chickenpatty Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Does $200 for enough wedding cake and cupcakes for 140 people, including delivery and set up a really good deal? Too good of a deal? Horrible deal? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissad2 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Does $200 for enough wedding cake and cupcakes for 140 people, including delivery and set up a really good deal? Too good of a deal? Horrible deal? Too good of a deal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 I agree with too good of a deal! That is SO cheap for 140 people. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southcarolinamom Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Too good of a deal. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 (edited) It really depends on a couple of factors: #1. What are other bakeries in your area charging for comparable products/services? #2. Calculate the cost of your ingredients & supplies, then multiply that x3. OR... #3. Calculate the cost of your ingredients & supplies, then calculate how long you think it will take you and what you think you ought to be making per hour. Add those together, and then charge a fee for delivery. One more thing--a lot of this depends upon how much experience you have. If you don't have much experience, you have to charge less, and plan that you're sort of "paying your dues" in order to gain skills & experience, kwim? Edited April 7, 2012 by Julie in CA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenpatty Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 One more thing--a lot of this depends upon how much experience you have. If you don't have much experience, you have to charge less, and plan that you're sort of "paying your dues" in order to gain skills & experience, kwim? This is why I'm thinking $200. I am planning to produce something pretty and delicious, but this will be my first wedding cake. I've been improving, but I'm not a professional. I am figuring it will cost me around $100 in ingredients & supplies when it's all said & done. Now if I factored in the stress & worry, that would be a different story! :D Knowing that, does $200 still sound reasonable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
catz Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 If this is your first wedding cake, then it seems reasonable. I'd do that while you build a "portfolio". Be sure to take good pictures of the cakes you've done and build an album and/or webpage with them. I'd do that for maybe 10 events and then start charging "real" money. Because that is seriously a steal (where I'm located) and I hope whoever is getting that deal feels very lucky! I paid $3 for custom cupcakes (they were not super fancy) for my 7 year olds birthday last year and the same bakery does not get much cheaper for large quantities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KatieJ Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Resonable, but I think, I would go up to at least $250.00 esp sconsideringyou are delivering as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Annie G Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Too good a deal. If you've calculated $100 for ingredients and supplies, you're still short selling your profit. Even at $300, you're going to be pricing yourself about the same as Walmart. And they don't deliver, set up, fret over the order, bake fresh, etc. And I'm not snarking Walmart- I work as a cake decorator for them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leanna Tomlinson Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 My dd has been pricing wedding cakes and the cheapest she has found is $2.75 a slice. I would charge less than that if it's your first cake. If you charged even $2.00 a slice that would be $280. Also, most places charge extra for delivery and set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cjzimmer1 Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Even if you are new, I think that is still too cheap. I paid that about 15 years ago for a generic cake from a chain grocery store (no fancy fillings/flavors) just plain chocolate cake plus frosting. If you feel like if you charge more, you will lose the job, then I guess I would take it because it does give you experience but I would think $250-$300 would be more reasonable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 I agree with too good of a deal! That is SO cheap for 140 people. :iagree: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 This is why I'm thinking $200. I am planning to produce something pretty and delicious, but this will be my first wedding cake. I've been improving, but I'm not a professional. I am figuring it will cost me around $100 in ingredients & supplies when it's all said & done. Now if I factored in the stress & worry, that would be a different story! :D Knowing that, does $200 still sound reasonable? I'm not sure how to advise you about that. My first wedding cakes were done for friends who paid for ingredients alone. Honestly, when I think back to some of my first efforts, I probably should have paid *them* for the opportunity to give it a try! I'd leave it at $200, and I'd be sure to tell the customer that I didn't have experience yet, so I was giving them a discount with that in mind. That way, if something goes wrong, they're not totally surprised. Not that something will go wrong, but I think it's fair to make sure they know you're new to this. If you do well, their word of mouth advertising will be worth the amount you didn't charge. As you gain experience, your skills & time will be more valuable, and you'll be able to charge more. As others have said, make sure you take a picture after you set the cake. It's nice to look back at it later, and it's also good to have proof that when you left, the cake was as it should have been. People do crazy things after the cake decorator leaves! Once, I delivered a cake to a venue where I had to wait about 20 minutes while they decided where I should set the cake. I told them that I was glad to wait, because once I set up the cake, it would be difficult to move safely. I found out later, that after I'd left, they'd picked up the cake *and the table it rested on*, and carried it down a steep hill with slick pavement, *in the rain*. :001_huh: I was glad to have proof that I'd left it with them in good shape. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 I think your business model is fine. Charge less as you establish yourself in the market. I took a chance and hired a landscaper to be his first "gig". He did it for almost 1/2 of the other quotes. He did an amazing job, and we are still happy. Good luck and take lots of pictures and listen to your feedback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 EXCELLENT deal. my cake was $400 in the year 2000 and that was cheap then! i bought it from publix grocery store. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 I paid $200 for a very simple tiered cake for 200 people in 1995. And that was because she was a friend of a friend so I got a deal. I assume it would be at least double that by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SonshineLearner Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 Make sure it's legal in your state... Just as a side note. There have been many threads on here about problems... (and fines) with this.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 It seems like too good a deal, even if you are new. I would up it at least $50. You want a little padding in there in case your ingredients are more expensive, or if you need more than you calculated. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardening momma Posted April 7, 2012 Share Posted April 7, 2012 One more thing--a lot of this depends upon how much experience you have. If you don't have much experience, you have to charge less, and plan that you're sort of "paying your dues" in order to gain skills & experience, kwim? I agree. Is this your first wedding cake? If it is (or your 2nd or 3rd), and it was me, I'd be happy to get paid for the cost of ingredients plus a little extra, just for the practice. Have you seen Cake Wrecks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenpatty Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 Yep, it is legal to sell baked goods here. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickenpatty Posted April 7, 2012 Author Share Posted April 7, 2012 Thank you all so much for your input! I love this board:) When it's done, I'll post pics & details. (provided it's not a cake wreck - I have nightmares about appearing on that site!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.Balaban Posted April 8, 2012 Share Posted April 8, 2012 I think it is too cheap, but I think it is good to price yourself lower to be competitive as you are just starting out. I would probably charge $2 a person for cake and cupcakes = $280 I would charge a 58.5 per mile for delivery, plus a flat set-up fee. I have seen places lump those charges together for between $25-50 within a reasonable radius and then add an extra delivery charge if it is outside of a "reasonable" 10-15 mile radius. Even if you are just starting out I would not skimp on delivery fee and set-up fee because those are costs you are eating directly. You can "afford" to have a lower profit margin when you are starting out, but I would not skimp on delivery because I think people will take advantage of you. After the wedding, I would contact the newlyweds and see if they would be willing tell you/write a review for you so you can put that in your brochure or website... And to get some feedback! Good luck!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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