Okay, just wanted to "jump in" for a sec. as I am heading out to a Mother's Day Breakfast at my church.
My son called yesterday (It was my grandson's 4th birthday!!) and told me that he was going to send me a pic of Britain's cake. It was a "half-sheet" (Now we ALL know that could mean ANY size to a 'layperson'" LOL) with an edible image, double layered with raspberry filling. Cost? $37.50!! and THIS from a BAKERY...not Costco! Where you ask? Visalia, CA! I was blown away and can't wait to visit this bakery when I'm out there in a couple of weeks!
Okay, back to the thread! Tame....you're cheaper than ME and that my dear....is NOT good! Raise your prices! Believe me, people expect it.
Beth in KY
What bakery is this?
I have yet to find any bakery worth buying a cake from in Visalia. I'd like to find it! 
Okay girl!! Your tropical cupcakes are GORGEOUS!!!! I had to save those suckers to my favorites. I could never eat one of those. They are too pretty! I also could never create something so beautiful on a cupcake.
You have some creativity there. I'm impressed!
Amy
Awww, why thank you. I didn't realize that your post was directed to me until I saw your comments. Thank you, thank you!
Yeah yeah, the time I posted this is correct. There was a noise in the house that woke me up and now I'm wide awake and HUNGRY!!!! Soooooo, I am down here checking email and got the notification of a reply here.
Yes, those cupcakes are the most beautiful cupcakes I have ever seen. All of your cookies are amazing too. I just don't have the patience to do cookies any more. If I sit down to decorate a dozen cookies by the time I get to number 4 or 5 it feels like I've already done the whole dozen and I have about 50 more to do! 
. I'll leave the cookies to the pros and you are obviously one of the pros.
Amy
So about pricing, you actually charge more than the local cake bakeries?? I was just wondering, because I charge the same as tame, but that is the price people pay at a cake shop around here, and their cake is really good, I do think mine are decorated much better, but I am scared people won't buy from me if my prices are much higher!!
Christie
I charge
$20 for 9x13
$25 for single layer 11x15
$30 for double layer 11x15 with filling
$25 for double layer 10 in round
and this is what the local cake decorating bakery charges.
Chrisite
I dont usually make sheet cakes and try to make round instead. If I make a double layer 12X18 I get $85
I do not make anything for less than $25.00
My time is worth it and most people dont mind paying a little more for a better tasting and looking cake than walmart and our local bakery.
You need to sell yourslf and stick to your guns on pricing.
I work at a Candy store and when poeple gripe about the cost we just say we use the best quality ingredients in our products and thats what makes them so much better than our compitition. They always buy what they want because they know its the best! Be the same way with your cakes
Good luck
I charge
$20 for 9x13
$25 for single layer 11x15
$30 for double layer 11x15 with filling
$25 for double layer 10 in round
and this is what the local cake decorating bakery charges.
Chrisite
You are way undercharging for your sheet cakes! Now when you say double layer are you talking two 11x15" cakes stacked??? If that's the case, you should more than double your price.
I just looked at your gallery and it is obvious that you put a lot of time and detail in your designs so you definately need to charge more.
Amy
christi
I did decide to go up because i just could not see myself making a profit yet the real reason why was because I was at work one day and a girl ask me about doing a cake and often i hear (from work ) my prices are to high they could go to walmart and get a cheaper cake. Yet these are the people that i work with who wants some thing for free , now i have done several for other co-workers and they have no problems with the prices .I really did not give this lady a chance because I stay in tn and she stays in ms and I would had to deliver the cake and just did not want to get in trouble on the job, well she went to call someone in her area who were doing cakes from her home and she was going to charge her $40 for a 11x25 in which I was only charging at that time $25.00 for. The lady that wanted the cake said, the lady cakes were so good so she did not mind paying the price for the cake and she was told to go to walmart to get a the cake but she did not want a walmart cake.
these are my prices now
9x13 $25..00
11x15 $30.00
12x18 40.00
Thanks guys, everyone says I need to charge more, but since I've only started up again the last few months, I was trying to just put myself out there. Everyone has at least given me $5 to $10 tips, when they saw what they were getting, so I'll probably go up in a few months after I get a few more orders. Right now it takes me about 6hrs to do a cake, and costs around $13, so I'm definately not making much of anything, but I love doing it, so hopefully as I get better, and get my name out there, I'll feel better about charging more! Thanks for the input!
Chrisite
You know, well said! I pretty much had the same thought process when I started out! I felt more confident in my ability once the same people kept coming back to me.
You have the right attitude about it and you'll definately get paid what your talent is worth as more orders come in and the experience goes up! 
Amy
I'm on the low end of this spectrum. Some of you people who charge high, do you do many sheet cakes? Do people "not order" when they find out what you charge? I do just about ONLY sheetcakes, no fondant, no molded things (for the most part) ... just artwork on cakes. I just raised my prices:
$28 for an 11x15 (from $25)
$34 for a 12x18 (from $30)
I wouldn't charge more than I would pay myself (if I couldn't do it myself).
Hmm after reading through this entire thread I figured up what my price would be fore a 12x18 made as what I consider a standard sheet cake, One layer cake with only buttercream icing and minimal decorations (border, writing and a few roses)
I figure my single layer cakes with 2"x2" servings and charge $1.50 per serving. So a 12x18 has 54 servings and my total price comes up to $81.00 It may sound like a lot but that is serving 54 people!
I guess I am one who charges High, but if I didn't charge these prices I would be making less than $5.00 an hour for my time (and I can make sheetcakes very quickly after working in a bakery for a few years doing just that)
I do sell sheet cakes for this price, but not very many, and that is fine b/c I don't like to do them. They are quick and easy but they don't challenge me enough. So if they don't want to pay the price then they can go to wal-mart b/c I am not going to compare myself to wal-mart of the local grocery store bakery when their cakes are not as moist or flavorful. Also I offer about 15 additional flavors from what these stores offer and plan to continually add more.
I'll just repeat what I've heard another CC member say: "I'll not turn my oven on for less than $25." I usually charge at least $40 for a 9x13 and $50 for a 11x15. I will probably charge more as I gain more experience. The price should include your ingredients, cake boards &/ other supports, decor, and how much time you put into it. Your cake should cost more than a supermarket cake b/c it's customized & probably tastes a whole lot better.
Tame I live in California and your prices area steal for the consumer. But, if your offering a quality product your not charging enough. You deserve to reap the rewards of your skill & work. Goodluck. Add another $20 miniumum to the full sheet charge for starters.
Butter Cream Icing
Ingredient Cost
2 lb. 10x sugar 1.14
2 sticks butter 1.95
3/4 C High Ratio 0.85
1tsp. Vanilla 0.48
1 tsp. Orange extract 0.50
heavy cream 0.30
Total 5.21
Cake Mix with pudding & Sour Cream
Ingredient Cost
1 Cake Mix 0.88
1 pudding 0.67
8oz.sour cream 0.99
4 eggs 0.36
1/3 cup oil 0.18
1 tsp. vanilla 0.48
1tsp. Almond extract 0.73
TOTAL 3.57
It takes me 2 cakes recipes for a 9X13 cake. My cost for a 9x13, iced in BC comes to 12.35. That doesn't take into account electric, extras like parchment paper, non-stick spray, cake board and box.
Even though I mostly just bake for family, I made a spreadsheet so that I can keep track of how much I spend. It's amazing how quickly things add up!
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