Melissa in St Louis Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I've been commissioned to make a "life size" guitar cake and 150 mini-cupcakes for a sweet sixteen party. The guitar is covered in homemade (yummy) fondant. As for how long all this has taken, I don't know...just know it has taken a LONG time over the course of the last few days. I do know that ingredients/cake board/etc alone totals about $50. This is a huge extravagant Sweet 16 party and they are sparing no expense. I don't want to charge more than what it is worth, but I don't want to get short-changed, either. :confused: TIA! Melissa in St Louis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milovany Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 (edited) I'm thinking the $100-$125 range. ETA: Ack! I forgot about the cupcakes! The above was for the *cake*. So I agree with a higher price in the $200 range. Edited January 18, 2009 by milovaný Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
5Youngs Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 $50 in supplies + 4 hours labor + artistic talents exploited = $250, at least! You are totally worth this. In Little Rock, you'd pay $100 plus tax for the 150 generic cupcakes. More for special order, even at the grocery store. And the cake would cost you $50, if you could even GET a design like that. Our specialty shops charge $30 + tax for an 8 inch cake. It's pretty and 2 layered. HTH~ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bettyandbob Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 What does the local bakery charge per serving for cakes? Look at their prices, consider what has an equivalent "elaborateness" per serving. After I go that data, I'd look at the per serving cost times the amount of servings in your cake, plus the cupcakes. You can adjust that up or down, but you need to really value your skill and the time you've put in. I'm trying to imagine the number of servings by looking at ds's electric guitar. Is the cake including the cupcakes 100 servings. I think $300 would be the rate around here. This depends on geography and how much less it may be for an independent baker to charge. Gosh, I might even be tempted to call the bakery that the Ace of Cakes from Food Network has and find out what they would charge for such a cake. That might give you some perspective to charge what you are worth. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Emmy Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 My initial thought was $200. Sounds like a ton of work - wow! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Julie in CA Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I've been commissioned to make a "life size" guitar cake and 150 mini-cupcakes for a sweet sixteen party. The guitar is covered in homemade (yummy) fondant. Custom/specialty cake pricing varies wildly by location, and according to the decorator's level of expertise. One of the things that makes a difference is what you mean by "life size guitar cake". If it's sheet cakes with a guitar pictured in icing on top, that's different than a guitar that you've painstakingly carved out of whole cakes and decorated with as much realism as possible. How many servings do you plan on providing? Are you delivering, or are they picking up? Do you have a lot of professional experience? Could you give a bit more detail? Hey, we'd love to see a photo too! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in St Louis Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 I made sheet cakes, made the buttercream to frost them with, stuck them together, carved them from a picture of the recipient's own guitar, made the fondant, covered it in said fondant...It is over 3 feet long. I am delivering and setting the cake and cupcakes up. I am NOT serving it or cutting it. I draw the line at some point!:lol: Melissa in St Louis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blessedfamily Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 (edited) I made sheet cakes, made the buttercream to frost them with, stuck them together, carved them from a picture of the recipient's own guitar, made the fondant, covered it in said fondant...It is over 3 feet long. I am delivering and setting the cake and cupcakes up. I am NOT serving it or cutting it. I draw the line at some point!:lol: Melissa in St Louis They say it depends on location. Well, where I am, I would have no problem paying $300 for what you describe. That would not include delivery and set-up. Whoa... I missed the 150 cupcakes too. Maybe $400-450. But didn't you tell them how much it would be up front? You should always make your price range clear up front. Sometimes people don't appreciate how much work you put into creations. People with money are often penny-pinchers. When I used to custom design, I found I would short-change myself and not ask what I was really worth. That just makes you frustrated. Edited January 18, 2009 by Blessedfamily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pongo Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Every time we buy cakes for special events we are charged by the slice. It's normally 1.75-2.00 a cupcake and between 3.50-5.00 a slice depending on if it's a speciality cake.:) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melissa in St Louis Posted January 18, 2009 Author Share Posted January 18, 2009 My hubby got me the gig and didn't give them a price. They are renting out our nightclub for the party and he offered cake services. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Starr Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 Call specialty cake bakeries in your area. Find out how much they charge for wedding cakes made similarly. Maybe not the guitar but the fondant, buttercream etc. It's often priced per serving. Serving sizes are smaller than what we often serve at home. :) I'd love to see a picture as well! You could make a fortune in NYC. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brindee Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I wouldn't charge anything under $300 for that, especially since it's specially made! I bet the cakes on that tv show previously mentioned are way more than that! I was thinking $350-$400. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jami Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I have no idea. But can you take a picture before you deliver it?! I'd love to see the finished work. :D Do you ever watch Ace of Cakes on the Food Network? That's a fun show about specialty cakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laurel Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 I think $400-500 sounds fair. That is a lot of work you have put into this cake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OnTheBrink Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 If they were having it done at Charm City Cakes (Ace of Cakes on Food Network), it would be a minimum of $1,000. So, I'd think at least $450 for yours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lollie010 Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 A basic 9 in. round buttercreme with fondont decorations was $90.00. You could easily charge 4 or 5 times that much. From what I understand the fondont adds a lot to the going price. It sounds amazing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amber in AUS Posted January 18, 2009 Share Posted January 18, 2009 No idea on price, but WOW!! How cleaver!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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