http://cakecentral.com/gallery/2305002/baby-girl-shower-cake
I made this cake for my cousin's baby shower. I posted pics and now someone wants to order the same cake! I have done other cakes for people in the past, but now know I have grossly undercharged and don't want to make the same mistake! I was thinking $75??? I used boxed cake and mmf (store bought black fondant)
Thanks again 
How much did you spend on ingredients, and how many hours did you spend on the entire order (prep, baking, decorating, cleanup)?
I've costed $25 for all ingredients, boards, boxes, etc.. then I was thinking 5 hours to make at $10 an hour??? That's how I got $75. They are picking it up as well so I wasn't factoring in a delivery cost. I think the Wilton servings for this was 44. So $2 a serving would be $88. Maybe I should go $80?? Thanks for your replies
$2 per serving seems awfully low for fondant. Have you checked around for pricing at other bakeries?
If you find out that another baker charges $3 per serving for fondant (which still seems low), than you know if your friend thinks $88 is too much, she can't get the same cake for that price anywhere else...
I've costed $25 for all ingredients, boards, boxes, etc.. then I was thinking 5 hours to make at $10 an hour??? That's how I got $75.
From there you need to add on your overhead and profit margin. For overhead, let's say your added utility costs are $500/year, liability insurance is $400/year, accounting fees are $200/year, business license is $50/year, and web site costs are $50/year, this totals $1200/year. If you fill one order per week, your per-order overhead costs are $24, so add $24 to your ingredients + labor cost and you get $99. (If your state requires a commercial kitchen to legally sell food you would also need to take that into account.) With a 20% profit margin your final price would be $119.
As said above you should check out the competition to see if this price seems reasonable. If not you can always adjust it up or down, just don't go under your ingredients + labor + overhead costs ($99 in the example above).
I think the Wilton servings for this was 44. So $2 a serving would be $88. Maybe I should go $80?? Thanks for your replies
Also, make the customer knows it should feed 44. Those are 1x2" slices, if it's Wilton's wedding cutting guide. If she wants a smaller or larger cake--or larger slices--adjust the pan sizes. (This is why per/serving is the most popular pricing).
Thanks all.. I msg a couple of local bakeries.. the one reply I got charges $5.50 a serving for fondant, and I gave her a pic of the cake.. she said she'd charge $150 (and that was if the 8' and 9' were only 1 layer!) So I know for sure $75-$80 is too low!!!! Looking around here I guess I'm in the same boat as a lot of you.. feeling bad charging so much money!!! And for something I just love to do! The best part for me is hearing the praises and how much everyone loved the cake
Yay! I love feeling like the architect of cake, and how proud I am of some of the creations I somehow manage pull off... It makes it easier to brush off some of the "Oop's!" that have happened.Quote by @%username% on %date%
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