Should I Charge Extra For The Edible Image?
Decorating By Kiddiekakes Updated 22 Feb 2010 , 3:36am by icingimages
I am hoping to soon be set up for printing edible images....The dilema I am having is should I charge an extra fee if I am printing a full size edible image (8X11) on a regular white 9x13 slab or include it in my current price already.I just increased my prices less than a year ago and I'm afraid If I state that the edible image is x amount of dollars more than the cake they will be upset yet I am trying to make money and pay for the printer so I can't just include it for free.
What would you do? How do I word it on my site?
Laurel 
If I was selling, I would definitely charge more for the edible image. The edible paper and ink are not cheap! If you are able to buy wholesale, they might be a little cheaper, but I have an Epson and the ink cartridges and a pack of edible paper costs me $110.00! That comes out to approx. $4.60 per page!
Yeah..I know they do...The grocery stores charge between $10.00-$15.00 and another cake shop here in the city charges $24.00 as a friend of mine wanted a Star Wars image printed and that's what they charged her... 
I think I may add $10.00 extra as that is what they would charge me to have one made.... 
Laurel 
... and I'm afraid If I state that the edible image is x amount of dollars more than the cake they will be upset...
(big sigh! and with a little tongue-in-cheek). Stop wringing your hands and "worrying" that people will "be upset" .... that they wont' "like you" ... that they'll think you're a big 'ole "meany".
It's not personal. It's business. And this is what it costs.
See the above post where Price ran the numbers. There is a COST involved in providing ABOVE AND BEYOND a regular cake. There is nothing wrong with charging and being compensated for it.
If people "get upset", they are welcome to go buy the printer and the cartridge and the paper and make one themselves.
Or they can hand you the ten or fifteen bucks for it and be done with it.
I think she's worrying that she may lose the sale if her prices are too high -- one important component of the whole pricing issue. She wants to price her cakes high enough to make a nice profit but still get sales. It's not much of a business if you never get an order. And on the flip side it's not much of a business if you get tons of orders and no profit. It sounds to me that she is trying to be somewhere right in the middle.
BTW: I think you should charge for the edible image. $10 sounds very reasonable.
I charge $10 extra for the image. Besides the materials, there is a time factor involved in playing around with it to get it right etc.
About 2 years ago, I did an informal survey at one of my workshops. People upcharged anywhere from $6-$23. Everyone yelled at the one who was charging 6 and wondered how they could get $23!!!!. I sell on my website for the image ONLY, $13 for 8x11 on up to $21 when I do the large sheet. Plus they pay $5.00 for handling. You are adding something to the cake, so you charge something. If they choose not to have the image, then they dont have to pay the extra. Remember you are in business to make a profit, your cakes and your service and the quality of the work and the things you offer will keep them coming back. You are charging them for another product you are offering, you are not uping the price.
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