How Much Would You Charge For This?
Decorating By karmicflower Updated 10 Oct 2006 , 2:24pm by fearlessbaker
Hi, I just made this strawberry shortcake cake for my niece's birthday yesterday and i only charged my BIL for supplies ($50), but i want to know how much would you charge for this cake? The tiers are 9x4 and 6x4. Chocolate and vanilla cake inside with madagascar vanilla buttercream. Fondant pearls (hand rolled), bows, strawberries, flowers and the number 5. I also did 24 cupcakes in foil cups with buttercream swirls and strawberry shortcake pics. I also, provided the candle.
WOW!!! I have not idea how much that would cost, but I just wanted to say that it is beautiful!!!!! GREAT JOB!!!!! I'll bet your niece absolutely loved it!!!! 
Sorry, yes it is covered in fondant, and all the decorations (minus the candle) are fondant as well.
I would say $120 for the cake & cupcakes.....approx. $3.00 per serving on the cake and $2 for the cupcakes....(wait, that doesn't compute..... if I used that math it would be $140.) I think I would go with $120 but you really have to take into account your area....in NYC this cake would go for 3 X that. In a small town, you may be lucky to find someone willing to pay the $50 
It is beautiful and a lot of work. And if you were seriously saying that your ingredients alone cost $50 then it really should be more...was that a true quote or a bit higher?
I live in Miami, pretty big city, what would you think it would go for around here?
hi
can i ask what is madagascar vanilla buttercream?
beautiful cake! i put it in my favs!! love it!!
If it is 'high-end Miami' then it would go for more, definitely....you should PM Risque Business - she is in Miami too. 
Regardless of what she or me or anyone else advises, you must charge enough to make it worth your while.... if $120 seems like too little then charge more. Wouldn't you rather lose a sale then do it for $2.17 per hr. ? 
It sounds like you have number in mind and I didn't get close to it 
so what is it? Whatever it is, I'm sure you are worth it!
hi
can i ask what is madagascar vanilla buttercream?
beautiful cake! i put it in my favs!! love it!!
I just bought Madagascar Vanilla at Costco ($6.99 for 16 oz.) but I know they sell other versions that are a bloody fortune!! Very tasty too........
Karmic...I live up in Gainesville and I think that gorgeous cake would bring at at least $100.00 here. I would think it would command an even higher price in Miami. I certainly wouldn't do it for less than $120 if I were you. I think that's very reasonable...it's soooooo much work. People just don't realize, do they??
cakediva, i really didn't have a number in mind, i think that $120 sounds great, just when i told my neighbor that amount she looked at me like i was some damn fool and she said, thats too little.. i also don't want to go outrageous either. I just was thinking what number i should say when people call me, because the cakes i make are usually for friends and family, and i usually just charge for supplies plus a little more, and im trying to do this to make some extra money because im staying home with my 2 kids and we need the extra income.. and like i mentioned alot of people took my business cards yesterday, so i want to be ready when i get those phone calls I forgot to mention, my BIL ended up giving me $100 for the cake, and i was jumping for joy!!
oh!! I'm so glad! That cake was lovely and I'm glad that he appreciated it. I think sometimes people look at you like you are crazy to charge XXX for a cake but then they want that cake for $25 I don't get it...... if you are unwilling to pay for the time and ingredients used to make that rockin' cake then buy a plain one!
Ok, I get all little worked up. 
Just stick to your guns when you got all those calls congratulations, too!
That cake is amazing! I would charge $150 for the cake and then extra (between $1 and $2 each for the cupcakes depending on how detailed.)
And I must say I love the name...my 4-year old's name is Megan! She would LOVE to have this cake. But I'm just not that skilled yet!!
Beautiful cake!! I live in MT and I think that particular cake would go for $130-$150 around here - minus the cupcakes. Personally, if you only charged $120 I think you would be shorting yourself. But something I always remember, I have to be comfortable with the price charged. If I am not comfortable charging a certain amount, would customers really be willing to pay that much???
There is a price matrix you can download, and I got it from here. I don't know how to give it to you cause I'm not that computer savy, but it is a great way to not undercharge yourself. It takes it out of your hands, and asks for your recipe then calculates all the costs of the ingredients for you. You can adjust for more expensive items if you want, and your hourly wage. I am sure someone on here can send it to you or post a link. It is the only way I don't undercharge.
thank you all for your responses, and your wonderful comments Now i feel a little more confident about the prices, and im going to search for that pricing matrix. Margery i did not use foam board, though i've been dying to try it. What i used was a 1/2 inch cake drum that i got at the cake supply store.
________________
Jenn
Hi karmic, I don't know too much about pricing, im still pretty new at this, but i just wanted to tell you how beautiful i think your cake turned out. I really love the colors, and how smooth and clean it looks, i bet your niece really loved it.
I would say $120 for the cake & cupcakes.....approx. $3.00 per serving on the cake and $2 for the cupcakes....(wait, that doesn't compute..... if I used that math it would be $140.) I think I would go with $120 but you really have to take into account your area....in NYC this cake would go for 3 X that. In a small town, you may be lucky to find someone willing to pay the $50
It is beautiful and a lot of work. And if you were seriously saying that your ingredients alone cost $50 then it really should be more...was that a true quote or a bit higher?
I agree, I thinkit depends on your area. That cake would go for about 85 dollars in our area..maybe 100 if you are lucky.
It is very pretty! I like the little strawberries.
Your cake is fabulous! The trouble is with pricing in different areas. No matter how much work goes into a cake if its not in a high pricing area you wont get the money it may deserve.
Price it at what you feel happy with, as someone said usually x3 is a good start.
You are very talented and anyone would be thrilled to get a cake like this and i'm sure would be prepared to pay a decent price!
cheers
Jan x
First - that cake is absolutely beautiful!!!!! As soon as I saw it, I thought $150 for the cake and another $30-40 for the cupcakes.
I have seen so much beautiful work here on CC - everyone is sooooo talented, but most of us seem to have the same problem. . . . we undervalue our hard work!!!!! And we work hard!!!!
So Cake Decorators Unite!!!! (sorry, I guess the Norma Rae in me came out
Quote by @%username% on %date%
%body%