What's The Most You've Ever Charged On A Cake?????
Decorating By mocakes Updated 3 Dec 2006 , 2:05am by vixterfsu
I am just starting out with everything. I mostly make them for family, friends,work and events for my husbands unit in the marines. (my cakes are legendary on camp pendleton) But so far since I am just learning I just ask for the cost of all materials. I do tell everyone that I know that if someone wants a cake that they will be charged full price as i only charge them for materials because of who they are.
But I did get $150 plus materials for 2 sheet cakes that were for this years Marine Corps ball.
I am finally getting better at pricing what I feel my cakes are worth! Here's what finally cured me of underpricing...
A lady called me and said her daughter was getting married in 4 weeks and their cake lady backed out. I met with her and her daughter and they picked the wilton cake that has 11 cakes!
Then she wanted me to incorporate in the design names, dates, songs, sayings that were special to the couple and then brush on edible glitter to ALL the accents on ALL 11 cakes!! (I think I charged her $475)It was soooo time consuming. But to see the bride and mother cry when they saw the cake, made it seem all worthwhile. UNTIL......I saw the mother the week after the wedding and she went on and on about how gorgeous and delicious the cake was and said, "Honey, you just don't charge near enough for your cakes! We were prepared to pay at LEAST $800 for that cake!" What??
Deep down I knew I wasn't charging enough....and that confirmed it!! (She still could have given me a nice little "tip" then, since I technically saved her over $300!!!
)I am getting ready to do this cake in June and am charging the bride $650 for it. It will be just like the book though.
I really do love this cake. I have done this cake so many times in so many different ways. For some reason, this one always catches the bride's eye. It really does make a beautiful display!
Good luck...hope you have lots of counter space!!! 
I normally don't charge for cakes. I feel like I'm not at that level yet. I do it as a hobby and enjoy it. But one of my daughter's friends asked if I would make a cake for a baby shower she was having. (Leap Froggie theme). I have a real hard time saying no, so I did it! She gave me $50.00. Probably not really enough for a cake with fondant figures, but it was fun to do.
OMG! Are you kidding me? Your cakes are freaking frackin awesome! Some of my favorite cakes are yours! You are tremendously talented! Your figures are as good as Aine2 and she is phenominal! I am floored that you dont charge for your cakes. You should you could realy clean up with those beauties! Your Noha's arc cake with the rainbow "God keeps his promises" is my favorite. Too cute!!!
I was asked how much I would charge for the turkey cake (in my photos) and I told them $18.50. Don't know if I got the job yet, but maybe I'm over-pricing....
you are not over priceing at all anyone would be lucky to get your cake for that price. now if i could just take my own advice im a tottal sucker I have the hardest time charging people I guess im my own worst critic.
I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments in this thread. I realize I'm not alone. I feel awful charging what I know to be fair for all the work I put into a cake so I keep telling myself this is my hobby and I enjoy cake decorating and its not about the $, I just enjoy the creative aspect of it. Sometimes I wonder if I make it more like a business (i'm not liscensed and have been debating if I want to go that route) will I enjoy it as much??. (I was paid $70 for a rum/fruit cake covered with Marzipan and Royal icing - 12 x 3 inch square though).
I hope this doesn't make me the most hated decorator on the site, but I was quite thrilled when my last two wedding orders were $7.50 & $10.25 per serving. My average price is $5.75/serving. They were difficult orders and I earned every dad gum penny of it.
I think you all should raise your prices. Your work is worth much more than you're getting.
Michele
I guess alot of people are nervous about telling a price for their cakes, I know I stress myself over it too. I think I have increased my prices twice since I have been on this website, taking the suggestions for sure. I took my cousin some pics. of sample cakes to do for her friends sons bday. For a single I suggested $30.00 and two tier stacked $45.00 I think I shocked her speechless. She was like okay I will have to let you know. So we will see. They should understand, I dont have a job, I do this so I can make a little hobby money because I stay home with my daughter and it is a lot of time I take from her to do these. Alot of people would rather sacrifice a great tasting cake and just purchase it from Kroger or Walmart! Good Luck with your pricing!!
Sugarflowers:
I don't hate you. If I made the quality you do, I would charge $7.50 per serving too. I think that people should charge based on both time involved, skills acquired, and cost of materials. I can tell you spend a tremendous amount of time on all of your cakes and obviously have a strong base of skills. I'm not as good as you. And I've only been doing it 3 years.
I feel very confident with my $3.00 per serving for wedding cakes. I do wonder tho, how the girls on here who are trying to compete with Wal-Mart sheet cakes do it. Like the post above me, many people just don't care about quality, only price. If I'm confessing, I've bought a store bakery cake before. I would find it very hard to pay $65.00 for a plain sheet cake, that's why I started making them to begin with! In a small town like mine, either specializing and making sculpted cakes or wedding cakes, imho, is the only way to make money. Sheet cakes just won't make us little bakers much.
To all those reading this, don't undersell. If you can't sell sheet cakes and make a profit, don't make sheet cakes. Your talent, skills, and time are just too valuable. Never let a customer's boo-boo face dictate pricing.
Oh, sorry, I had more to say. If someone were to make their own cake, they would have to buy the pan(s), buy the tips & decorating bag, buy the knife, the food colors, etc. ANd they would have an amateur looking cake. They would have WAY over the amount we are charging for a finished, professional product.
Early on I had a girl who wanted a certain cake and I was already all the way booked for that weekend. So she got a girlfriend to make it for her & I agreed to be an advisor (just for free cause I'm nice.) The girlfriend told me after buying all the ingredients (it had fresh berries) the cake pans, the pillars and plates, the coloring, etc they had more into than had I been able to do it, plus they had to make it! And stress whether it would taste good and look fine.
I've seen some lame, lame, tilting, ugly "donated" cakes. If they want free or cheap, let them get it from someone else. Ya'll have stuff on the photo boards on here that makes my jaw drop. Stop underestimating!
I really enjoyed reading everyone's comments in this thread. I realize I'm not alone. I feel awful charging what I know to be fair for all the work I put into a cake so I keep telling myself this is my hobby and I enjoy cake decorating and its not about the $, I just enjoy the creative aspect of it. Sometimes I wonder if I make it more like a business (i'm not liscensed and have been debating if I want to go that route) will I enjoy it as much??. (I was paid $70 for a rum/fruit cake covered with Marzipan and Royal icing - 12 x 3 inch square though).
I know exactly where you're coming from! On and off I have considered approaching a local bakery to see if they would be intrested in my fondant figures. (fondant figures are not seen much in my area) But then I start thinking --- having to make a figure instead of wanting to make a figure, might take the fun out of it!
starrchaser, Thanks so much for the compliment! I'm learning and have a long way to go, but I'm loving the experience!
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