Pricing Question
Decorating By ThatsHowTcakesRolls Updated 10 May 2007 , 6:22pm by ThatsHowTcakesRolls
Hi everyone - I'm really new to the board and haven't even had a chance to introduce myself really but I have a question about pricing for those of you who don't mind sharing. I have a customer who is asking me a price quote about a topsy turvy cake. Now, usually I just charge price/slice but I can't see regular people paying $4/slice (that's what I charge for fondant) for birthday cakes so I want to come up with a base price that would include a lot of designs for a basic topsy turvy cake. How does $140 sound for a topsy turvy cake that serves 50-60 people?? Anyone's thoughts would be appreciated...I am located in Central PA if that helps...Thanks!!
Tammi
btw - the picture is what the customer sent me and asked me to do so I've never done it before but it seems to be a pretty basic design as a starting point...
Welcome aboard! 
I'm curious, why lower your price just for this style cake?
IMHO don't undersell your talent.....also, if you "give" the product away it lowers the value for other decorators and clients everywhere will come to expect it.
Remember you are making custom cakes, not assembly line cakes which a client could get anywhere.
If the JPEG you posted is actually your cake then it is a "choice Prime Rib" and not a "Chuck Steak" and well worth more than 140. I would charge $320 and not a penny lower if it were me. But my work is basically fondant and is very expensive and thats what I tell my clients up front.
Also there is a template for pricing out on the boards which helps some and others here swear by adding up the costs, including electricity, boxes etc. and X3 for their pricing.
Again welcome to CC
The times 3 may work for some, but I hate it! A fondant covered topsy turvy cake for 50 would be $225 minimum (more if we are adding lots of gumpaste work, flowers etc!).
The price shouldn't depend on what the occasion is. You do the same amount of work, same amount of cake. If your price for a fondant cake is $4/serving, then that's what it is. Sure, your customer may be surprised, but you can always ask her to go price retail bakeries in the area...then she will really be in sticker shock!
Sticking with your price per serving no matter what the occasion also helps to dispell the idea that cake decorators are out to rip off brides with higher prices for weddings than for other occasions.
Kelleym:
Sticking with your price per serving no matter what the occasion also helps to dispell the idea that cake decorators are out to rip off brides with higher prices for weddings than for other occasions.
Great point may I use this quote?
The price shouldn't depend on what the occasion is. You do the same amount of work, same amount of cake. If your price for a fondant cake is $4/serving, then that's what it is. Sure, your customer may be surprised, but you can always ask her to go price retail bakeries in the area...then she will really be in sticker shock!
Sticking with your price per serving no matter what the occasion also helps to dispell the idea that cake decorators are out to rip off brides with higher prices for weddings than for other occasions.
You're absolutely right...Thanks guys - I guess I won't feel like I'm ripping anyone off then...Sometimes a little reassurance is all I need I guess!!! lol
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