Just so we know its an issue that affects other industries, a "same thing but different" scenario I encountered at the hotel just 2 days ago.....

Guy comes in with a coupon for a 1-person room for $69.99. BUT ...... ! He want to put 3 people in the room PLUS a rollaway bed and can't figure out why it will cost him more than $69! Dude!! Its a coupon for ONE person and you want us to accommodate three times that number AND make my housekeeping dept make an extra bed in the morning .... and you want it all for the 1-person price????

In cake world, I tell folks, "Contrary to the lies that the bridal magazines tell you ......"

In hotel world, I tell folks, "Contrary to what William Shatner tells you......."

Most people do not realise the time it take to make a custom cake from start to finish. Never underestamate yourself and never under charge. If they want cheap frozen crap let them go to safeway. Charge what you are worth and do not settle for any less. Starting a business may take a bit longer but in the long run your efforts will pay off! You will never get ahead if you dont make any money.
Another thing to consiter is the people who are willing to pay for what they get will refer you to others who are willing to pay as well. If you make an amazing cake and dont charge enough everyone at that party will want a cake at the same cheap rate. Then your stuck in a rut and may never get out

Dont lower your price. If that's what you need to charge to make your profit, and it's in line (sounds in line to me), then it is what it is. Lowering your price shows your customer that you dont believe your product is worth $X. Plus, you dont want to get in the habit of doing that just to get business because you'll end up getting that type of business - the people who ALWAYS want a deal

wow,some people in some areas can get these prices/ here i am lucky to get more than sams or walmart without someone comlaining or canceling. they are so used to getting inexpensive cakes from me now that I am raising it up i find that my older clients are going to one of the 2 new walmarts that are so close i could see them from my roof. Why we need so many walmarts in one area is beyond me. we have 3 supercenters within 20 min of my house.

I think it is also how we present ourselves me i am meak, my business partner does lawyer collections and has no problems talking to our clients about money and asking for it. she is firm and no noncense.

my 40 yr old neice going on 12 has been trying to bake for years and driving me nuts. no one will eat her cakes (my husband eats anything but this is the first thing in 32 yrs that I have seen him spit out) she was looking at a grad cake i did this past weekend, it was for her nephew. she showed me a picture of a 3 layer half sheet she carved into something with bubble gumballs on it.. and as ne what I would charge. there were no supports and it was non its way sliding to one side I told her I couldn't see photo that well, she said that she won't do it for under a 100 and that she has 2 ordered.

I want to know what she did to these peole to pay that much for this kind of work and taste. she was very proud and said she ha over 65 into in materials, that i couldnt figure out as there was no fondant.. only her buttercream. made out of margarine and powdered sugar.. a yelloish butter cream that is so ggreasy it sticks to your mouth. I want her guts.

Unfortunately I would never charge that much for four blocks especially twelve servings. But if you feel your pricing is correct then just be polite tell them thank you and let them be on their merry way. That's the great thing about having a business we can say no.

People who live in an area where they can't get a fair price for a cake unfortunately have to consider that custom cakes may not be a viable business in his/her area. Custom cakes are luxury item. My base price is $5 per serving and my friends and family don't pay that much for cake. I don't pay that much for cake. When i deliver a cake, I'm often driving up to gate where I can't even see the house and they are watching me on camera before they let me in. Last week I delivered to a cake for a child's party where they had part of a museum blocked off on a Saturday afternoon.

If you charge less than what a person making a living in the cake business would make, you are undercutting . Lamborghini, doesn't adjust prices below cost because they are selling cars where people can only afford Kia's. they don't try to sell cars to people who can only afford a Kia. But I can't go on a cake forum without seeing posts from people who don't know what their cakes cost, don't realize they aren't making a profit and don't know what the market price is for cakes in their area.

And this is important for anyone doing research on cake pricing in his/her area. Since so many, if not most, home bakers undercharge, they aren't usually who to ask about pricing. Find a bakery or a home baker whose sole source of income is cakes.