to charge for a 3 X 3 mini cake like this one?
http://www.cakecentral.com/modules.php?name=gallery&file=displayimage&pid=1204960
I had a friend ask me to make some of these for a baby shower she is hosting this weekend. I made one up last weekend to show her. SHe liked the design and the cake, but when she found out I was asking $3 a cake she asked me to make cupcakes instead. 
I have to say, I am kind of bummed. A lot of time and work goes in to making those cakes, and I personally would pay a lot more for mini cakes like that...Am I nuts?
Okay, before I respond I'd like to post a disclaimer that I don't sell any cakes yet!
I completely think you're UNDER charging her! I don't think $3 is enough for all that work! Those cakes would take much longer to do than one larger one. Don't sell yourself short! That woman could have gotten a great deal at $3 each!!
I AGREE! That is a lot of work. I am not really in to cakes but do cookies.
I agree..........and just for the record....I've made some mini cakes that sold for $20.00 a piece at an auction (in my photos, all the ones with a diet coke can) and nobody batted an eye.......but you tell someone wanting them for 150 guests at a wedding that they're 20.00/each and watch their eyes pop out of their heads!!! NO WAY would I do THAT cake for LESS than $5.00/each and I live in a teeny tiny town.........tell her you'll do cupcakes with fondant on top and the little clothes for 2.50/each LOL
There's no way I'd do those for less than $15 each, so she's just being unrealistic (i.e.cheap). Those are a ton of work, and it's aggravating to cover those little cakes in icing and fondant to begin with, let alone make little decorations for them. If you did them for $3 each you'd be making 50 cents an hour after the cost of your ingredients!
See, I'd charge $3/cupcake with no problem LOL
Folks have no idea the time/cost/etc.
No I dont think it is too much at all! I am sure they are more time consuming than one big cake. Which you might charge $3 a serving anyway. However, if your friend doesnt want to pay that much...then she doesnt want to pay that much. You dont have to do it for less, but she doesnt have to have those cakes either.
Thanks everyone. I figured that $3 a cake was pretty darned cheap for the kind of effort they entail. I realize that a budget is a budget, but can't help but feel like she doesn't value my time very much. Getting over it, though!
Most likely that's not in her budget, and she doesn't understand the amount of work involved. You may want to explain to her how much time it takes to make them.
Ask her what her budget is, and if it's realistic, give her an option or two of what you could do for that cost. If her budget is NOT realistic, there's always grocery store cake.
Wow ! Thats a bargain! I wouldnt charge under $5.00 . And that still seems cheap to me ! Small cakes/decor can take so long and be a pita to !
Well how much was she planning on paying for cupcakes. That sounds a little under priced to me. But, I am new to the business.
I bet its not that she doesn't value your time. I bet it's just not in her budget. She really had no clue when she asked you to do those how much time it would take. She's not asking you to do them for less, is she? Don't take it personally. I did some minis this weekend and wanted to blow my brains out. It was only 5 of them and I'd guess I spent at least 5-7 hours decorating them. They were for my daughter's birthday so I sucked it up and did it, but I don't think I'd be doing them for less than $5-$10 each next time. I'm not into slave labor.
What decor are you putting on the cupcakes ? If your adding mini p j,s I would have told her its still $3.00! Then for sure up,d the mini cakes to $5/$7 ! And said its you or Walmart ! She doesnt think much of you putting in all that time, So I wouldnt worry about charging her enough to make at least a little profit!
the great american cookie company charges $1.99 a piece plus tax for their little cupcakes.... and to be honest and they don't look great. I say at least $6 a piece on your mini cakes... if they are fondant all over, bump it up to $8.... JMO
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