This is my first real paid cake - as in a customer I've never met and don't know through any relative or friends. I got this order through word of mouth. She ordered a 6" double layer round for her son's party with his friends and 4 additional cupcakes (the tree on the cake is a pretzel and cookie wafers held together with almond bark and buttercream.) The second cake set is 8 cupcakes with a sculpted dinosaur/dragon covered with fondant (my first sculpted cake 
) for the family party.
What would you charge??? 
I have no idea what to price it out as! She never asked or talked to me about price. She just told me what she wanted and I made it so here it is....
I can't help with the charging question either other than to say I've seen so very many topics on this subject so I don't think you will have a difficult time finding your answers if you do a search. Also, wanted to say CUTE!! I hope your customer is very happy. I can't see how they couldn't be.
Can't help with the price...but I just had to say that they look amazing!
6" round double layer - 3" high pan?
12 servings with buttercream and sculpting - $3.00 per serving - $36
12 servings with fondant and sculpting - $4.50 per serving - $54
12 cupcakes - $2.50 each - $30.00
Grand total $120.00
oh gosh! I want to help with pricing. I would charge 150. However, never get off the phone without a price. You are going to have to pretty much give these away in my opinion, because she probably wasn't expecting such an elaborate, expensive cake. Your cakes are great by the way.
I'd probably say around $75-100. But since you didnt quote here a price....that is kind of a sticky situation. You dont want her to have a heart attack when she finds out how much the cake is going to cost if she was expecting supermarket prices.
If you think she will choke on the price - give her a detailed invoice (I put a picture of the cake on mine) and have the sub-total be the actual cost/value of the cake. Then you can give a "Portfolio Discount" or "First Time Courtesy Discount" whatever you want to call it and price it at what you think will be acceptable to her and still cover your costs and some of your time, etc...
And next time make sure you talk price first, I am guilty of this as well, still struggling to charge what I really should charge.
Thanks, everyone for the compliments. 
I'm sure you've all heard this millions of times but 'I come from a very small town' where a sheet cake is $20. 
I'm just starting out with cakes and I'm so afraid of charging what I think I should because people might never come back or negativity might spread about the prices. However, I don't want to sell myself short for all the time and labor that goes into these things....all you CC'ers know what I mean!
Those look awesome! I'm sorry I can't help with pricing either, I've never sold a cake as I'm new to decorating. But I agree that since you didn't discuss price first the customer my have a "heart attack" if you ask for what your cakes are worth, especially if she's used to $20 sheet cakes. But don't sell yourself short either, great cakes are hard work and take time. Hopefully someone with more selling experience can offer you some help.
Well I ended up charging $72 - was going to do $75 but thought $72 sounds better. She was so excited that she threw her arms around me and hugged me because her little boy is going to be so happy! She said that she will take loads of pictures and video his expression and be sure to give me a copy - LOL!!!
I think that sounds like a great price - good for you!!
Well that is great! Sounds like it worked out for everyone!
my grandpa says that if you quote someone a price and they don't at least kind of act surprised at first, chances are they figure they're getting a good deal and putting one over on ya... so dont undersell yourself!
It's not like this woman heard from someone you were "cheap" or made custom made INEXPENSIVE cakes.. she know she's not getting that from walmart
or the grocery store
so she's obviously gonna understand she's not paying that walmart grocery store price
those are amazing and whatever you do.. don't undersell yourself or count yourself out before you even get started... once she gets this and has that party these other people who see it are going to want your cakes
and you don't want her saying to people yea and i got THAT GREAT CAKE FOR SOOOO CHEAP! cuz then they're going to expect the same
Jen
I have a hard time w/pricing as well because I want to help everyone out. But then when I have a sinkful of greasy dishes and the fun is over I wish I had charged more! When the cake is done I know what I should have charged, but it's hard to do it ahead of time because you have no idea if a technique is going to work like you planned or if you're going to suddenly do something over. Sounds like it all worked out! 
I agree with Jen. I had my prices so low that it barely covered the cost to make it. Then when I started charging that person what I should of been she acted like I was cheating her or something. Dont ever sell yourself short. Their not going to get the quality or the workmanship that you put in at a grocery store cake, because lets face it, most of them are probably in it for a pay check not for the artistry of it.
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