I checked some of the prices in my area at the grocery store bakeries, and here is what I found:
wedding cakes $1.95/serving, $2.15/serving for fondant covered
Round 10" cake $13.99- 16.99
1/4 sheet cake $12.99- 18.99
1/2 sheet cake $19.99- 25.99
I have been seriously thinking of turning my "side hobby" into a business, but with these prices, I would have to do a ton of cakes to really make a living. I am just curious what some of you charge for your cakes in these sizes, as we all know that our cakes are better than the grocery store ones!
I've found prices to be the same in my area. I was shocked to see one place has 12 cupcakes for $5.00!!!
this is my side hobby & it's hard to do a business when most of what I do is for friends & family - sometimes it depends on who it is as to what you charge also. Last 2- 8 inch cakes were torted and I charged $20 each. I didn't think that was bad $. Usually I charge $30 for a filled 1/2 sheet. Some of my others have just been cost and whatever the person wanted to give me because they were close friends. That varies.
We have a bakery that charges $2.50 for BC per piece and it goes up from there. Haven't called the others. There's one that does alot of business but I don't like their work or taste. Very commercial. Then there's the wal-mart type cake. The only price I know from them is $40 for full sheet but it was NASTY!
I checked some of the prices in my area at the grocery store bakeries, and here is what I found:
wedding cakes $1.95/serving, $2.15/serving for fondant covered
Round 10" cake $13.99- 16.99
1/4 sheet cake $12.99- 18.99
1/2 sheet cake $19.99- 25.99
I have been seriously thinking of turning my "side hobby" into a business, but with these prices, I would have to do a ton of cakes to really make a living. I am just curious what some of you charge for your cakes in these sizes, as we all know that our cakes are better than the grocery store ones!
Looks like you did all the legwork, I was wondering what the going rates were in the area. I'm just north of Janesville.
Don't get discouraged .I have read lots of posts on the prices wal-mart cahrges and some other places .They say by the time they come to you they know what wal-mart and the cheaper place have to offer and thats why they are willing to pay you more to get what they want.Good luck!
I have not sold my cakes yet but I would say to price your cakes just a bit high than the grocery store. Remember that your cakes are "custom" and while Walmart, Costco, ect turn out cheap cakes they are very limited in designs and flavor choices.
Jacqui
Imbkay,
Nice to see another Wisconsinite here! I work in Madison, and the rates here are quite a bit higher than in Monroe. The wedding cakes range from $3.50-5.00/serving up here, I would imagine that Janesville is also a little higher than Monroe. I haven't priced any sheet cakes in Madison though.
In Los Angeles most plain cake prices start at $3.00 a serving. By Plain, I mean just frosted and then perhaps with a very ez border.
The grocery store prices you listed are similar near me in MI as well. Bakeries that one would go to for wedding cakes (or expect to pay more for for a spec. occas. cake) charge only a few $ more--maybe $20-25 for an 8-10" round and $20-25 for a 1/4 sheet (9x13). When I was calling around I found that the choices were quite limited for flavors, sizes and decorating and I guess that's where I feel my business fits in and can justify higher prices.
I set up a spread sheet in Excel and figured out exactly what it costs me to do a cake--each recipe I use has it's own cost figured. It helped me see that I would make less than $5/hr if I charged the same as the bakeries. So, from that I set a "base" price for all my cakes to cover the cost (all the recipes were pretty close in cost) and pay myself for a standard time--then add more $ depending on the difficulty of decorating the customer is asking for. I am always generous with my fillings, provide a very tasty cake and am willing to take on projects that the larger bakeries just cannot do because of the volume of thier business. I have had a couple people decide to order from the local grocery after hearing my price quote, but most just get out their checkbook and ask for business cards for their friends.
Best of luck finding your niche in the cake business!
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