How Do You Charge?? Do You Charge By The Hour?

Decorating By Katskakes Updated 10 May 2007 , 8:40pm by kelleym

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Katskakes Posted 10 May 2007 , 7:57pm
post #1 of 5

How do you come up w/the prices? what's the best way to figure this out.
my cost for 2 9" circle cakes w/BC filling frosted in BC, just borders no other designs. cost is around $17.00 (roughly) - does that even sound right?! WOW
let me brake it down the way i did. hope this makes a bit of sense.
cake mix (2) - $2
butter (2 sticks) - $2
Milk (2.5 cups) $1 (avg gallong milk around my area is $3.5-$4)
eggs (7)- $1.40 (2.29 for a dozen egg)
Conf Sugar (3 pks - 2lbs each) - $6
Crisco - 3.19
vanilla flavor - .50 cents.

(Does any of this make sense? i tried dividing the amount i use by the cost - if that even makes sense) I'm not sure how else to figure out the cost. i have never honestly sat down to do it or think of it. as i have mostly done for family at no cost.
how much do you charge per hour for your labor?
What else am I not thinking about?

any help would be greatly appreciated. Work as asked me to do a cake for next wk, i'm trying to figure out how to charge them.
thanks!
Kat

4 replies
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SweetResults Posted 10 May 2007 , 8:08pm
post #2 of 5

10"x2" double layer cake - Wilton servings - 22 people * 2.50 per serving (my base price for basic cake) $55.00

Or good beginning is take your cost times 3 which would be 17*3= $51

I'm in MA, your cost sounds about right to me.

Search for the Pricing Matrix here on CC for something more accurate.

I charge up to and over $4.50 per serving for fondant/carved work.

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venecakes Posted 10 May 2007 , 8:08pm
post #3 of 5

It makes sense what you explained. I do the same you did and multiply the total x3. If your total cost is $17 you should charge at least $51.
Something you are missing in the cost is the cake board, don't forget to add it. Hope I helped you.

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Katskakes Posted 10 May 2007 , 8:19pm
post #4 of 5

thanks!! keep it coming please!!
so any thoughts of say charging $X per hour for your labor?

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kelleym Posted 10 May 2007 , 8:40pm
post #5 of 5

It makes sense to add your ingredient cost, materials, and labor and figure your cost that way. CakeBoss helps you to figure out your costs this way.

I find the cost*3 model to not pay me nearly enough.

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