$25.....for the baseball cake in my photos. It's a 9 inch round with 1/2 sports ball pan. I almost felt like that was too much, but my husband thought it was way too little.....what would you have charged? Help! I never know what to price things at because I don't feel like I'm good enough to charge anything! 
I am only guessing here but I would have charged at least $40 upon my skill level but it is time consuming and would require 2-3 cake mixes and two recipes of buttercream tops. Hope it helps very nice cake so smooth!
$25 wouldn't have included the baseball if it was me.
did 25 even cover your costs? how long did it take you to put together?
After figuring base cost and time then you'll know what you should have charged (depending on what you should make per hour)
I charged $75.00 for the baseball cake in my photos if that gives you an idea! The customer gladly gave it to me and has been back since.
I'd say it took me a total of four hours, baking included. I used two cakes mixes and two batches of buttercream. How much do you charge per hour?
you should have charged more... the golf cake in my photos which is quite similar to your baseball just different ball was $65.... don't undershoot yourself 
Yep, wondering if that covered your cost too (sorry). The LEAST $55...but probably more. But for a rule of thumb, I figure how much it's gonna cost me in supplies and charge above that amount. Some people do 3X, some more. But definitely 2X more 'cause you don't want to be doing a cake for free....(well if you're trying to make a profit) or coming out of pocket. Before prices went up (in which I need to recalculate now), I had the cost of what a tbsp of vanilla would cost me or 3 eggs etc. Some things are hard to break down in such a detailed manner. But some of it can be done. (Might not feel like going my route but it helped me out in the beginning) 
I know, I sound crazy don't I 
Thank you all so much! I wish there was a general pricing rule or something.......so, just for kicks let me know how much you'd charge for what I'm doing next weekend:
5, 11x15 sheetcakes (no decoration, only borders)
1, three tiered stacked cake (14, 10, 6) with buttercream polka dots and ribbon around the bottom?
Oh yeah, all those are white cake mix with white almond buttercream.
I gave her a quote of $265.
Are these cakes going to the same person? And ooops, $265 looks like the price if you already quoted unless you just gave a suggestive price. (ya know, it's not set in stone since it is a quote, just a suggestion?). Or is that the price you told her you would charge her? I know, I sound crazy again. Where's my coffee 
Staceface81, you sound so much like me! I never know what to charge people. I always feel like I might charge too much and they will say something but I have sold a 2-layer, 9 inch cake that had John Deere stuff on it, which took me like, 3-4 hours for $15!!!! Granted, that was one of the first ones I sold but still... Just this last week I sold 2 cakes for $25 each and then another one for $50 and no one complained about the price. Now after reading this, I think I am under-charging for those $25 ones. In the end, after materials, I am making like, $5/hour. Which, I know some people don't count it per hour but still. I think I am going to bump my price up for the next ones I do... I mean, everyone who sees my cakes "rave" about them, I am sure they wouldn't mind spending a bit more.
But I love being on this website because people who feel just like you can have their input. With you asking your husband how much to charge or me asking my boyfriend or even my mom... they have NO IDEA how much time and effort is put into a cake. The people on this site do and I love it!
Staceface81- I sure hope you only gave her a ruff estimate!!!???
For the least amount on the sheet cakes I would charge $40, and for 5 would be $200 there. For my diploma cake(green with diploma) I undercharged a little at $55. They were close family friends. So for you, lets say @ $40 for the sheet cakes are only charging $65 for the 3 tiered stacked cake!!! I hope I am not making you feel bad but, that is a heavy load of cakes for one weekend. After this I would jack up your prices!!! Quickly! Just find out what you are using in supplies and times by 3. That way you don't feel cheated at this even though you are new at pricing. That is what I am doing right now but, not for long.
I keep all receipts of what I buy for supplies. For a rough draft, you'll at least see what you are spending as a whole.
I also charge per serving size if you don't have exact numbers for pricing. You can start by looking at your area and see what similiar decorators charge
BUT BUT BUT....if you haven't gotten to the shop/store level, get your supplies out of it (especially if you don't feel comfortable charging more)
when I say shop level, I mean the legality, not the experience....everyone here are more than qualified to have their own shop
when I say shop level, I mean the legality, not the experience....everyone here are more than qualified to have their own shop
[quote=
5, 11x15 sheetcakes (no decoration, only borders)
1, three tiered stacked cake (14, 10, 6).
If this is for a wedding, then I figure that at 280 servings.
$728 for the cake + a $20 equipment fee plus $30-$50 delivery fee.[/QUOTE]Wow! i would've never thought! They are literally stealing money and time then! they got a bargain!
I like the cake, for which you definitely undercharged. As another poster said, if you do not value the worth of your cakes, then who will? It took me a while to be able to stand firm on this, but now I do. Those who want your cakes and appreciate their TRUE value will buy, those that don't are not your target market. As far as my pricing, I have a list of prices that I now consider "base" prices, meaning that this amount will increase with more details added after my standard decorations. I have also compiled a "master ingredient" list. This contains every ingredient that I use for baking. I write down the ingredient/item, the actual cost, and the place purchased. Then I add $2.00 to the total cost of the item, which then becomes my "mark-up" price. This way, I figure I can always be in a good margin of profit for when the price of ingredients either goes up or down, because you definitely cannot change your prices every time the store prices change. I hope this is clear and helps in some way.
Bottom line...just like L'Oreal...charge what you're worth, because you're worth it. That's it, that's all!
I too am a guilty of undercharging myself. I'm so scared that if I tell people what I think the cake is worth they will never use me again, and since I'm just getting started I need all the customers I can get.
I am going to take all your suggestions though and make a list of my ingredients and see what my cost and 2X or 3X. 
PMW109 I know exactly what you mean!!!!!!!!!!! I am afraid if I charge too much then no one will order my cakes......I love doing it so much that I'd be very disappointed if no one ordered ever again.
I am positive that no one around here would pay over $700 for a wedding cake. I live in rural TN.
The price I gave her was firm. My husband says that I should just tell everyone from here on out that my prices were so low in the beginning because I was still learning. With skill level, prices rise......right????
Taking ingredients and multiplying by 3 sounds reasonable. I'll do that from now on. Thanks guys! Any more pricing advice???
Wedding cakes are typically priced by the serving. 280 times (my price) $2.60 per serving. I am in a bigger city, but it's rare that I ever quote a cake that's under $300. This week I quoted a cake that was $320 and an additional $300 for gumpaste flowers. The cake serves 134. I have the deposit check on my desk.
Thank you all so much! I wish there was a general pricing rule or something.......so, just for kicks let me know how much you'd charge for what I'm doing next weekend:
5, 11x15 sheetcakes (no decoration, only borders)
1, three tiered stacked cake (14, 10, 6) with buttercream polka dots and ribbon around the bottom?
Oh yeah, all those are white cake mix with white almond buttercream.
I gave her a quote of $265.
Well I do 12x18 sheets so for $35 each so I would say $30 each for the sheets which would be $150 then for the stacked cake I would charge $1.75 a serving so would be another $203 for 116 servings.
so the total would be $353
Sorry, Sweetie, but I am in agreement with everyone else. The baseball is a second cake, in my opinion, a second cake should bring the pricetag to $40 minimum, and with all that detail work? $50 at least.
Theresa
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