I just posted to my Mommy group the cake I made for someone and almost immediately a member responded that she LOVED the cake and wondered if I could make 30 decorated cookies for the 31st of January!!!! (Ummm... short notice, batman!!!)

I've only done decorated cookies for home for the holidays and never even really ventured into any major details on cookies, so I would shy away from anything too intricate, but I still told her that a decorated cookie with any detail would be $2 to $3 a cookie depending on what size cutter she chooses.

I responded to her email late last night, so she probably hasn't seen the message yet, but I'm POSITIVE she (and most anyone else) would be in sticker shock at cookie prices, but they are SOOOOOOOOO much more work than cakes unless you are into super labor intensive fondant work (which I am NOT)...

Do you find that? Do people understand it once they start thinking about it? Who knows, maybe she'll decide that $60-$90 reasonable for a decorated cookie for her 6 year old to bring to school for her bday, but I SURE wouldn't!!!! NO WAY would I pay that for that... I told her $1 a cookie for simple iced cookies of her choice... was that too much? I still think that's spot on as I still have to mix, chill, roll, cut out, bake, ice and dry... LOTS of work involved, imo!!!

Melissa

I thought it was high too, until I started decorating them. They take so much time. The baking part is easy, but the decorating sometimes takes two or three steps depending on the design.

I think 1.00 each is very reasonable and you will probably kick yourself when you finish for charging so little!!

Cindy

Decorated cookies are lots of work! I had an enquiry about some for party favours, and I hummed and hawed over the price, but then worked out just how long it was going to take me, plus the costs of ingredients and the lustre dust and glitters I'll be using and finally said $4 each. The woman placed her order.

Don't ever sell yourself short on cookies, I often have! I have seen a person where I live charge a lot more than I do for much simpler decorated cookies (in fact almost as much as I have charged for the cookies above - for a cookie plainly decorated with just one colour!), so people must be willing to pay the price (but in all honesty, I wouldn't feel comfortable charging so much for such simple cookies!).

I never realized how long one cookie took until I made them. My first decorated cookie I sold, my cross cookies, were a simple design, but it does take alot of time nevertheless. I belive I chared arond $2 each for them - customer was thrilled with them.

deb

we have a beautiful cookie here in town and they charge up to $5 a cookie.

I have such a hard time with this too. I recently just had someone ask for 65 cross cookies for First Communion party favors in May. I'm going to give her a price this week but, I don't know how much I"m going to charge yet.

PS, if you check out my pics and look at mine, was just a white cross with shell border and a small cross (dusted with gold lusterdust) in the center. I would say no less than $2 each as the border takes a bit of time. Truthfully I am doing them again for this weekend for my grandson's christening. Oh yeah, welcome to NJ.....where are you?

deb

Starting price for me is $2.00 per cookie 1 dz minimum

I charge around $2.50 - $4.00 depending on the cookie and the size. Most times I'll offer a small discount for large orders. When shipping cookies there is always a "handling" fee to cover my packing materials. Some people don't blink an eye, some think they're inexpensive and others are shocked at the prices. They have NO idea how involved these cookies can get and how much time it takes to decorate each one.

I agree with bonjovibabe "don't ever sell yourself short".

I struggle with this too! I guess I am not a business person. I charge $3 a cookie (check my pics for size), evem for the ones on sticks. I haven't had anyone say no yet but I am sure they are "talking" about the price as too much (am I paranoid??). However, I really can't sell for any less considering the time spent. I was really proud of myself when I gave a price to one of my friend's friends. I didn't go into my "justify the price" routine where I tell them the price and say it is because it is sooooo much work, etc. I just told her that they were $3 each and that was that. She placed the order. Don't sell yourself short. They could go to the local grocery store and buy a large (3plus inch) cookie and it would be at least $1 if not more. We all know what those cookies look like! These are specialty cookies. More of a gift not like a plate of chocolate chip cookies to put out at a party. No more justifying for me, $3 and that is that!!!!!!!

Well, the lady very nicely said that she didn't realize the labor that went into it and she'll contact me again in March when she needs a cake... but, she ends the message asking if I had some girly cookie cutters she could borrow!?!?!

WHAT???? She doesn't want to pay for my cookies, even the $1 simply iced ones, but she wants to borrow my cookie cutters... that takes some gall!!! Now I'm trying to figure out how to handle saying no and still keeping the door open to her for a future cake.... Though, she probably die at the $35 to $45 for a cake too!

Melissa

tell her you do not lend out your supplies...
direct her to ebay to get cookie cutters

Melissa,

Just simply say that you cannot loan out business equipment. Perhaps you could direct her to a few websites where she can buy some (and see the cost of really nice cookie cutters!!)

Kathi

Yes! The worst was a customer who kept changing the cookie design until they were giant daisies (5-inches) on florist tape covered sticks, individually wrapped. The cost of the cookies was more than TWICE that of the cake. She almost dropped dead! I gave her a coupon toward her next cake as a goodwill offering. No way was I going to back down on my price. She redeemed the coupon and has referred several customers to me so I guess in the end she understood.

If you don't value your work, no one will. Letting people bully you into lowering your prices sends a powerful message. I'd rather have the weekend off and retain my self respect than slave over an order that goes unappreciated.

And borrow your cookie cutters???? What a frootloop! I wonder how she cuts down on dentist expenses!

How do you think she'd react if you "charged" her a rental fee for the cookies cutters I swear I don't know where these people come from. I still can't believe that she asked to borrow your cutters. The nerve!!

I had a lady that placed an order for a cake but she lived 41 miles away and wanted me to deliver it. When I told her the delivery fee for an 82 miles round trip she said she'd think about it. She didn't want to drive that far to pick it up but didn't want to pay a delivery charge . 5 days to the actual date she cancelled and said she'd make the cake herself that the delivery was too high. Gas was $3.69 a gal at the time.

I did email the gal and told her that I didn't loan out my equipment but told her of a local place to buy specialty cutters if she needs these by Wednesday and to a few online places if it's longer term... We'll see if I ever hear from her... I can understand her not wanting to pay $60 for cookies, but to ask to borrow my cookie cutters so she can make something herself is just jaw dropping rude, imo... I would let my best friend borrow them, but that's about it!!! And she would NEVER ASK!!!

Melissa

I think it would depend on how well you know the person and how friendly you are. If the email exchange was more of a close relationship, like my playgroup is, we'veknow each other for years and would give each other the shirt off our backs, I wouldn't bat an eyelash at lending her a few cookie cutters. I doubt she had any ill intent, or was being a super cheapskate. She just might not realize she's breaking a cake decorator etiquette. Is it possible to only offer doing cakes and not cookies because I don't think I'd want to make cookies. They're too labor intensive. And just not as much fun. LOL!

-Heather

Oops, I just read your post. I was posting and didn't see your post.

-Heather

Funny, is that I never mentioned I would do cookies. I guess tjey just assume if you do one, you would do the other?

And I don't know this lady... MAYBE I've met her once, but she's not a regular... and even if it was, they all know I'm trying to stay at home longer and trying to sell a few cakes to get things going... so asking for some "freebies" to me is out of line. Maybe it's because I've always been raised to not ask for things from people. I NEVER do.

Melissa

Oh, if you didn't know her then yes that's rude. That's pretty gutsy to ask someone you don't know for a favor. LOL!

-Heather

Well, I must be doing something VERY wrong. Last week I filled an order for 4 dozen cut outs, iced and I charged $20. It was the SIMPLE icing, basketball, football, football helmet and trophy cup. I charged her the platter price for 4 dozen $15, and then added $5 to frost. She absolutely loved them. Our kids go to school together, etc. and she'll be ordering a cake in April too. If I do some cookies for a wedding, with the royal icing and lots of detail, then I'm charging $2 a piece. Maybe I'm off my rocker with my charging $20, but I'm in a REALLY small town, and am trying to grow my client base, and I really enjoy decorating the cakes and cookies too!

All I can say is WOW. The whole customer borrowing equipment to keep from paying for a (last minute at that) service thing is crazy.

I could see if it was a fellow decorator in a pinch.

They will try anything. Stick to your prices, I found that out the hard way. Those ornaments at Christmas taught me a valuable lesson in pricing and time.

If she never calls you for anything else you didn't need her as a customer. Somethimes it is more trouble than what it's worth.

Good luck!!

i charge $3 per cookie. sometimes i get people who think that's too much, but i have enough people who think i'm giving them a deal and i should charge more. that lady does have a lot of nerve to ask to borrow your equip. i'm glad you told her no.