I've been baking for years but I just started making decorated cakes in the last year. I put my cakes up on my facebook page to show my family and friends and lately I've been getting many questions about selling my cakes. In fact, this week I've had people ask me to make 5 cakes... all of them were friends of friends.

So a few questions for those of you who sell cakes for a living....

1. Looking at my photos, am I good enough to sell my cakes (I'm a big girl and I can take criticism)?

2. If I'm just starting out, should I charge less because I'm learning about the process and bound to make some mistakes?

3. If I should charge less, is there a rule of thumb out there to guide me?

Finally, I should mention I'm looking in to the health dpt issue for home baking.

Thanks. I really appreciate all the feedback (in advance).

I don't think people would ask you to make them a cake if they didn't think you were good enough. You do good work.

I think you should charge full price. Because as you become more experienced, you'd probably want to start charging more. But those who have already paid your "beginner price" won't want to pay your new prices. You should charge the going rate for your area.

Something I often remind myself with: If people don't want to pay the going rate for my cakes; they must not really want my cakes because they like them, but because they want a cheap cake. Price what you are worth.

Several threads with a cake pricing matrix:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-148801-.html

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-5711-.html

Cookie pricing matrix:

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-decorating-ftopict-193961-.html

I think your cakes and cookies are quite lovely! It's no wonder that you're being solicited.

Good luck getting licensed.

HTH

I agree with Michellers .. Once you set your prices, stick to them. It is hard to raise prices once you get a customer. Word of mouth, and previous purchases will have a lot of people saying .. :"But so & so paid this much for this or I only paid this 6 months ago, why is it more now" Better to set them and stick to them than raise them later. And yes I think you are a great decorator. Very nice cakes & cookies. LOVE the pirates!!

Yes, your good enough,no don't charge less, I've made that mistake too many times. If you don't place value on your time and skills then no one else will. Good luck, I know you'll do great.

Your cakes are wonderful! Don't charge less. I agree with the others don't charge less cause it will be hard to up them afterwards. I'm doing my first non-family cake this week and need to keep reminding myself of that, especially in a small town I don't want to be known as someone who does cakes for cheap.

Thanks to you all for the advice and links. My husband says the same thing...don't sell yourself short on prices because it will be hard to raise them later. Part of me is always apologetic about my cakes. (I wonder if that will ever go away? ) The idea of making something for a paying customer and not having it be what they wanted makes me very nervous especially if they've paid good money. I guess I have to get over that or just keep making cakes for free.