What do you all charge for these? I've got one coming up and have no idea what to charge. I always undercharge myself because I'm afraid people will think I'm crazy to ask so much for a cake! 
I was thinking around $50? Does that sound like too much? I'm just doing a half sheet, train theme with some train tracks and trees and probably a toy train. TIA!
Here are my sizes, servings and prices for sheet cakes:
Sheet (Rectangle)......Servings (2x2x3)....Price (BC only)
Quarter (9 x 13)......29............................$30.00
Half (12 x 18)..........54............................$50.00
Full (16 x 24)...........96............................$90.00
I actually feel like I'm kinda undercharging (the quarter sheet is basically a dollar a serving and the half and full are less than a dollar a serving), but I'm just starting out and I'm afraid people will balk at higher prices. I may raise the prices later on.
Ok, gang, it really pulls my toenails when I see someone is "afraid" to price their cakes. Why would someone be "afraid" to charge what they are worth? If you are sending the message that you want to bake a cake SO bad that you'll do it for a loss, then you'll have all the business you can handle ... but you wont' be able to call it a business.
I'm reading a book right now about pricing and how no one should lead the parade to the bargain basement. If your first reaction when people "balk" at your price is to lower your price, then you are only teaching them that your first price was merely a suggestion and they can badger you to a cheaper price every time.
When I got my quote from my contractor, it was a great price. I told him, "Look I know I should try to negotiate this but it's a good price and I'm fine with it." He said to me ..... and I will always remember this and will always respect him as a businessman ..... he said to me:
"You can negotiate it all you want, but it is what it is."
Women tend to be "afraid" of hurting people's feeling, which I believe is the root cause behind a lot of people underpricing. We are taught to "be nice" and not to "hurt people's feelings", and then we wonder why we cant' get thru the so-called glass ceiling.
Yes, Walmart is cheaper than me. And your point is.......? 
I have a price for my cakes. It is what it is. If you dont' want to pay it, Walmart is down the road. I am VERY willing to walk away from unprofitable business.
(Ok....I'll put away my Mom-Finger, now)
Thank you for saying that indydebi, you are so right! You made me realize that if they don't like my prices they can go somewhere else. My time is too important to mess around with!
I've got to come up with some prices. I think they want filling. I really hate torting a sheet so I'll probably do a double layer. What do you guys charge for a filling? Like a fruit filling?
Thank you all!!!!
indydebi - You're right, BUT, the thing is, I based the prices on what I'd be willing to pay and if someone told me for $50 for a half sheet, I'd think that was a lot of money so if they told me $60 or $75 for a half sheet I'd go somewhere else. I figure I do cakes, I know what goes into them, and if the prices seem high to me, then they must be high, right?
((shrug)) I dunno, I used to work at Publix, maybe I just still have my head stuck in grocery store pricing? Maybe I just shouldn't offer sheet cakes.
indydebi - You're right, BUT, the thing is, I based the prices on what I'd be willing to pay and if someone told me for $50 for a half sheet, I'd think that was a lot of money so if they told me $60 or $75 for a half sheet I'd go somewhere else. I figure I do cakes, I know what goes into them, and if the prices seem high to me, then they must be high, right?
((shrug)) I dunno, I used to work at Publix, maybe I just still have my head stuck in grocery store pricing? Maybe I just shouldn't offer sheet cakes.
That could be. And it's human nature. I think $50K for a car is ridiculous, but my hubby works at a Cadillac dealership and they sell 'em every single day at that price. My in-laws, who are in their 80's, were telling us about a restaurant they went to and it cost them (gasp!) FIFTEEN DOLLARS for the two of them to eat there. (Holy cow, I leave more than that for a tip when we go to dinner!). Hardly anyone in my family could ever imagine spending $100 for dinner for two. Our thought processes and our comparisons are built during the time we grew up and are based on what we've been exposed to.
However ..... I saw a posting on The Knot in which a bride was complaining about the RSVP's that didn't show up at her wedding, ".....and that cost my dad $80 a person!" $80 a person? For food? Are you freakin' kidding me? I cater, but I can't figure out HOW to charge someone $80 a person! But evidently someone can figure out how to do it, and evidently there are those out there willing to pay it.
Also people tend to look at the total cost WITHOUT STOPPING TO REALIZE how many people they are talking about. $75 for 50 pieces of cake is only $1.50 a slice. If they went to O'Charley's and ordered carrot cake, they'd pay $3.99. If they went to Bravo's and ordered a double chocolate decadent cake, they'd pay $5.99 a slice. And they wouldn't bat an eye. If they can't afford $75 for the cake, then they need to NOT invite 50 people.
You need to get confident in what you offer as far as your skills and talents. If you can't sell the price to yourself, how can you expect to sell it to the customer?
indydebi -
You're completely right! I guess part of the problem really is that I don't do many sheet cakes from home, most of the ones i've done were when I was at the groc store bakery - so I think of those quicky cakes when I think "sheet cake", but they honestly wouldn't look like that if I did them at home. Of course, most people want cakes that are much more involved than sheet cakes anyway, and I most certainly will charge $$ for those! so it might not really end up being an issue! lol 
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