So I finally decided that I am no longer going to be on sale...and actually charge to make a small profit. I priced a three tiered 10/8/6 fondant covered graduation cake with edible images....She said "too much how much for two tiers?" I priced her a two tiered cake...then she asked how much for a sheet cake?  I recommended a bakery..... Seriously, I know  it's been said before, but people really do not know how much it costs to make a cake or how many hours it takes....

There...I'm done! 

AAgreed. Definitely takes the fun out of creating cakes.

Many people do not.  I hope you find customers who value the work that you do.  

I actually had a customer say that to me and it made me feel pretty good. She wanted a cake pretty last minute and wanted all the bells and whistles on it. I hemmed and hawed and bit and finally she said she didn't know what went into making the cake and if I didn't have the time, just do as much as I could within the theme. Made me feel a lot better about having to take the extra time to do it. Most people unfortunately aren't like that.

Hard lesson to learn sometimes, until you realize what you are giving up to make someone else's day!  Ain't no fun working hard and then realizing you just barely paid for supplies and might have made $4.00 an hour.  Not going back to giving them away either.  I can enjoy the pool, my family or friends a whole lot easier!!
 

OMG I actually referred her to a specialty cake shop which charges 165.00 for a 12 inch round 4 inch high with a simple fondant topper..... too bad they told her that they were booked.....she would have thought my price was a bargain....well all is well that ends well...she eventually told me that her son just wanted whipped cream on his cake... no ganache (my first choice) or buttercream....I told her I could not do a  whipped cream covered in fondant cake...to please go order a sheet cake from the bakery....she agreed!  Thanks for listening guys! 

$165 is still a bargain for a 56 serving cake.  That's $2.95/serving.