AThis lady wants me to make this four tiered wedding cake to feed 100 people. I told her the sizes of the tiers will be 12", 10", 8", 6" for that many people. I charge 2.50 per serving, so just the cake costs $250. Adding a rhinestone stand, two brooches, ribbon, and letter monogram equals $350 for everything. I told her my quote and she says she can't afford it, and her budget is $200-250. I said I can try to give her some option, but I'm not sure what to do?

My first option is to replace two tiers with dummy cakes and purchase a sheet cake on the side, but even that option pushes over $300. My second option is to have her pay for the full price, and offer a 90% buyback deal for the return of cake stand, brooches, and letter monogram (so she's basically renting them for $10). As a cake decorator, I can always reuse them, right? What do you all think?

[IMG ALT=""]http://www.cakecentral.com/content/type/61/id/3282023/width/350/height/700[/IMG]

...........My second option.............

Probably would not have thought of it but this is a nice option.

AWhat a hassle. I'd exert my energy booking the date with someone that has an appropriate budget for what she wants.

When is the wedding?.. Can she not pay in installments?

What type of cake is it? Can you make a cheaper type of cake/filling?

AHave you considered telling her you can make just the cake for $250 since that was your base price, and she can provide the stand, ribbon, and broaches. She can get all that stuff at Michaels or Hobby Lobby bit by bit with 40% off coupons then you're not stuck chasing it back down after the wedding. If you go this route, I would make it very clear that all materials she is providing are due 2 weeks (or whatever) before the wedding along with final payment. I would also tell her how much ribbon would be needed so she doesn't come up short.

A

It's just plain white cake with all-butter vanilla buttercream, and marshmallow fondant. The wedding is in December. I didn't think about payment installments. Maybe I can relay that to her and see what she thinks.

A

I charged her for the materials because I was going to order them all online. I found them all looking exactly like the picture and pretty cheap too. Stand, ribbons, brooches, monogram...all for $100. I figure she can return them to me after the wedding and get $90 back. If she doesn't, I'll keep the money. The downside to that option is that she might not even have $350 upfront.

I agree with AZ. You've stated your price. If she can't meet it, it's not your problem and you both need to move on. Walmart offers wedding cakes for cheap.

The option with dummy cakes doesn't sound like it should be cheaper to me.  You still have to cover & decorate the dummies, and then you have to do the sheet cake, too.

I personally wouldn't offer the $90 buy back.  What if they come back damaged, or you get only part of what was used?  Will you feel comfortable telling her she can't have her money back?

$2.50 a serving sounds on the low side to me for a fondant covered cake, but I get that's what you are offering her.  Perhaps suggest a few different options that won't stretch her budget too much.  Maybe silver ribbon instead of bling?

AYou guys are right, I shouldn't waste my time on this situation. She pretty much wants a four tiered fondant cake for $150 and I'm definitely not going to do that.

I know my pricing is a bit on the low side. Bakeries around here charge from $2.30 to $6 a slice. I just started decorating cakes five months ago so I'm still learning techniques and pricing out my recipes. Slowly raising my price though!

Ayour bride needs to pick a different design -- maybe her aunt Louise or someone can cough up the extra for the bling -- it's not up to you -- you are already giving her a great deal --

Would she be willing to downsize to two tiers? Would that get it to the appropriate cost?

A

I could try asking her that. have her buy a sheet cake for the guests?

I recommend sticking to your orginial pricing. Let her haggle with the florist or the photographer. If she wants your cake she will find a way to afford it

 If you are building up a buisness, remember you are also building a reputation.

The best new business will come from quality work.

A[ATTACHMENT=1897]IMG_7727212677944.jpeg (56k. jpeg file)[/ATTACHMENT]

How about:

3 tier cake 6", 8", 10" - 60 portions = €$150

40 portions of cake as a kitchen cake, however you want to make it, let's say you charge $1.50 per = $60

Your option of the buyback thingy = €10 - and if it's 3 tiers you would use less bling and ribbon and I would just use 1 brooch on the middle tier. 

Total cost to her = $220 + whatever delivery you charge.

But only if you really want the business. I don't do haggling myself.

AThere's a difference between working with someone within their budget & her trying to get a large cake for $150 or whatever. Your prices are very low already, I mean no disrespect but would you be making much (if any) profit from this order? Charge what you will, I'm just saying this sounds like it will be more of a hassle.

I wouldn't like the idea of her purchasing extra cake from Walmart or wherever, and serving that with your cake. You are trying to build your reputation, right? I wouldn't want people confusing my cake with someone else's, not to mention the risk of someone becoming ill (although that's probably very unlikely).

Minimum orders will help you 'weed out' some people who aren't willing to pay you properly for your work and make sure you have some sort of contract to cover you & your customer.

I let people break up their payments if they ask, I require a percentage down and the remainder 3-4 weeks in advance. If they want to break the rest up in one/two payments that's fine but I don't start the cake until its paid in full, it isn't booked until I receive the deposit, & I don't hound people for payments (that might sound mean but I don't have the time). I've learned most of these things the hard way!

Good luck!

A[quote name="Smckinney07" url="/t/779075/pricing-out-a-wedding-cake-for-a-bride-with-a-very-low-budget/15#post_7546917"]There's a difference between working with someone within their budget & her trying to get a large cake for $150 or whatever. Your prices are very low already, I mean no disrespect but would you be making much (if any) profit from this order? Charge what you will, I'm just saying this sounds like it will be more of a hassle.

I wouldn't like the idea of her purchasing extra cake from Walmart or wherever, and serving that with your cake. You are trying to build your reputation, right? I wouldn't want people confusing my cake with someone else's, not to mention the risk of someone becoming ill (although that's probably very unlikely).

Minimum orders will help you 'weed out' some people who aren't willing to pay you properly for your work and make sure you have some sort of contract to cover you & your customer.

I let people break up their payments if they ask, I require a percentage down and the remainder 3-4 weeks in advance. If they want to break the rest up in one/two payments that's fine but I don't start the cake until its paid in full, it isn't booked until I receive the deposit, & I don't hound people for payments (that might sound mean but I don't have the time). I've learned most of these things the hard way!

[/QUOTE]

Thank you. I am also learning the hard way. Lol. After pricing everything out, I'd only be making 1/3 of the full price as profit. This would have been my first wedding cake to make. As exciting as it was, it got a little frustrating trying to fit to her budget. I want to help her, but I'm not budging from my pricing at all. I can't afford it. I'm tired of people trying to walk over me, and if I budge, she'll probably go around telling people I am easy to haggle down. Definitely don't want that kind of reputation.

Your deposit and payment method is going to be my method too. and print out contracts. I had another bride wanting to make me a four tiered wedding cake for 150 people by the end of this month, with Italian cream cake and butternut frosting! I quoted her $600 for it and need a full deposit by this week or it's too late. She hasn't contacted me or paid me, but is going around town telling people I'm making her cake. Crazy! Boy is she going to be surprised...lol.

BTW, it seems a consensus on here is about 1/3 to 1/2 of the COST (including shipping, tax, etc.) for item "rental" that you can REUSE. So her "bling" would be $35-$50 RENTAL if you could reuse it all (not $10!).

Like someone said, used cut ribbon and a letter"D" wouldn't qualify as "reusable" in my book. 

But on a cake pedestal, or something like that...maybe. 

Oh, when I last shopped for a new car, I really wanted the BMW roadster, but got a Corolla. It wasn't the BMW car salesman who had to try to "fit" my dream car into my actual budget. 

Quote:

Exactly!

I honestly find these kind of clients just depressing. I know that not everyone can afford to buy an expensive cake be it for a birthday, christening, wedding or whatever but then there seems to be - esp for a wedding - a budget for everything else. Why are cake decorators treated as though they were standing down the market place or at the fair so that they can be bargained with??? This does my head in. I had a client today who turned me down bc " oh, I was only thinking of spending €100" - for a multiple tiered cake for 100 people! Sure, I'll just wave my cake fairy wand and do it........

Even if you're just a beginner if you are ready to make wedding cakes then you have to be ready to charge what they cost. I'm not keen on the idea of having to chase down a client afterwards for stuff to be returned & all - just think, they will be on their honeymoon etc and then when they get back they'll be settling down. Seems like it's more trouble than it's worth. You have to decide though if this is the route you want to take.

AThe Something Borrowed could be a relatives brooch. I have a friend who bought one from a thrift store (costume jewelry) for her bouquet, could work for the cake too. My throwing bouquet was my topper too, but I really liked the flowers and wasn't going for bling, I also saved $400 bucks by not having alcohol, ha ha.

AI had someone low ball me on a cake recently. I explained to her that she was basically asking me to work for below minimum wage once all the supplies and such were factored in. I don't ask for much comparitively, but I am worth at least $10/hour and, if they don't agree, there is always someone who makes them cheaper

What Bunny0410 said.

Also, that's a lot of cake for 100 . . . 6/9/12 round = 100 servings. If she's invited 100 people, she won't need 100 servings anyway.  About 75% of invited actually show up.  In that case a 75 serving cake 6/8/10 would be enough.  Don't over-cake and do stick to your price.  

Don't let her budget become your problem.  Brides always find the $ to get what they want.