazy talented Charleston cake artist).  When setting my prices, I researched his.  I knew I couldn't charge that much.  I also knew I am a bit more talented than some of the less expensive cakes in Charleston.  I used that knowledge to set my prices.
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DeliciousDesserts Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:54am
post #23 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by kazita 

Deliciousdesserts that darn cake of yours looks so perfect I swear its fake!

 

That is so sweet of you to say. Seriously, that's a huge compliment.  I see at least 10 things I would do differently.  It was my first pattern like that & trust me it is far from perfect.

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eatmycakebaby Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 12:58am
post #24 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 


FYI, it's "point blank".

FYI its MIDDLE FINGER child shut up. 

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kazita Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 1:04am
post #25 of 37

AHoly crap here I thought the thread that I was involved in was full of drama this just took on a whole new level of rudeness.

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CWR41 Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 1:05am
post #26 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by Annabakescakes 

I would do it for $135, but it would be a little more professional looking, and not take quite as long.


IMO, there's nothing wrong with saying this... the title asks, What would YOU charge?  It's pointless throwing out a price that someone else can/should charge, when the question is based on what others would charge at their business with their skill -- I am right?  You wouldn't say $35 is fine (if you didn't think it looked professional enough, when you know your business would charge $200 for a similar design), and have people think you also severely undercharge.

 

For a professional, it wouldn't take quite as long, and it would look more professional -- that needs to be specified.  If a professional wouldn't pay any price for a cake that they know they can do better, perhaps a professional can/should specify that too.

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CWR41 Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 1:08am
post #27 of 37
Quote:
Originally Posted by eatmycakebaby 

FYI its MIDDLE FINGER child shut up. 


You should be banned.

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kazita Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 1:09am
post #28 of 37

A

Original message sent by CWR41

You should be banned.

I'd be surprised if she weren't

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DeliciousDesserts Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 1:12am
post #29 of 37

**blink blink**

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kazita Posted 3 Apr 2013 , 1:21am
post #30 of 37

A

Original message sent by CWR41

IMO, there's nothing wrong with saying this... the title asks, What would YOU charge?  It's pointless throwing out a price that someone else can/should charge, when the question is based on what others would charge at their business with their skill -- I am right?  You wouldn't say $35 is fine (if you didn't think it looked professional enough, when you know your business would charge $200 for a similar design), and have people think you also severely undercharge.

For a professional, it wouldn't take quite as long, and it would look more professional -- that needs to be specified.  If a professional wouldn't pay any price for a cake that they know they can do better, perhaps a professional can/should specify that too.

The other day on the site there was a cake posted with the OP asking us to price her cake well long story short we told her that the cake needed alittle work to it before selling it, we ended up hurting her feelings and the whole thread took a sour note on so in my personal opinion you need to walk lightly when you point out certain things . Jmo

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