How Much Should I Charge?
Decorating By pursuing_perfection Updated 3 Jul 2010 , 11:55am by sugarandstuff
If you can't charge enough to make a living from it, then I wouldn't charge at all.
I'd rather give it away than have someone think it's fair that I pocket 20.00 for 8 hours of work. Those aren't the kind of people I'd want to be working for (and when you do a cake for someone...you are "working for them").
It's less insulting to do it as a gift than to pretend they are paying you a fair price.
If you can't charge enough to make a living from it, then I wouldn't charge at all.
I'd rather give it away than have someone think it's fair that I pocket 20.00 for 8 hours of work. Those aren't the kind of people I'd want to be working for (and when you do a cake for someone...you are "working for them").
It's less insulting to do it as a gift than to pretend they are paying you a fair price.
Well, I disagree but like I said your reason for your prices has to work for you. I enjoy doing really cool cakes for people who are normally stuck with flat grocery store cakes. It makes them happy and makes me happy with no money out of my pocket plus I get to do something I love.
If you can't charge enough to make a living from it, then I wouldn't charge at all.
I'd rather give it away than have someone think it's fair that I pocket 20.00 for 8 hours of work. Those aren't the kind of people I'd want to be working for (and when you do a cake for someone...you are "working for them").
It's less insulting to do it as a gift than to pretend they are paying you a fair price.
Well, I disagree but like I said your reason for your prices has to work for you. I enjoy doing really cool cakes for people who are normally stuck with flat grocery store cakes. It makes them happy and makes me happy with no money out of my pocket plus I get to do something I love.
I like your attitude pat-a-cakes.
3GCakes - I wouldn't pretend I am being paid a fair price, if I wasn't. Friends and family know that I expect my costs to be covered, plus more. They also know the cake would have cost them a lot more elsewhere. I enjoy what I do, and enjoy blessing people with me "gift".
OP i also live in Canada, and your cakes are amazing, it would be great if we could all set our prices and get what our cakes are actually worth (in our eyes and others), i agree with you, it's hard to set a price. i've just quoted a friend $50 for a 9" fondant cake, torted with fondant figures. i've just started with the money end of it and i too only require that my costs be covered, but something extra would be nice too!!
OP i also live in Canada, and your cakes are amazing, it would be great if we could all set our prices and get what our cakes are actually worth (in our eyes and others), i agree with you, it's hard to set a price. i've just quoted a friend $50 for a 9" fondant cake, torted with fondant figures. i've just started with the money end of it and i too only require that my costs be covered, but something extra would be nice too!!
I am sure most people would say you quoted way less than you should have, but as long as your costs are covered, then you decide from there how good of a friend this person is! Make sure you post a picture of the cake!
this was very interesting i too am canadian and i know i could not get the price i deserve sometimes im not even sure i cover costs ..but i enjoy making them and for close friends i just gift them i find a better choice to do that if its a special ocasion.......im new here so i dont have any good pics posted but i'll be posting soon 
Hey, Motorhead... I just discovered OP stands for original poster (which in this case was myself). So, thanks for the compliment!
Another fellow Canadian here from a relatively small town. I have been making cakes on the side for about a year now and have read lots of these posts...and I still cannot come up with an actual pricing point that I am firm with. I still waffle each time when someone asks me how much I charge. I have settled on 2 dollars each for decorated cupcakes but the overall pricing still eludes me. Is it a Canadian thing..are we to shy ..lol???
Samiam, are you right in Kingston?
Head onto www.kijiji.ca You can choose Kingston or Napanee
Do a search with the word cakes
Up will pop a few posts from folks that are doing wedding cakes in Kingston.
HTH!!
I have never thought to do that..I assume that might help the OP as well and all the rest of the Canadians on this thread. I will do. Thanks for the tip!!
I am in NJ which is similar to NYC prices. For my baked products (I'm new to cakes - so I can't speak to it) I follow the standard pricing rule in the food industry which is 3 times your cost of materials. I honestly have no clue what I would feel comfortable charging yet for the cakes because I'm still learning and I'm slow. Personally, I would feel comfortable paying up to $125 for this cake.
I am in NJ which is similar to NYC prices. For my baked products (I'm new to cakes - so I can't speak to it) I follow the standard pricing rule in the food industry which is 3 times your cost of materials. I honestly have no clue what I would feel comfortable charging yet for the cakes because I'm still learning and I'm slow. Personally, I would feel comfortable paying up to $125 for this cake.
Thanks "sugarandstuff". I have heard the standard is everything from double the cost to quadruple the cost. I guess it depends where you live! It is nice to hear that you think up to $125 is reasonable.
Samiam, are you right in Kingston?
Head onto www.kijiji.ca You can choose Kingston or Napanee
Do a search with the word cakes
Up will pop a few posts from folks that are doing wedding cakes in Kingston.
HTH!!
I have never thought to do that..I assume that might help the OP as well and all the rest of the Canadians on this thread. I will do. Thanks for the tip!!
I never thought of checking kijiji. Great idea!
Good point, depends where you live - unfortunately everything in my state is out of control expensive.
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