Just finished an appointment where they asked me this. I told them that it's hard to tell, it decorating time depends on each cake, and that this is my full-time job.
In all seriousness, I think it's a good idea for the next "big" cake you make to try (as much as possible) and keep track of how long it takes from start to finish. People do NOT get it and they need to be educated that we don't just pull a cake out of our a$$ at the drop of a hat.
I once delivered a 3 tier birthday cake at noon. Tinkerbell theme, tons of leaves and flowers and petals. Over the top. Labor intensive. You get the idea. You know what the woman asked me, right?
"Did you make this this morning?"
You should have seen the look on her face when I told the cake took about 12 hours to complete.
In all seriousness, I think it's a good idea for the next "big" cake you make to try (as much as possible) and keep track of how long it takes from start to finish. People do NOT get it and they need to be educated that we don't just pull a cake out of our a$$ at the drop of a hat.
I once delivered a 3 tier birthday cake at noon. Tinkerbell theme, tons of leaves and flowers and petals. Over the top. Labor intensive. You get the idea. You know what the woman asked me, right?
"Did you make this this morning?"
You should have seen the look on her face when I told the cake took about 12 hours to complete.
I agree. Everyone should time themselves on one cake from start to finish. From taking the first consult to completion and everything in between. How do you know how much profit you are making or even if you are making any profit at all? Are you making $0.10 an hour? You need to know so you can price your cakes accordingly.
We have a lady that works for us that used to do cakes at home. She once did a cake that took her 60 hours just to make all of the flowers (she did it over 3 months). She only charged the lady $800.00. I know she spent two full 10 hour days baking and frosting and decorating. This is a total of 80 hours of work time not to mention the consult. The brides mom called her 3-5 times a week. If you don't count ingredients, materials, etc she would be making $10.00 per hour. However, we took her ingredient and materials cost for the cake $320.00 ( she had to buy special molds for the cake). $800-$325 = $475.00 divided by the number of hours she worked (80) =$5.93 hour. She was shocked. Even more so when we said the extra electricity, water, gas that was used to make the cake was not counted in the expenses. She immediately when up on her prices. You should evaluate yourself at least once a year if not more.
I have to say, this is the one question I hate more than any other -- how long did it take you to do that? My question is "what part?" The gumpaste flowers are time consuming, the baking usually takes a day in itself, if I'm doing molds, that takes a couple of days, one to make, then dry then the next day paint and dry. On and on and on. When I explained this to someone recently, she mistakenly thought I took a month on the whole cake and the "finished" product was a month old!! 
So naturally she not only didn't eat it, she badmouthed it and nobody else did either before I had to make a freaking public announcement! Honestly!!! I HATE that question!!!
In all seriousness, I think it's a good idea for the next "big" cake you make to try (as much as possible) and keep track of how long it takes from start to finish. People do NOT get it and they need to be educated that we don't just pull a cake out of our a$$ at the drop of a hat.
I once delivered a 3 tier birthday cake at noon. Tinkerbell theme, tons of leaves and flowers and petals. Over the top. Labor intensive. You get the idea. You know what the woman asked me, right?
"Did you make this this morning?"
You should have seen the look on her face when I told the cake took about 12 hours to complete.
That's similar to people who are scared to death that if you don't bake their wedding cake the night before, that it won't be "fresh"....
Sorry, most wedding cakes don't work that way!
I, too, get this question asked a lot when someone is inquiring/ordering a wedding cake. I feel the question is asked because they want to know how long it took me to make the wedding cake because they want to figure out how much I make an hour.
I never tell them because I know what they are insinuating. I usually tell them that the cake takes a few days to complete because it is made in stages and of course, I have to add in my consultation time with the bride, delivery time, and set up time. I lost tract of the hours right there.
And then I immediately go into another subject about the wedding cake.
I guess it is just human nature to want to know. A cake to serve 100 people may take me 2 hours to decorate.....and I am sure not going to tell them that.
I know what my next blog topic is going to be now! This annoying question!
I know what my next blog topic is going to be now! This annoying question!
You might add to it the sister question "how did you do that?" meaning "I want ALL your secrets because I'm going to open a bakery and I don't want to pay for all the classes!" 
I know what my next blog topic is going to be now! This annoying question!
LOL...happy to be your inspiration!
I already wrote it and it's going up tomorrow. I did get two out of four people at my cake consults ask me that question today, believe it or not. That and "how many cakes have you done?" Two people also asked me that one.
I know what my next blog topic is going to be now! This annoying question!
LOL...happy to be your inspiration!
I already wrote it and it's going up tomorrow. I did get two out of four people at my cake consults ask me that question today, believe it or not. That and "how many cakes have you done?" Two people also asked me that one.
Ooooh I haven't gotten that one...just "how long have you been doing this" which is a valid question.
I know what my next blog topic is going to be now! This annoying question!
LOL...happy to be your inspiration!
I already wrote it and it's going up tomorrow. I did get two out of four people at my cake consults ask me that question today, believe it or not. That and "how many cakes have you done?" Two people also asked me that one.
Ooooh I haven't gotten that one...just "how long have you been doing this" which is a valid question.
I get that one a lot, too 
I agree, it is a good idea to time yourself routinely. I did this on one of my early wedding cakes and it was 20hrs!! Yikes! My most common orders are a 1/4 sheet, so I timed that. I had interruptions with the kids, so it was "x" to make a batch of icing, "x" to mix/bake, "x" to make pattern/decorate, etc.
This is great, because it made me realized 2 things- I needed to increase my prices, as the lost sleep was NOT worth it and I MUST have a Kopykake projector for lettering, patterns, etc. So much time enlarging the pict-when it could go right on the cake
I always say too many hours and guesstimate 8- 20, depending on the cake (and any problems I run into). It's definitely a labor of love.
I'm a hobby baker and was determining whether I could make a living from this, as I love doing it. Well, my last cake (for a friend's daughters' b-day) took me about 20 hours and it was a small castle! I had to re-do a couple of things (even a couple of times) because it was my first time doing them. And, in the end, it still wasnt' up to my standards. I know that I'd get better and faster, but I know that I stress about it not being up to standard and would keep re-doing .For the amount of time it took, I'd have to charge at least $500 to make it worthwhile and I don't know anyone that would pay me that. AND I still wouldn't be making anywhere near the $ I make at my day job (where I also get benefits etc..)! Well, I'm still hoping that I can eventually do it part-time, maybe in 15 years when I hit semi-retirement, I'll be better and faster!
If you have time, read my blog entry and add any comments about things that I missed, I'm sure I forgot something... http://bit.ly/9dLNZJ
[quote="Kitagrl"] That's similar to people who are scared to death that if you don't bake their wedding cake the night before, that it won't be "fresh"....
Sorry, most wedding cakes don't work that way![/quote]
I once lost a wedding cake order because I wouldn't agree to bake the cake THE DAY OF THE WEDDING.
I remain convinced to this day the the bakery she chose just lied to her.
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