I know this has been discussed to death, but I've done a ton of searches and read a gazillion posts and I still can't find the answer. So,
I'm trying to come up with a pricing schedule and I'm having problems with the sheet cakes.
Firstly, are these number of servings right? The math says yes, but my brain says it can't be right:
(all are 2" x 2" x 2" size)
4"x6" cake - 6 servings
9"x13" cake - 29 servings
12"x18" cake - 54 servings
16"x24" cake - 96 servings
If I charge a $2.00 per serving base price for a simply decorated buttercream iced cake (single layer, no filling, no torting), the prices come out to: $12, $58, $108, and $192.
Part of me says those are reasonable and the rest of me says, yeah but NO ONE will pay that.
Are my number of servings off? Should I not price sheet cakes by serving?
HELP!
TIA!
i usually tell them 1/4 sheet feeds 15-20
1/2 30-40
full-60-80
I charge a little less on my sheet cakes (than rounds) since I don't normally do as much detailed decorating on them, especially on the sides.
(You're right, your math is correct for the serving size you're using.)
I think part of the problem is the general perception that sheet cakes shouldn't cost as much. Grocery stores and Costco sell them for less than we can get the ingredients for. It's part of the reason I've backed away from sheet cakes as part of my business. They're not my forte, and people think they ought to be price-matched to the "Big Boys".
And it doesn't help that Costco makes a durn-good sheet cake. So if people ask me for a sheet cake, I refer them there.
i'm in total agreement that this topic gets me too. i'll keep watching for any other ideas goodness knows i need em too.
I only price wedding cakes and large tiered cakes by the serving. My sheet cake prices START at $20 for a 9x13. However, I made a 2 layer 11x15 groom's cake (a Colt's football field) the other day for $70. It just depends on how much detail I'm adding to the cake.
Everybody says I underprice, and to a point that's true, but I also would rather people come to ME for even sheet cakes, not Walmart (we don't have a costco here, and in my small town, many people think even 20 bucks for a cake is outrageous). I enjoy doing it and it gives me practice.
I figure even if I sell a simple 9x13 for $20, I'm getting referrals from it, I'm only spending about $6 for supplies, and I'm making almost $15 for an hour and a half of work. My pricing is on my website. Good luck to you!
Like someone else mentioned earlier, I only charge per slice for tiered cakes and wedding cakes. My sheet cakes are more costly that grocery stores in my area, but I have never had anyone fuss over the price. I think that, at least my customers and those that they refer, know the quality that they're getting with one of my cakes and have no problem with paying a bit more. I use the following for my sheet cakes: 1/4 sheets serve around 18 and start at $28; 1/2 sheets serve around 30 and start at $38; 3/4 sheets serve around 60 and start at $58.
Amy
....If I charge a $2.00 per serving base price for a simply decorated buttercream iced cake (single layer, no filling, no torting), the prices come out to: $12, $58, $108, and $192.
Part of me says those are reasonable and the rest of me says, yeah but NO ONE will pay that.
You're just doing what most people do ..... you're looking at $192 for "just a cake" and you're not factoring that this will feed almost 100 people!!
I tell this story to my brides: Dads are great at figuring out that at $10 a person, it will cost him $60 to take 6 people to dinner. But Dads can NOT figure that at $10 a person, it will cost him $1000 to take 100 people to dinner. The only thing he sees (or hears) is " A THOUSAND DOLLARS?????!!!!" Dad never stops to remember that he is feeding 100 people!!
Don't let just the price intimidate you .... you must also remember how many people you are serving.
My sheets are $1.50/serving based on 2x2 single layer.
Ok. I think I'm going to set my sheet cake prices at
Sheet........................Servings (2x2x3)......Price
Quarter (9 x 13)......29..............................$30.00
Half (12 x 18)..........54..............................$50.00
Full (16 x 24)...........96..............................$90.00
for right now and see how that does. I know I'm charging less than a dollar a serving on the half and full sheets, but I don't imagine getting any orders for those very often. I can always adjust them later. I'm also not going to do the eighth sheet, because they're reall not worth my time. If someone wants a smaller cake, they can always get a round.
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