Pricing help on Character Cake!!

[parrolet313]

Ok - I need a little help! I have my first REAL order....for a wilton guitar "character cake." It will be two 2in layers with an additional 8" plain frosted cake - I'm estimating around 20 servings per cake, or 40 servings total. It will be buttercream with fondant accents ( frets on the guitar, strings, etc.) What would be a fair price - $50? Do you think $60 is unreasonable? HELP! Thanks in advance!

[tracymes3]

I would 1st add up the cost of your supplies. I know the pan had to have run you at least 12.00...also your cake mix, frosting, and i would estimate the amount of fondant. I did a tinkerbell cake actually 2, I charged 45.00 just for the tinkerbell. Always price high because you can always come down and that way you wont be losing money...I would quote 75.00 and then that gives you room to negotiate...Good luck with it

[tracymes3]

Originally Posted by tracymes3

I would 1st add up the cost of your supplies. I know the pan had to have run you at least 12.00...also your cake mix, frosting, and i would estimate the amount of fondant. I did a tinkerbell cake actually 2, I charged 45.00 just for the tinkerbell. Always price high because you can always come down and that way you wont be losing money...I would quote 75.00 and then that gives you room to negotiate...Good luck with it

Or even higher, just what you feel comfortable with ...trust me customers always like a high price because they feel like they are getting the best in which in our case they are!!

[tracymes3]

Sorry I keep adding to this but I must say one thing, in this business, we are here to do the unusual and one of a kind type of cakes that you can't go into a local grocery store bakery and buy. Our business is to go that extra mile to "wow" and make people smile. Never be afraid to bid your services, because in the long run if they turn you down I will almost guarantee you they will have wished they had paid the extra money to get the better cake. Even on your 1st real order maybe throw in a little something extra special to make your cake the talk of the party, and trust me you will get more business then you can do by yourself. Let me know if this helps you and Goodluck...

[Pootchi]

Me I charge per serving. If I was going to sell a 40 servings cake that would be 80$ because it's 2$ per serving, for chocolate, vanilla and marble flavors. And for WASC and maple caramel flavors that's 2.25$ per serving so that would be 90$.
But the prices must reflect the market in your area... and how much you pay for your supplies. It's different from one place to another!
HTH

[tracymes3]

Originally Posted by Pootchi

Me I charge per serving. If I was going to sell a 40 servings cake that would be 80$ because it's 2$ per serving, for chocolate, vanilla and marble flavors. And for WASC and maple caramel flavors that's 2.25$ per serving so that would be 90$.
But the prices must reflect the market in your area... and how much you pay for your supplies. It's different from one place to another!
HTH

Yes you did mention per serving sorry having major brain fog today , and see you was trying to sell yourself short, go with the higher price and that way you can negotiate, yes of course prices are so different in each state. My hubby says why arent you adding your time to the price, had to explain that you never know how much time each cake will take you so therefore i quote high enough to compensate for time as well...keep me posted

[parrolet313]

YEA!!!! Thanks for your help!!! I talked to her and told her - is $75 ok? I need to start making $$ but I don't want to charge you bakery prices - and she said yes! THEN she said "let's make it an even $80! SUCCESS!!!!

[tracymes3]

WOOHOO!! I am so doing a happy dance for you!!! Congrats and hopefully we will get to see pictures of your 1st "money cake"....I'm so glad I could help you out!!

[likitiki]

Congratulations! I think you did really well!

[puzzlegut]

Good luck.