I made an 11 x 15 cake....just plain white cake with rolled buttercream. I decorated the top with an edible image and made (2) megaphones, cut out of fondant and (6) little pom-poms made out of fondant. I charge $35.00......now I am thinking that I should have charged more.
what do ya'll think?
I don't have a pic of the cake but I can post it later.
Well, edible images are expensive, even if you print them yourself, so I would say that you should have charged $45 or more.
Theresa 
Well, edible images are expensive, even if you print them yourself, so I would say that you should have charged $45 or more.
Theresa
I think you charged way too little. I don't know much about edible images. I know that my local supply shop charges almost $8 for them! Did you price this out...how much it cost you to make it? I think you should have done closer to (at least) $50. I'm anxious to see the picture.
Here's the picture of the cake that I made for $35.00
Ok, it's going to be hard for you to respond to me with my hands so tightly wrapped around your neck. (I have to choke the life out of those who underprice themselves so dramatically!!) Oh, I'm teasing, but all kidding aside, you waaayyyy underpriced it, but I know how easily that can happen! I always add (AND ADVERTISE IT SO THERE IS NO CONFUSION!!) $5 per 'sheet' of edible image. Now, if they want a 4"x6" image, that still takes a whole sheet to print, so they still have to pay the whole $5. $5 is the minimum for an edible image... it goes up if they want more. I chose this price because I did the math, and it costs me about $2.50-$3 per sheet to print them depending on how dark the image is. And your extra work in fondant should have been at least another $5. Ok, I'll shut up... but don't sell yourself short, that is a GORGEOUS cake, and they'd of paid it, believe me!!
Melvira, down girl! I can feel your blood pressure rising from here!
The cake is lovely, and definitely worth more than you charged.
Theresa
Hehehe Theresa... someone's going to have to medicate me if people keep undercutting themselves. The truth is, I have such a hard time charging what cakes are worth that I just get mad at myself when I see someone else undersell too. Then I feel bad for all the work they didn't get paid for!!
Heh heh... sold half the cake. 
I hope it was the part with the cheerleaders on it!
The truth is, I have such a hard time charging what cakes are worth that I just get mad at myself when I see someone else undersell too.
If I remember correctly, didn't you undercharge for the cake that is your avatar? Or maybe it was partly a gift. I'm sure I'm not remembering something correctly. Anyways....I am in the same boat. I don't really charge for my cakes, just friends and family, but of the two that I have asked for money I know I've undercharged. But I consider that I have to pay them for taking the cake off of my hands and giving me creative freedom.
I can feel the noose around my neck! HAHAHA.......that cake was made for my husband's co-worker. Now her friend wants a cake and since I have already charged $35 once for a cake like that, I guess I thought I had to charge her friend the same price.
I will definitely charge more for the next......thanks for your input!!
I can feel the noose around my neck! HAHAHA.......that cake was made for my husband's co-worker. Now her friend wants a cake and since I have already charged $35 once for a cake like that, I guess I thought I had to charge her friend the same price.
I will definitely charge more for the next......thanks for your input!!
*releasing pressure gently* No, you don't have to give the same price. I let people know when I give them a 'deal' and tell them not to quote that price to other people because it's a special price that I won't repeat for others. That also makes them feel special. Like they are the only one that gets that low price!
I told you before, you bake the cake, I'll make the deal for you. I have no trouble asking people for their money, as long as it is green and American.
I won't even charge a fee!
Theresa
I told you before, you bake the cake, I'll make the deal for you. I have no trouble asking people for their money, as long as it is green and American.
I won't even charge a fee!
Theresa
You are too kind tmriga. 
P.S. What does "tmriga" stand for and how do you pronounce it? (How I've always pronounced it is: "T"-"M"-Rig-uh)
OK - here's the other cake that I undercharged! As I mentioned before, since I had make the other cake for $35 for my husband's co-worker, I told her friend I would charge her $35, too.
I have realized my mistake!
i love the hydrants...but yea worth more than 35.00....but...i have been told that i under price everything i make...i have even had people add extra to their own payment and say it was worth it..***hint hint** but guess im just scared that they will decide to go to walmart or something...
*menacingly cracking knuckles* Hey, southaustingirl... c'mere for a minute, will ya? I wanna massage your neck!! 
How could you charge $35 for that? Those hydrants are so awesome!! With hoses and everything. Hey, I shoult talk, I charged (I think I recall) $40 for the shirt cake that I entirely hand painted. But seriously, this is an amazing piece of artwork!! You do beautiful work and I am pleased to be able to view it. Also, put me down for a free cake if you are taking orders!
I have learned my lesson!! 
.....and no free cake!
Maybe I should just start giving people a price list and then they can decide to buy a cake from me or Walmart.
I went to Sam's and their 1/4 sheet cakes are $16..so I definitely undercharged!!!
Ok, I've got to jump in here... because I was just working on a price list tonight to have available as people ask me to do cakes. I just did my first wedding cake and well yes, if you read my thread on the 'miffed by a cheapo bride' then Melvira you'll be reaching for my neck next!
Anyway,... our Sam's here does not do a 1/4 sheet cake they start at a half and it's only $18 and their full is $30. I went to Shop N Save and their 1/4 sheet cake were $18 but I didn't get the prices for the others. Cake places here charge between $1.35 to a high (there's probably higher) $1.85 pp for wedding cakes.
I now know the work involved on some of these cakes and I agree that $35 might be a bit low,... was it a half sheet cake?, and as I recall it had RBC correct? They were both excellent. Here in STL given that a regular Full BC cake is $30 at the local Sam's (That's regular BC with a image on it too!) I don't know if you'd get $50 for one here. I'd love to say you would... but alas, this is where I stumble in my pricing... and how I got the $1 pp price I came up with on my wedding cake price. I also price it keeping in mind I'd never done a wedding cake before and I thought I was giving a great deal at $1 pp just starting out.
Ok, I'm going to post my thread on it now... I'm anxious to see what everyone responds with. I've got a list to post with it including everything from an 8" round, sheet cakes, to BC vs fondant, gumpaste roses, etc...
Thanks for letting me chime in!
- Paula
PS - Melvira - I LOVE your foam roller tech. I use it and it's the best, and beats the Viva method hands down! You can check out my wedding cake I 'rolled' all over them!!! Thanks for the great tip!
stlalohagal... I am glad to hear you are liking the roller technique. I can share your pain on the Wal-Mart price thing... but I will tell you the secret... when you go to Wal-Mart and order a cake, it is baked somewhere... God knows where, wherever the closest baking center is, depending on your location. It is then packed, dry, no frosting, nothing and shipped to the store where it sits until someone there opens a can of frosting and decorates it. I mean no offense if anyone reading this works there, but my point is that, they are doing what they have to. They are not allowed to bake the cakes with high quality ingredients, using their own special recipe. And they barely have adequate time to decorate them. They do NOT taste good. I talked to a woman today who felt compelled to tell me that a local grocer was charging $10 less for sheet cakes than I am. I told her I am not in competition with them, that my product is far superior and I guarantee it. They will do no such thing. Needless to say, she ordered from me at my quoted price! And she will not be sorry! So, keep your chin up, and realize that there are some people out there that will pay what is costs to get a quality cake! I don't even advertise, it's just word of mouth, but once someone tastes my stuff at a party, they are almost certain to call me for something of their own. At the risk of sounding egotistical it's just *that* good. Hahaha! And I don't think I want to read that thread because you seen like such a nice person, I'd hate to start off our friendship by choking the life out of you!
s... I'd hate to start off our friendship by choking the life out of you!
By all means don't read the thread!!! I'd hate to start a friendship that way too!!
- Paula
Poor CC it's trying to keep up with all of us that are trying to get our CC fix for the day! Thanks Guys!! 
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