I like doing Fondant and I use the MMF so the additional cost is nominal. I'm thinking of quoting all cakes at one price fondant or not, that would encourage more people to use fondant. I don't have to obsess about the smoothness of the frosting so I figure even though it takes me more time to make the MMF and roll it out, I save close to that amount of time by not having to obsess over smoothness of the buttercream.............
Does anyone else price them the same?
I always say I'm going to charge more for fondant but then I don't. Up until now, I had used Wilton and don't blame anyone for running the other way from cakes w/ fondant. I had to "sell" my design ideas that required fondant! 
Now, I just tried the MMF and fell in LOVE! I'm going to need a taste test or sample day like CupofButter did (another thread). I think once people taste the MMF they will love it and I think I may just charge a nominal fee of $5 additional per tier. I don't know... 
Still thinking about it. I love the way cakes look w/ Fondant as well. Now I just need to get more people to order outside of the box...everyone always wants sheet cakes 
One repeat customer almost lets me do anything I want; I love her!
I like doing Fondant and I use the MMF so the additional cost is nominal. I'm thinking of quoting all cakes at one price fondant or not, that would encourage more people to use fondant. I don't have to obsess about the smoothness of the frosting so I figure even though it takes me more time to make the MMF and roll it out, I save close to that amount of time by not having to obsess over smoothness of the buttercream.............
Does anyone else price them the same?
Yes. Everything you said. The cost is minimal, and I make it up by not having to freak out and work over smoothing a buttercream cake. Plus, people around here don't want to pay for fondant anyway.
moxey2000: MMF is Marshmallow Fondant. 
Great stuff.
http://www.cakecentral.com/cake_recipe-1949-4-Marshmallow-Fondant-MMF.html
I have found with fondant most people shy away from it here b/c they don't know what it is (or they have had wilton's 
)
I have started not charging for it if they will allow me to design the cake and do whatever I want (did this this weekend for the present cake in my photos with the gumpaste bow-I was given a "do whatever you want" so I only charged them my base price for the cake/fillings as they did choose these)
I think things like this really open the eyes of our customers to show them what is out there.
So to get back to your question, if you find the time saved smoothing/worrying is worth the cost of MMF then go for it.
For wedding cakes, I just recently raised my prices .75 a serving and that includes fondant. I don't discount if someone "only wants buttercream"
At the risk of sounding really green....what is MMF? I've seen it repeatedly on this site, but I'm new here and I haven't figured out all the lingo yet. Thanks for the help.
MMF stands for marshmallow fondant. You can find the recipe in the recipe section here. Whatever you do, don't use the Wilton fondant--it tastes soooo bad!
I charge the same for Fondant as I do for smooth buttercream... To me time is more valuable than the materials cost is. I'm one of those people who works with smoothing the BC to the point that there is hardly even a seam anywhere around the cake, so to me Fondant is Heaven sent! I don't offer any discount either for just using buttercream because I'm so picky about it being smooth and spend so much time doing it (have been known to spend 2 hours getting the darn stuff perfect on ONE tier)...
I used to make MMF all the time, then I found Albert Uster Fondant and figured that my time is worth more than even making MMF and I don't have to worry about consistency issues sometimes (MMF can be tempermental from time to time)..
Do what works for your business. 
(well they love thinking they are getting one)
I have found with fondant most people shy away from it here b/c they don't know what it is (or they have had wilton's
)I have started not charging for it if they will allow me to design the cake and do whatever I want (did this this weekend for the present cake in my photos with the gumpaste bow-I was given a "do whatever you want" so I only charged them my base price for the cake/fillings as they did choose these)
I think things like this really open the eyes of our customers to show them what is out there.
So to get back to your question, if you find the time saved smoothing/worrying is worth the cost of MMF then go for it.
DITTO, those are all the things I was thinking of. So I am using my cake matrix (see business forum and go to the LAST posting, I just updated today) which adds in my costs to my base price. The cost of the MMF is minimal and I set my fondant charge at 0% instead of 15%. I also am trying to do a "let me do what I want" so I can make all those fabulous cakes in the "All time popular cake photos" that has filled up my favorites. I have a $45 minimum turn on my oven charge so I can charge $45 and do a $100 cake if I want to, or a $45 cake if I want to. Then I have more fun
Thanks everyone! I feel more confident about my decision now! I was thinking I was lone ranger, glad to see I'm far from!
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