In March, a lady that tasted my cake at a party asked me if I would do her sons graduation cake in June. I said yes and we exchanged phone numbers. She called me last night to ask if I could still make it for her; she said the cake was needed for June 23. I said yes I could still do it. When I started asking questions about what she wanted she became hesitant almost embarrassed like and she said "Since we last spoke I got layed off my job and now I'm only working p/t; now I have to scale down my plans a little. So I said tell me what you need. She needs 50 cupcakes and a cake to feed 25-30 people and maybe a edible image of her son in cap and gown. She asked me how much would that cost? Immediately I told her that the image would be $20 alone. ( I don't have a printer for that yet and I found a nice lady with a shop who will do it for that amount.) She sighed and said ok maybe I'll let you just do what you want to do as far as decorating it. 
I then asked her you said that you are working p/t now she said yes; I then said please don't be offended by my next question but are you receiving food stamps she said yes. I told her if she has enough after she shops for her family and she could squeeze out x amount for the cake ingredients, then it would save her some money because then I would only charge her for my time, percentage of electricity cost and supplies board, foil and box. She thought it was a great idea. Here's where I need you guys!
50 cupcakes and a cake for 25-30 people I was thinking
12" round choc. bc filling and white bc icing; two toned shell border.
Gumpaste scroll on cake saying you did it!
To give some height and pizazz to it I was thinking about making a 4 or 6" dummy covered in fondant the color of gown with white fondant caps and scrolls accents with pixie dust highlights. Inserted in dummy a flower nail with wires or sticks three silver fondant stars, cap with name and the numbers 2007 or maybe just '07 highlighted in pixie dust. Half of the cc will be surrounding the cake on board; filled and iced in swirl in above bc with silver fondant stars.
She's not really on a budget, her and her mom have been picking things up here and there since after the party she tasted my cake at.
Does this design sound nice? I want to box this cake already assembled hence the dummy and wired burst (lightweight and the weight from the fondant won't tear up the cake during transportation) Should I give myself an hourly rate and charge by the hour plus electricity and supplies? What do you think I should charge for the whole order described above overall? Thanks I need to give her a price later on this evening, curious to know what everyone thinks!
Well, first of all, let me say that I am a firm believer that when you do something nice for someone, it will come back to you.
Since she is only working part-time right now and is on food stamps, I would probably charge her the cost of cake supplies + $10.00. And I would ask her to please give referrals to all of her friends.
I actually do this for a friend. She tells me the theme and I just create to my heart's desire. In return, she refers me to her family, friends, and co-workers. In addition, she is a wonderful friend.
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