Newbie Needs Help/reassurance With Prices......
Decorating By Kathrynsgoodies Updated 10 May 2007 , 5:24pm by Kathrynsgoodies
HELP !! I am newbie to this very addictive hobby. I grew up with a mother who could decorate cakes with the best of them (she never sold her cakes - just made for fun), but it took me 32 years to get my butt in gear and learn.......Since I did that and my friends have found out - they have been asking for me to make their cakes ( I do other baked goodies on the side, but just started offering decorated cakes).
I want to make sure that I am not under or over pricing my cakes. Can anyone offer some feedback for me. I fill guilty sometimes about the prices - but yet - I am not Costco or Sam's......... Any response would be much appreciated - thanks for all the knowledge I am gaining from all of the wonderful cake masters out there.......
Here is my price break down - let me know what you think - oh by the way I am in N.C. - about an hour outside of Charlotte. Just for regional comparison.
All Cakes iced with BC and modest decorating.
6 inch round (2 layer) - $20.00
8 inch round (2 layer) - $30.00
9 inch round (2 layer) - $35.00
10 inch round (2 layer) - $40.00
9x13 sheet $45.00
11x15 sheet $55.00
cupcakes - $12.00 / dozen
mini cupcakes - $5.00 / dozen
THANKS for your time....Look forward to hearing from you. I promise to post pictures as I make them. I have two going out next week.
6 inch round (2 layer) - $20.00 / serves 12 = $1.67 per serving
8 inch round (2 layer) - $30.00 / serves 24 = $1.25 per serving
9 inch round (2 layer) - $35.00 / serves 32 = $1.09 per serving
10 inch round (2 layer) - $40.00 / serves 38 = $1.05 per serving
9x13 sheet $45.00 / serves 24 (2x2) = $1.88 per serving
11x15 sheet $55.00 / serves 35 (2x2) = $1.57 per serving
Cupcakes = $1 each / mini's = $0.42 each
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I used the Wilton chart to determine the servings. It's good that your smaller rounds are a bit more expensive (per serving rate) because smaller cakes have the same overhead and fixes costs that a larger cake does, so the price needs to be set to absorb this. However your sheet cake pricing seems way out of whack with your round cake pricing.
My pricing for non-sheet cakes is $2.50/serving, based on Wilton's chart. My sheet cake pricing is $1.50/serving and I dont' do anything smaller than 11x15.
I'm not a fan of cupcakes so you should get opinions from others on the pricing of those, but I think $1 each is low and less than 50 cents for the mini's is low. Unless you are set up to bake in mass production, the mini take the same amount of time to mix the batter, about the same baking time, same box cost, etc. I wouldn't turn my oven on for 12 mini's. I'd either raise the price or set a 3 or 4 dozen minimum. But again .... my idea of the perfect cupcake order is when they decide to go to walmart to get them! 
Thanks Indydebi - I think I figured out where my numbers got so skewed - in the serving size. I can't remember where I got my serving numbers - but I had a 11x15 sheet cake serving 60 - The sheet cakes were the prices I was most concerned about. I believe I will be adjusting those down a bit to fit with the rest and what I believe people in my area will pay.
Thanks a million...... 
Thanks Indydebi - with two small girls running around I wouldn't doubt I looked at the wrong section of the Wilton Book. I appreciate all of the advice. Now things make a little more sense and I believe I have my numbers all in line. 
Happy Baking.......
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