I haven't been a member for very long, but one question seems to be popping up a lot. It has to do with money. "How much for the cake" Now Iam just as good or bad when it comes to charging for a cake.I guess what I am trying to figure out is "why is it so hard to charge for something with quality. Would you except a cut in pay when it comes to paying your bills?
When I think about it, I have no problem being adamant about quality and our time being worthwhile, etc... but when they catch me off guard, sometimes it is hard. Especially when they are like "Hey, can you make a cake for my Mom's birthday?"...and they're your friend and you know they want it for free or very cheap... it sucks.
I have to be 'on guard' all the time, to be honest with you. Even with close friends. A wise person here said the first thing they say when approached about a cake is "What is your budget for this cake?". Then when they say "Oh... I don't want to pay more than $25 and it needs to feed 80 people..... Costco is only $15 so I figure you can really give me a deal!"
LOL!!!! ' Run, Forest, Run!!!!! '
Because people are always looking for a discount, and will purchase a wedding cake from a chain supermarket for $1.25 per serving, made from buckets of icing and frozen cake, before they will invest the money in a made from scratch product that will cost double.
Theresa 
I got fed up after my last cake for a customer. I spent 18 hours on cake, candy(60 mini chocotate tacos) and cookies and under priced. I have given my pricing index and other info. to my son who has business and engineering degrees. He is doing my pricing for me from now on. After I take all the info. from the customer, I will tell them my associate will call them next day with the price and non-refundable 50% deposit. If they don't want to pay what the time and effort is worth, they can go to Sam's, Kroger, Walmart..
I'm not doing customer cakes until the new year!
I got fed up after my last cake for a customer. I spent 18 hours on cake, candy(60 mini chocotate tacos) and cookies and under priced. I have given my pricing index and other info. to my son who has business and engineering degrees. He is doing my pricing for me from now on. After I take all the info. from the customer, I will tell them my associate will call them next day with the price and non-refundable 50% deposit. If they don't want to pay what the time and effort is worth, they can go to Sam's, Kroger, Walmart..
I'm not doing customer cakes until the new year!
Good for you! Sorry about my spelling it's " price" 
I agree wholeheartedly!!! I was charging 1.50 or 1.25 a slice until I saw what the local "megamart" was selling their wedding cakes for....my prices went up immediately!!!! I'm happy to say I got 2.50 a slice for the last cake I did. It took me a little while to figure out that my time and talents were worth money.....well, I knew it all along, but was afraid I wouldn't get business.....no more....put up or shut up and go to Costco!!
I found out from a customer that bakeries in my area DO NOT DO fondant covered cakes (weddings yes) for special occasions. They charge $15.00 for a 6" fondant bow. They were going to charge her $100.00 for a two tier
8" bottom tier square cake with a 4" top square tier, butter cream iced with a bow on top. And brown dots of verring sizes.
She wanted a strawberry cake ( they said no, yellow or choco only) with choco. fudge icing between layers, covered with hot pink fondant and a bow on top. this was a very simple cake. I charged $85.00 and thru in baby lollipops to boot!
(I will upload photo in an hour)
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