I just received a price inquiry for a Princess Dora cake I did a week ago (first time). I would appreciate any guidance or suggestions. What should I charge for this cake? The head and crown are made of styrofoam and covered in both MMF and Wilton Fondant, the rest is cake. Also, do you add cost of supports (dowel and wooden boards)? The link to cake is listed below. Thanks in advance.

http://www.cakecentral.com/cake-photo_658093.html[/url]

I'm having problems viewing your cake but I charge per serving. If it's a single layer cake my prices start at $1.50 per serving and stacked cakes start at $2.50 per serving. By your description it sounds like it's a stacked cake. I charge more for stacked cakes because of the extra equipment required, like dowels. Hopefully I'll get to see it when CC starts working again.
Jacqui

All of my shaped/carved cakes start at $45 - no less, unless it is for a really good friend/family member. That cake is definetly larger and better-constructed than any of my cakes, so I would definetly charge more...much more.

Okay.. so it won't let me see the cake right now , but I would charge for all of the supports and a 3-D carved cake would start at $4.00 a serving or $50.00 for me.. whichever was the larger of the two costs. No way I am putting myself through all of that work for less that $50.00.. LOL.

With that being said, I would probably not do a cake that was a likeness of a copywritten character like Dora is. You could get in a lot of trouble and fined quite a large amount if you were ever caught. It stinks, but they (Disney.. Nick.. etc) will protect their product. So many people want Little Mermaid or Dora or Spongebob.. it's up to you, but the risk is there.. Just food for thought.

Okay.. now that I can actually see it.. it's very cute. I'd charge around $100 for a cake of that size.

120

wow that is a great resemblance to dora...you did a great job! personally i'd first factor how much time you'd have to put into the cake to construct and decorate it. after that set a price for your work. then add in cost of materials and ingredients. if this were my cake and my order i'd start at $100 atleast. you are talking about atleat a couple of hours working on it plus you need to make a profit. some people might think i'm nuts but i look at it from a business perspective and being that i'm only one person my time is money.

I usually use the attached to figure out a price for cakes. It factors in the cost of all materials and then you have to time yourself on how long you think it would take you to make and charge the "hourly rate". I can't view your cake right now either..but this may help you decide...

Thanks for the input, I did not consider a copyright issue. The original cake was for my goddaughter so there was no profit involved.

I guess I could just make a princess cake--I took a little bit of artistic license with my version of the original anyway.

I never thought about it either until I came here.. someone said the fines are upwards of 10K sometimes.. NO THANK YOU!!! What pans did you use to make her? My daughter would love it!

1 K...wow...I emailed her and informed of the whole license issue but that I would be happy to make a 3-D princess cake just NOT DORA. She replied that she would check with her friend and get back to me.

For the body, I used 1-Wilton soccer ball pan and 3- Wilton 3" deep pans. The head and crown are styrofoam but the next time I do something simillar--will try Rice Krispies.