I have been decorating cakes as a hobby for many years and recently began to bring some to large social gatherings. Now, a friend of mine has asked me to make her wedding cake. She wants a 5 tier, 200 serving cake (buttercream with fondant decorations). I quoted her what I considered a low-mid price for such a monstrosity: $3 per serving.

She balked at the price, saying that $600 wasn't in her budget. I have been pricing all the cake boards, pans, separator plates, pillars and cake stand I will need (and don't own yet) and those costs alone are close to $300!

FIRST: Am I allowed to charge her more than material costs if I do not have a business license?

SECOND: Is $3 per serving really ridiculous for the NE Ohio area?

I've been reading about starting a business and am not sure I can afford to pay the fees and insurance costs when I am not planning to really do much more than 2 wedding cakes this year. I know I have the talent, but I am also homeschooling 3 kids and don't have the time to really make a go at a business right now.

Thanks for your help!

First, you firmly remind her "It's not a $600 cake. It's enough cake to feed TWO HUNDRED of your 'closest and dearest friends' who are coming to celebrate your wedding. $3 a person for 200 people is $600 no matter how you add it up. A $4 cup of Starbucks isnt' expensive .... until you're paying for 200 of them."

Two options: Give her the shopping list and have her buy you EVERYTHING you need (no substitutions allowed) and you get to keep everything as your "pay".

Or tell her "sorry, I can't do it cheaper than that. Good luck finding someone who can."

I priced this cake to feed 200, but increased the serving size by 50% from the Wilton guide - so really she is getting a cake that is supposed to feed 300!!

You do not have to have a license to bake out of your home in Ohio. If you DO NOT have a license, you CANNOT see any goods that need to be refrigerated. Other than that, all is fair game. So to answer your first question yes, you can charge more than material costs even though you are not licensed.

Second question: No, $3.00/slice is not unreasonable. I charge $2.50/slice for buttercream and $3.00/slice for fondant. Those are my starting prices, so depending on the design the price goes up. I have a cake in August that averages at $10.00/slice. I was floored that the couple actually booked with me after giving them the total.

You don't have to be licensed in Ohio in order to sell certain foods (cakes, breads, etc) from your home. You would fall under the Cottage Food Industry (basically what it comes down to is: you cannot make foods that need to be refrigerated; you have to label your products w/ item weight, ingredient list, and "This product is Home Produced.")

So, to answer your first question, YES you can sell cake without a business license in Ohio

For your 2nd question, $3/serving is not outrageous for what she's asking for.

What I did for my brother for his wedding: they bought all the supplies (edible and non-edible that I didn't already have) and I kept them as my payment. The time I spent making their cake was their gift, so I guess I split the cost with them

Ultimately, it's up to you how you want to deal with her. If she's balking at the price, tell her to get some price quotes from actual bakeries. She just needs to be educated on what a REAL cake costs

Don't sell yourself short, stick to your price. I am in the NE Ohio area as well and your pricing seems perfect, depending on how much fondant is used, you are likely lower than most would be.
Once she calls around she will be thrilled at $3 per serving!
Good luck!
Tracy

I am in NE Ohio as well and charge $3 per serving so I would charge her $600 for cake to feed 200 people as well.

Tell her she can purchase everything herself (and give her a VERY specific list) or she shop around and find someone to do it cheaper.

I'm in northeast Ohio and I charge $2.50/serv. for bc tiered cakes w/ fondant accents! Your pricing is spot on! I also charge a $25.00 set up fee along with an additional $10/separator plate...so I would be charging nearly $600 for the same cake in the end at $.50/serv. less lol

From reading the above, I'm depressed I don't live in Ohio with their cake laws! She would be getting a way better deal paying the $3 a serving then having to buy the supplies. I would take no less.

when I seen the topic title "wedding cake for a FRIEND" i was like oh geeze, I do not like making things for friends because they always want a discount and get picky about things, Good luck,

Just did this for a friend who is getting married in July. When I wrote up her contract I wrote "200 servings @ $6 per serving = $1200.00 less 50% discount = $600.00"

When she saw that she went "wow, I'm getting a screamin deal!" And she's right. I did not discount the delivery charge or the cake top fee since I had to go and buy the topper with no discount to me.

So state out clearly what you would be doing if she wasn't getting the discount and then give her the discount. She'll feel like she saved the world instead of feel like she's getting overcharged...which she isn't!