Minimum Orders

Business By Kitagrl Updated 20 Apr 2007 , 2:02pm by indydebi

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Kitagrl Posted 18 Apr 2007 , 2:32am
post #1 of 10

I am not busy enough yet to have "official" minimum orders....however as most of you know these days it isn't even worth it to sell a cake for $25 anymore, once you put all the work and money into it.

Do you have minimum orders? How do you handle it if someone requests a very small novelty cake just as a gift for a friend?

9 replies
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KoryAK Posted 18 Apr 2007 , 2:35am
post #2 of 10

My minimum order is $20, but that is for a 6" round and I I rarely get orders that small. Even a 10" round for me is $70 - so its rare that I even have that issue.

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Kitagrl Posted 18 Apr 2007 , 2:40am
post #3 of 10

A few times (including a few mins ago) I have had people wanting to order 3D cakes, but they wanted them very small as a gift, but not for a party.

Just now I just let her know that small cakes aren't as cost effective as large cakes and she may feel that for the size it is more expensive but that I would offer her a small one for $50. (It will be like a 6" Tiffany box with bow).

Just curious how others handle it... I guess as you said it doesn't happen *alot* but when it does, I like to accomodate smaller purchases but without being out time and money (since small cakes don't bring in a very large profit margin, even though you are still spending that time mixing and baking and making icing and etc.)

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DianeLM Posted 18 Apr 2007 , 2:54am
post #4 of 10

I don't even turn the oven on for less than $50. And you don't get much for that. An 8-inch round with VERY simple deco.

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anorris3 Posted 18 Apr 2007 , 3:02am
post #5 of 10

Is there a difference for home bakers or those with a store?

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SScakes Posted 20 Apr 2007 , 8:51am
post #6 of 10

Yes I do have minimum orders. It's just not worth it for me to do small cakes. With cupcakes I have a mimimum quantity order as well with cookies. With cupcakes, they have to order 2 dozen or more and with cookies, it depends on the size.

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emmascakes Posted 20 Apr 2007 , 9:17am
post #7 of 10

My minimum order is £60 ($120) as I only do cakes one day a week and it had better be worth my while! I enjoy doing it more knowing I'm being paid properly for my work.

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MikeRowesHunny Posted 20 Apr 2007 , 9:19am
post #8 of 10

I have minimum orders too - well, prices anyway! My lowest cake/cupcake/cookie price is 35 euros ($50), and wedding cakes are 150 euros ($200), regardless of size/design etc. It's really not worth the stress and effort for any less! I work from home.

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Hippiemama Posted 20 Apr 2007 , 12:29pm
post #9 of 10

I know of a lot of bakeries that have minimum orders.

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indydebi Posted 20 Apr 2007 , 2:02pm
post #10 of 10

i wounld think it depends on how your shop is set up. I'm not a walk in bakery with cases filled with cookies and doughnuts in anticipation of people wanting to buy one or two. Ergo, whether I'm a home baker or a shop baker, there is a minimum order because each item is made to order, not made on spec, and there is a minimum cost involved to turn on the oven and mess up the kitchen.

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