Okay, so I am doing a full sheet cake for my mother's work anniversary party this week. I quoted her $70.00 She just called a bakery just to compare prices...they quoted her $34.00. I am just wondering if my price is extremely high? I would not make ANY money if I sold this cake for $34.00. I have more than that just in ingredients/supplies. As it is with the $70.00 quote I am only paying myself $5.00 an hour. I was just curious how a business can make any money selling a cake for that much.
I would charge teh same and I don't get it either. Our grocery stores sell decorated bday cakes - 2 layers for $13 or $9 for a single layer 8" cake (and this is in expensive DC burbs)... HOW can they do that? I know they have wholesale ingredients, but they have to pay their employees too!!!! I just don't get it!!!!
Melissa
The thing is that bakeries and grocery stores a lot of times use frozen cakes. They thaw them and then decorate them. They usually are not very good. I had the same issue the other day. A coworker asked how much I charge and when I told her the price, she said she could get it for $18 at Sam's. I had to explain that my cakes are baked fresh and that I can do a lot of things that a bakery won't. She ended up not wanting me to do it. If she doesn't like my prices, she won't order from me. Others will ask you for orders. I usually charge $65 for a full sheet cake. But then if I have to do a lot of work with it, I charge a little more. I always let people know up front. That way, they can decide if it's worth it to them. People don't realize what hard work and time goes into making a cake. I feel your pain!
My single layer 12x18 is $55 and I'm usually lower than most pricing I see on here. I only do buttercream so I won't have the extra time and labor involved with fondant and gumpaste like a lot of CCer's. My single layer 16x24 is $105.
If they want a $34, mass-produced, baked-a-year-ago-and-thrown-in-a-freezer cake with decorations "slapped" on at the last minute in a process that probably takes less than 20 minutes tops, then I say you shake their hand and say "Thanks for stopping by."
Thanks! I knew I could count on you guys to make me fell better. I was just shocked because this is an actual bakery and not like a sams or walmart. But I did tell my mom that they probably used frozen cakes to decorate. I would think they would have to. I told her she can get it from them if they'd like but I just can't do a cake and lose money on it....she getting it from me anyway I just feel bad because she's gonna pay for half of it! Oh well, life goes on 
Don't feel bad. I know it's hard not to feel bad, but you have to get some money back out of it. As much as I love to make cakes, I have to earn the money for what I'm doing. Otherwise, all you do is lose your money every time. I learned that lesson in the beginning and I've only been doing it for a year. She will appreciate it once she sees what an awesome and quality job you will do. People need to pay for quality, not quantity.
But you know, even if they had frozen cake, that cake had to be made and transported - if that's true, the costs should actually be HIGHER over time...
I just don't get it. I do realize though, that once someone TASTES a "real" cake (not from a mix either - sorry ladies!), then they realize that the cheap store bought is just like everything else store bought - second rate!
Melissa
I too have only been doing this for about a year now so pricing is still a little of an issue for me. I have made a price list and have stuck to it, which makes me feel good because people do still pay my prices, this just caught me off guard this morning.
Yeah, it's really crazy because delivery was included with that cake too. So, I'm still perplexed how you pay someone to decorate the cake, transport the cake and gas. I guess I'll never know! I'll just accept orders from those who want the BEST
I just went through this, this past Sunday. I made an 8 inch chocolate cake with chocolate bc with chocolate covered strawberries on top. I also split the layers and put chocolate filling in each. One of the girls I work with asked me how much I would charge for it. I stated at least $40 dollars. She was apalled. I figure if you don't want it for the price asked, go somewhere else. My cake was baked that morning and then decorated
that morning and then delivered by 12'30. Can Sam's or any other store say that? I don't think she is going to be ordering from me!!!! lol. I did get 4 other order though!!!
Lu
Well, for my 12x18 I charge $80. I agree...don't lower your prices at all. Yours is custom and buttercream..the ones they want in the store is usually that gross whipping icing and so plain. If she wants to go elsewhere. Let her! don't sell yourself short!
Wow, this is for a 24x18 so I really don't feel bad now!!! She did ask the bakery for buttercream icing so at first glance it seems the same but doesn't count for taste and time spent on the cake and whether the cake is freshly baked or frozen.
Well, they told her it would feed 96 people so I just assumed I guess.
Is she sure she was getting an 18x24 for only $34????? I checked on-line at some of our local bakeries and they run $70-90 for this size cake. Even with volume buying, I don't see it......
YEP! At Sam's, Costco's and Wally World $34.00 is about the price. Even in Visalia CA , where my son lives. BUT, at Costco's you can only get what they have, no variations...they just write a name on the cake for you. I was in EVANSVILLE IN at Sam's a couple of weeks ago and checked out their sheet cakes. A 11 X 15 was $20.00!! Granted, we know how it was made, BUT, it was airbrushed with balloons and ribbons! I can see how clients that are looking at COST and not necessarily QUALITY would buy these.
I'm sorry that your mom is involved....it's hard when it's family, the GUILT factor is sometimes overwhelming!
GOOD LUCK!!
Beth in KY
Yeah, I looked at the website that mom got the quote from and they use all pastic cake toppers and their cakes are simply airbrushed. She told me to stop worrying about it she was getting it from me anyway, it just still makes me feel bad. She knows what goes into it though so it's a little easier convincing her than other people!
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