I worked in a bakery for nearly six years. Now that I have begun doing cakes in my spare time at home. I keep finding myself charging the same prices as walmart or cheaper. Now that I have been up two straight days doing cakes and my suppiles are running low . I know I need to go up on my prices. My sister could not belive me when I told her that I had been in the kitchen from two that evening to 8 the next day doing just 5 cakes .I had not been to sleep in days . Yet, when I worked at the bakery our cakes were order alread cook and I just ice and decorated. Now it's a big change when doing them at home meaning I bake the cake , make the icing and then decorated. Yet this takes a lot of time. Okay lady here my question?
What pan size do I use for the 1/2 sheet cake I had been using the 12by 18 pan and was on charging $ 20.00 I am trying to as least stay around twenty something for the basic 1/2 sheet cake
what price are you charging for the 12by 18 cakes single layer no filling
It depends on the amount of decoration involved, and type of cake/icing.
I'm in TN, and a 12x18 here, single layer, no filling (which seems to be what everyone here calls a "sheet cake") with just a moderate amount of buttercream/decor would go for around $30.00.
I've charged 3 times that much before, for a torted "full sheet" that I did for an area ambulance service. (Custom design)
You should be charging AT LEAST $25.00 for your cakes. MORE, depending on your area!
People who buy cakes from a private citizen actually want the homemade taste, and "extras" we provide. Sure, they could go to Krogers/Costco and plunk down a $20 for a cake. But they get what they pay for, and in your case, I'm thinking they're getting a whole lot MORE!
When I started making cheesecakes, I wasn't charging enough, either. I know how you feel.
Best of luck to you,
--Knox--
I charge 40 for 1/2 sheet with basic decorations and designs. Meaning just some flowers border and writing. thats it. $10 extra for character and go up from there. a 1/2 sheet usually costs me 15 or more to make; b/c i use butter in my icing. even if i didn't the cake is at least 88cents. it takes 2
$2 cake mix
$2 8 eggs ( I only use egglands best)
$1.80 box
$1.20 board
$1 fancy foil for board
$2 at least $2 for powder sugar
$1 at least $1 worth of shortening
$5 butter
.50 vanilla
15.50 if I don't need more than 2 double batches of icing. This doesn't include my butter in cake mix and buttermilk.
Then that means I would only make like $1 an hour! OH my gosh! So not worth it!
Oh and that doesn't include the gas or electric used during the hour and a half your oven is preheating then baking. And the water used while smoothing your icing. Whoa; you are wayyyy undercharging!
cakes with attitude
Boy, did you really break it down. I just was not really looking at the whole picture. I was just going with how many boxes of cakes mixes I was using. I am going to have to print your last reply out and place it on my frige for a reminder.
Knox
I will do that, Yet I have another question
How many serving do the 12by 18 feeds and how many do the 11by 15 feeds. I was thinking the 12by 18 feeds 36 single layer .
Guys
I have had so many customer order cakes for me at that current price. I just did eight 12by18 cakes this week . Do you think that would pay $35 for a cake I had been charging them $20 for. I would have to let them know the sizes change for the $20 dollar cake , which I had went up to 21. Yet I set those prices when I first started out.
I charge $30 for a basic 1/4 sheet cake 9x13. And I think I will go up in prices soon; b/c that isn't much profit
I'm in central Iowa. I charge $25.00 for a single layer 11x15 (quoting 25 party sized pieces) and $35 for a 12x18 single layer (35 party sized pieces). Those are for fairly simple designs. Anything too complicated like lots of flowers or a real detailed design I charge more. No one has questioned me so far!
Just wanted to say thanks for this forum. I was just wondering how much to charge for a 1/2 sheet. I was thinking $40 each. One had a FBCT on it of the HS and one had some other simple designs. I am actually trading my sitter, and thought I wasn't TOO much out of the park! THanks again!
This discussion has been very helpful for me. I too live in a small town where Walmart and Krogers bakery is about it. A town 10 minutes from us has a Publix. I'm starting to get people who want my cakes but I'm not sure what I sould charge. What do you charge for round and square cakes 6", 9" 10" 12", double layers with pudding or lemon curd fillings, iced with simple BC. Sometimes I put RI flowers or fondant roses and will use a basket weave. I've actually been giving them away to friends and co-workers up to now to drum up some business. I'm ready to charge but I'm worried I will over charge. Pam from Bama
I still think ya'll are undercharging. If you're baking wonderful cakes out of your homes, then Walmart, Publix and Kroger are not your competition! Their cakes are nowhere near the quality yours are and I think with the right promotion/marketing/tasting, people will pay for that! I thought I was overcharging until I read what Earlene of earlenescakes.com had to say about starting your own home bakery business. I make my cakes truly unique to give them an edge (even sheets cakes), and have even taken a photo of one into the "largest" bakery in Dayton, and they've quoted me 3x what I'm actually charging! So, that's my edge! I charge the following: 1/4 sheet (9x13) $20 starting (if lots of flowers, FBCT, torted/filled, then more $); 1/2 sheet (11x15) $40 starting; Full Sheet (12x1
$50 starting; Texas Sheet (15x22) $60 starting...then for other cakes Shaped Sheet starts at $25; 3-Dimensional starts at $50 and stacked/tiered cakes start at $35 depending on price.
Hope this helps! Cammie
Guys
I have had so many customer order cakes for me at that current price. I just did eight 12by18 cakes this week . Do you think that would pay $35 for a cake I had been charging them $20 for. I would have to let them know the sizes change for the $20 dollar cake , which I had went up to 21. Yet I set those prices when I first started out.
I would just explain to the loyals that with the amount of time, energy, and your costs, it is necessary and for them quite worth it. I think you will find that your great customers and the ones worth keeping will totally understand. I know that raising prices is hard but the good customers are amazingly understanding when they know what goes into our art.
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