How Do I Charge For Wedding Cakes???
Decorating By Tasty Cakes Updated 2 Oct 2006 , 3:29am by CakeRN
Or more specicfically what should I charge for wedding cakes? I know I can call places around me, but I want to know what YOU guys charge for a wedding cake. I have an order that i don't know how to charge for!!
It is a 3tier, 3layer, stacked, fondant covered wedding cake. No fillings, just buttercream. Simple piped design on the sides and a simple swig of berries (the kind you buy at the floral section) as the topper. The pans are sqaure, sizes 6, 10 and 14.
I am also making a grooms cake that is: chocolate cake, chocolate buttercream, covered lightly with chocolate ganache. It will be a 3 tier, stacked cake with round 6, 8 and 10 in cakes, 2layers each. It will also be surrounded with about 125 strawberries. 1/3 plain, 1/3 chocolate only covered, and 1/3 of them chocolate covered tuxedos.
Do I charge a delivery fee? Or is that included in the cost of the cake? Do I charge a set up fee?
This is for a girl who works at my office, and the wedding is about an hour away. I am the only baker she has considered for her cake. I have made many cakes and some wedding, but have never had to charge for them. Plaese help!!
Most people charge by the slice (serving) and yes, charge a delivery fee or build it into your quote. I charge $1.75 buttercream or $2.50 fondant (starting at ) and then you can add on for more elaborate and labor intensive designs or sugar flowers.
But you really have to work within your region. I called local bakeries and bakers and I am above some and slightly below others. If you are in an urban area, their charges can start at $5 for buttercream. If you are in a smaller town (not richie rich) then people want it for pennies. Take the time to call the local places and see where you are.
And I was told by serveral brilliant CC'ers to never undercut the bakeries.
Yes charge by the slice. How many people is she having? You charge extra for fondant , charge a deposit for the plates, a delivery fee since it is over an hour away ( 40.00 sounds good)
Now for the grooms cake you will need to charge extra for the ganache since you usually pour that over an iced cake. I have seen where people charge a dollar per strawberry too. So 125 strawberries would be min of 125 dollars and since there will be extra work and materials involved in dipping them then more for that.
She obviously loves your cake but don't give it away. Check out several bakeries in the area and ask what they charge ...dipped strawberries, ganache. You can make them think you are the bride. Ask about the charge per slice of cake and how many tiers and what the sizes would be on those. They don't have to know you are doing the cake. This will get you an idea of what your area charges though.
My prices start at $2.50 for buttercream and $3.50 for fondant. I include delivery within 10 miles of my shop and charge $1.50 per mile there after.
What about a caramel frosting using flavored liquid coffeemate.... you could add a littlle instant coffee to this and some semi chocolate shavings on top....???
Would love to try your chocoalte cake recipe for family birthdays in 2 weeks...could you PM me....Please!!!!!!!!!!
Mary Jane
I am in Dallas, so definetly not a small town!! There will be about 150 ppl. Do you charge extra for chocolate cakes? Thanks so much!!
I agreethe other posts... but considering this is someone that you work with and you haven't charged for your cakes before....I think in this circumstance I would offer the cake for a profit but less than the bakery and tell her you are giving her the discount off of your normal price due to the circumstances....For sure you gotta charge delvery charge for time and gas for that hour away! See what the going rate is on this and stay within the guideline.
that it is what i asked this morning???????
it will be my first paid cake ...for a bride..a told her 3.00$ per serving..but one of her friends called me for a strawberry short cake for a litlle girl ..i was thinking after all that job i did in my cowfairy it is a lot of work and mess!
my cake it is from scratch..too...i didnt look around for prices but i guess i will , but i heard not to many bakeries likes to deal with fondant?
so ....i guess i know why?????? 
i was thinkinmg put it up to 3.50$ at least for now?
but i guess she told her friend i told her already 3$?
so????? what should i tell her??????? 
I think the pricing per serving is more for wedding cakes since they are custom, stressful and potentially tiered. Party cakes are usually prices per cake and take into consideration the sculpting and stuff, but maybe I misunderstood.
It doesn't matter if it's your first paid cake! You set your prices AND STICK WITH THEM! You will never make any money given every body discounts! There is NO circumstance....they order a cake...they pay for a cake! Once you get into the habit of offering free cakes to practice and discounts to friends and co-workers it's very hard to get yourself and THEM out of the habit! My first paid cake was the second cake I had ever decorated in my life. Business fail when they start giving their products away....
Thank you all for your replies.
This is not my first cake order!! Just my first wedding cake order that is this big!
The other ones have been for my B-I-L and a couple for real close family friends. I know wedding cakes are a whole 'nother ball game next to regular birthday/ occasion cakes.
Since the wedding cake is 3 layers for each tier I was going to charge $3 per slice. The grooms cake is one that really has me stumped on pricing.
Thanks, Leanna
The first sentence in your post asks "what should I charge for wedding cakes?".
"I" am asking about wedding cakes. 
Someonelse jumped in and started asking about another cake!
Leanna
lwartberg....check around the area for prices before you settle on 3.00. I would think prices in Dallas would be a bit heftier than that. Also since each tier is 3 layers that is more than most do. Most tiers are 2 layers. I would charge per slice also on the grooms cake since it is tiered too.
Good luck!
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