A Little Question And A Story About How Stupid I Am!
Decorating By sheepishmagoo Updated 12 Jul 2007 , 2:01pm by mommicakes
Hi everyone! I only post every once in a while on these boards but you've always been such a wealth of knowledge and I appreciate all of your wisdom.
Ok, I just have a question. I just do cake for fun, never been paid to do one. It's usually my 'gift', kwim? Well I have a friend who wants to actually pay me to make her husband's 30th birthday cake. He want a 2 tiered chocolate cake for a pretty large crowd. I don't know how many people yet though since it's in September. lol But I'm just wondering how much should I ask her for? She is absolutely insisting on paying me. I know it would depend on the sizes of the pans (right?) and things like that. Anyway, he wants it iced with a chocolate buttercream and then drizzled over the sides with chocolate ganache. I guess I should say that's what his wife wants instead of him because he's totally in the dark about it. haha
Ok and here's how stupid I am. I've been trying to think of where I can start getting my supplies for wholesale prices and things like that. I do make a lot of cakes so I'm constantly running for supplies. Well, I said something to my husband about finding 'bettercream' to use instead of the buttercream. He said, 'that's funny! We carry something at work called bettercream'. Guess where he works.... At a warehouse that SUPPLIES BAKERIES! I AM STUPID STUPID STUPID! I have had access to the gold-mine the WHOLE TIME! FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS! ARGHHHHHHHH!!! Sometimes I can't even believe how dumb I can be. Oh and this revelation came to me in a cold medicine induced day-dream, too. Jeez... I hope you had a laugh cause I was ROLLING when I realized how much wasted money was involved. ROFLOL
Well Hello!!! Where was he during these past 5 years??? You mean HE worked there all this time and watched you going out and spending money elsewhere instead of buying it at wholesale from his store?????????
Well Hello!!! Where was he during these past 5 years??? You mean HE worked there all this time and watched you going out and spending money elsewhere instead of buying it at wholesale from his store?????????
lol I hope his position isn't in sales 
Hehehe sorry dont mean to laugh but we all have our moments of well you know.... but he is just as bad for not saying something sooner hehe... you poor bugger.
I am sure you will come up with the perfect price to charge a friend i know i have had the dilemma many a times and then it started getting beyond a joke and i started hearing rumours so now i dont do any cheap they all get the same as anyone who approaches me from the street so to speak...
Is he the creative type too? sometime creative types shall we say . . .make things more complicated then they need to be 
I am the creative one between hubby and myself - heck my husband is a quality control enginer. He basically watches people to deterimine if they are effecient enough for the company and if they are not he redisgn there job including they way they stand to make them more efficent. He is always trying to show me ways to save money including cutting all my cake boards himself 
Here in Florida most people charge per serving. If it's buttercream they charge anyqhere between 2.50 to 3.00 per person if it's fondant it's between 3.00 and 4.00 per person. Of course the decorations are usually charged separetly. I also make cakes for family but you can go on line and see in your city what they usually charge and you will have a better idea of the prices in your area without overcharging. Best of luck to you.
ok, can I first say what the heck was your husband NOT thinking 
Second, I am totally jealous!!!!!!!
He He ... Maybe you can go through some old threads here, I know the formula cost x 3, but because I don't charge I really have no help for you. Good luck with your cake!!
I usually just do family and friends cake for special occasions. In the rare time they request to pay me I usually just ask them to pay for the supplies. It works because they feel like they are "paying" for the cake.
Weelllll.....ALLL RIGHTY THEN! LOLOLOLOLOLOLOLOL Not laughing AT you....laughing WITH you! Ever heard of the old saying "Couldn't see the forest for the trees" maybe we could change it to "Couldn't see the Bettercream for the Buttercream"! LOL
I sell very few cakes to "real" clients. I usually use the cost x 3 formula for them. For friends....I charge no more than $35.00 for special occasion cakes. Then, I give them a cake that costs ME $35.00 to make. To bless them, blesses me.
WOW! Have TOO MUCH FUN shopping at your new "store"! LOL
Beth in KY
lmao over and over again at the hubby part.... where was he in all this? lol hiding away on some island somewhere? lol he should've spoke up long ago lol. can he hook me up too?? lol
As for the price of the cake, you'll have to come back and post again when you know how many people they need the cake for, or at least what sizes she wants. Basically a two tier, let's say 10" and 8" or 12" and 8" with chocolate butter cream and chocolate ganache.... I'd charge $2.25 per serving.... there are 40 servings in a 12" round but there are 48 in a 12" square. So this is going to be different depending on pan shape and size. But based on 12 & 8" rounds it would be a total of 60 servings total (40 for 12 and 20 for 8") based at $2.25 per serving is $135.~
That sounds like something I would do. I wouldn't think of anyone in the families employment places for supplies. I can totally relate to how you felt. 
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