Hi guys,

just wondering if you could help me out... a customer has asked for 120 cupcakes with a dog topper on each of them for her wedding... like the one below.

I'm planning to ask for $5 per cupcake... is that reasonable?

Cupcakes will be plain vanilla.

Thank you in advance!

I think it's fair considering how long it will take you to make all of the dogs.

If you charge $5 per cupcake, guessing $1 for the cupcake, you are charging $4 for the dog.

You dog is adorable and I can't stop looking at him and I think he is worth more than $4. However, I do not know how many people in your area create fondant toppers and what the market value of them in your area.

If the area is has a reasonable number of decorators who make toppers, then $5 is enough. If there are only a couple then you should price them at market value because making 125 of the dogs may be time consuming.

Wow, I think $5 each is a steal. Those dogs will take you a long time to make. I would say at least $6 each, but I don't know your area either and what you could get away with charging. Good luck.

Honestly, that dog is the cutest thing I've ever seen. I'm home alone, and when his picture popped out, I actually yelled out, "OMG, is he cute!" Yes, you've reduced me to talking to myself.

Omg !! Adorable !!! I would go with $6. $3 for the cupcake and $3 for the topper! I guess it depends on what you would charge for a reg cupcake if its say $2.50 then add $3.50 for the topper ! But if you are getting maybe $4 already for a cupcake then I wiuld still add at least $3-4 for the topper ! That has to take some time and making that many..wow!

I think $5 is a steal also, and you should charge more like $7-10. That's alot of work. If she's not happy with the pricing you could suggest she order some cupcakes with simple bones on them for $4 each or some with just the dog face for $5-6 each. They get $2.75 for an undecorated, scratch cupcake out here. Simple decorations are at about one dollar more, and they don't do anything as elaborate as yours. 120 cupcakes with this kind of detail is alot, I hope you have some help. BTW--They are the cutest things I've seen!!! Great job.

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I would go more $7-$10 per cupcake with dog as well. I agree with tinygoose, if the price is too much, suggest maybe she does half with dogs and then half with something more simple or a solid color.

Do the math . . . how long does it take you to make each dog? How much is your time worth? How much does it cost to make each dog? I think we all make the mistake of charging for the supplies and forget to pay ourselves for our time.

$10 per cupcake on the LOW end. They could really go for $12-$15. I would normally charge a $10 flat rate for something scuplted like that. So if your average cupcake is around $2, then that's $12 right there. $5 is definitely not enough.

That is the cutest dog. That is going to take a lot of time!

I would also fill them with a little buttercream or filling. It looks like fondant under the dog, which makes sense, but as far as taste goes I think it would be better with some buttercream or filling with the cake.

Is the bride having a wedding cake besides these cupcakes? What kind of budget does she have? At $10 a cupcake, that would cost her $1200.00 for cupcakes. But they're so darned cute!

Or you could look at it like- what should you charge for a wedding cake with for 120 people with 120 dogs on it?

Thank you so much for your help and advice everyone... sorry i forgot to mention that that picture was not mine... the bride found it and wanted something like that... but yes it is such an adorable dog!!

I ended up quoting her $5.50 ... i now think it's a bargain considering what some of you are suggesting i charge... so we'll see what she says. I am just starting out so any business for me is good to get my name out there....

She will also be having a cake on the day... these are just for the guests to take home.

Thanks again

Well said Antonia74 and indydebi!!

I charge a minimum of $5.00/ea for any modelled figures.....plus $1.00 for a regular iced cupcake....so I'd charge $6.00/ea.....and I'm cheap!
What do you charge for figures?? and what do you charge for a plain iced cupcake?? THat would be how I'd figure it out.......if you charge her less than that, you'd better let her know she's getting a DEAL!!

oh my goodness. for your sake i hope she is shocked by the $600 price tag @$5 each, because that is way undercharging. that is going to take FOREVER to make 120 of those. all of the details are so time consuming it will take you days if not weeks to get them all made. you might want to seriously reconsider if she decided so go ahead with it and try to talk her into making a few of the dogs and making other not so time consuming toppers like dog bones or their initials. You could also tell her you made a practice dog and it took a lot longer than you anticipated and if she decides to go with them it going to be more along the lines of $10-12 each.

you also need to keep in mind that even if you are just starting out you need to value your time and this project will take a lot of it!