Base Price: Individual Cake: $35.00 Smash Cake: $15.00 (Reduced price when ordering accompanying birthday cake/cupcakes.)
Even if you need a smaller quantity of let’s say 20 servings, a decorated ¼ sheet cake will cost on average $25 to $35, while a 2-tiered cake for the same amount of servings will be in the $85 to $120 range.
You are using top of the line ingredients, and creating special flavors and beautiful decorations. Your price should not be anywhere close to the price of a grocery store cake. Back in 2016 (when I still sold my cakes), my average rate for an 8-inch layer cake was $100.
How do you Price a wedding cake?
I use this for smaller custom cakes, rather than wedding cakes (which are usually priced by the number of servings ). Cake Price = Labor (hours of estimated work x your hourly rate) + Cost of Ingredients + Overhead It comes down to basic cost accounting, factoring in your direct and indirect costs.
How much does a square cake cost UK?
Square (starting price) – 6” £60, 7” £65, 8” £70, 9” £80, 10” £90, 12” £100 Please note that these prices are starting prices to provide a guide. Bespoke cake prices and wedding cake prices are available upon request once the final design is confirmed.
How do you calculate the price of a custom cake?
I like to use the formula below to calculate the price of a custom cake. I use this for smaller custom cakes, rather than wedding cakes (which are usually priced by the number of servings ). Cake Price = Labor (hours of estimated work x your hourly rate) + Cost of Ingredients + Overhead
How much should a party cake cost?
If you are planning on making or buying a layered cake, you should realize that a single 12-inch cake will yield approximately 25 servings, while it will usually take about three 10-inch cakes for 50 people to each have a slice.
How much should a 2 tier birthday cake cost?
Most bakers will charge anywhere between $4-10 per serving when it comes to two-tier cake pricing. A two-tier cake with an 8-inch base and a 6-inch top, which is the most common size, will serve around 30 people. This will mean the average two-tier cake will cost between $120-$300.
How much does an 8 inch round cake cost?
ROUND CAKES
| SIZE | SERVINGS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 6 inch | 4-6 | $45.00 |
| 8 inch | 8-12 | $55.00 |
| 10 inch | 16-20 | $70.00 |
| 12 inch | 30-40 | $80.00 |
How do you price a cake UK?
Know your costs
The easiest way to work out the cost is to divide the cost of the item, (£1.50 bag of flour for 500g) into 100g, so it will cost £0.30 per 100g (£1.50 divided by 500 equals £0.003 multiplied by 100 = £0.30) if the cakes needs 300g, multiply that amount by 3 (£0.30 x 3=£0.90).
How much cake do I need for 25 guests?
10 in cakes can be sensibly served to up to 25 people with each slice measuring about 1 1⁄4 inches across the back or about the width of a teaspoon. As with the 8 inch cakes, 10 inch cakes can be served event style. Cut event style, a 10 inch cake can be served to as many as 39 people.
How big is a 5 inch round cake?
Portions for Sheet Cakes
| Approximate Portions for Single-Layer Cake | ||
|---|---|---|
| Cake Size | Round Sponge | Square Sponge |
| 5-inch | 8 | 8 |
| 6-inch | 11 | 18 |
| 7-inch | 15 | 24 |
How do I price my cake?
How much should I charge for my cake?
- First, estimate how many hours is this cake going to take – 5 hours.
- Then, calculate the cost of ingredients – $20.
- Next, determine the labor cost – $20 x 5 = 100.
- Add utilities cost – $5.
- Sundry cost (small cost) – $5.
- Then, calculate the total cost: 20 + 100 + 5 + 5 = $130.
How much does a 4 layer cake cost?
For tiered cakes, they generally start at $4.50 per serving for 2 tiers and the price increases per tier (by $. 25 per tier, so a 4 tiered cake would be a minimum $4.50 per serving) and for difficulty/design. A 5′ + 7′ round tiered cake with 26 servings is $120 minimum, plus taxes.
How much should I charge for a smash cake?
The prices range between $30 to $85 for a smash cake. However, it greatly depends on the sizes and designs. For instance, it costs approximately 50 dollars for a single-layer 5-inched round smash cake. Also, it has buttercream with minimal decorations.
How many does a 4 inch cake serve?
Tiered cakes
For instance, a 4 tiered cake in a standard shape and size, for example, 10-inch, 8-inch, 6-inch, and 4-inch tiers, can generally feed around 75 people.
How much is a birthday cake pop at Starbucks?
Cake pops at Starbucks start at $1.95 and range to $3.50 per cake pop. You can buy one at a time or in bulk for special occasions. starbucks birthday cake pops. Starbucks does offer a festive selection of cake pops, perfect for celebrating a birthday.
How much is a slice of homemade cake?
Typical costs: Bakeries typically charge per serving or per slice when making a cake for a birthday party, special event or gala. Supermarket cakes typically range from 35 cents-$2 a slice. These are normally white, yellow or chocolate sheet cakes decorated simply with butter cream icing.
How much should I charge for a bake sale?
Number One Rule of Thumb— Don’t price anything under $1.
Try to keep items priced at $1, $2, $5 or more instead of pricing items at $1.50.
How do you price cupcakes and cakes?
Multiply your cupcakes per day, by your minimum cost per cupcake. For example, if it costs you $0.75 to bake a standard cupcake, and you can bake 100 cupcakes per day, then your cost per day will be $75. Finally, add your cost per day to your profit goal, and divide that number by your cupcakes per day.
How to make the best birthday cake ever?
How much for a sweet sixteen birthday cake?
How much does a Quinceanera cake usually cost?
The cake is also another attraction so you have to take care to get a good one. A Quinceanera cake can cost between $250 and $600, price is subject to change based on the number of guests. Buttercream tends to be less expensive than fondant.
Pricing
The prices shown below are the starting pricing for the most often requested cake sizes. Cakes by Cassandra can provide you with an accurate price quotation upon request.
| Size/Shape: 4 inch/round Approx. Servings: 2-4 slices | Description:Personal-sized mini cake (1 cake flavor) | Base Price:Individual Cake: $35.00Smash Cake: $15.00(Reduced price when ordering accompanying birthday cake/cupcakes.) |
| Size/Shape: 6 inch/round Approx. Servings: 4-8 slices | Description:Personal sized mini cake (1 cake flavor) | Base Price:Individual Cake: $35.00Smash Cake: $20.00 |
| Size/Shape: 6 inch/square Approx. Servings:16-18 | Description:2-3 layers (1 cake flavor) | Base Price:$40.00 |
| Size/Shape: 8 inch/round Approx. Servings:14 – 18(24 event style) | Description:4 inch high – 2 layers (1 cake flavor) | Base Price:$40.00 |
| Size/Shape: 9 inch/square Approx. Servings: 16-25 | Description:1 layer sheet cake (1 cake flavor) – | Base Price:$40.00 |
| Size/Shape: 10 inch/round Approx. Servings:24 – 32(39 event style) | Description:4 inch high – 2 or 3 layers (1 cake flavor) | Base Price:$60.00 |
| Size/Shape: 10 inch/square Approx. Servings: 25 | Description: 1 layer sheet cake (1 cake flavor) – | Base Price:$50.00 |
| Size/Shape: 11×15 inch/rectangle Approx. Servings: 40 | Description: 1/2 sheet cake – 1 layer approx. 2 inches high (1 cake flavor) – | Base Price:$65.00 |
| Size/Shape: shaped cakes Approx. Servings: varies | Description:Any cake that combines one or more of the above cakes or is carved into a unique shape | Base Price:Price will be determined by complexity of design – begins at $8.00 per serving |
| Size/Shape: round cupcakes Approx. Servings: 24 | Description:2 dozen regular size cupcakes (1 cake flavor) | Base Price: $45.00 |
| Size/Shape: square cupcakes Approx. Servings: 20 | Description:20 square shaped cupcakes (1 cake flavor) | Base Price:$45.00 |
| Size/Shape: mini cupcakes Approx. Servings: 48 | Description: 48 mini cupcakes (1 cake flavor) | Base Price:$50.00 |
| Size/Shape: cake pops / truffles Approx. Servings: varies | Description: cooked cake mixed with icing dipped in chocolate – truffles are bite size – cake pops are bigger and on sticks | Base Price:Basic Pop $1.50Specialty Pop $2.00Truffle $1.25 |
Gallery
Cake Pricing Guide: How To Price A Cake
- This cake price guide has been in the works for quite some time. I can’t tell you how many times people have approached me with the question of how much a cake should cost. It always brings me back to the beginning of my cake-making career whenever I hear that question. The first cake I sold was to a customer who had no clue how much a baked, personalized cake should cost. I had no clue how much it would cost to bake my cakes, and I was comparing the pricing of my cakes to those of grocery store cakes. Over time, I learned to appreciate the worth of my time and work, and I became more aware of the kind of individuals for whom I wanted to bake. However, I continued to undercharge for my cakes for YEARS! The primary reason I’m providing this piece is to assist you in determining the worth of the hours of labor you put into your bespoke cakes and in determining the appropriate price to charge for them. Among the objectives of this cake pricing guide are to: assist you in appreciating the value of your time
- ensure that you are continually generating a profit on your cakes
- and empower you to correctly price your cakes based on your clients and geographic location.
Basic Formula to Price a Cake
- When estimating the cost of a personalized cake, I prefer to follow the method shown below.
- Instead of wedding cakes, I like to utilize this for smaller bespoke cakes (which are usually priced by the number of servings).
- Cake price is labor (estimated hours of work multiplied by your hourly rate) plus the cost of ingredients plus overhead.
- It all boils down to fundamental cost accounting, which takes into account both direct and indirect expenses.
- And, of course, recognizing the importance of your time!
- I’d like to emphasize that this approach may be used to baked goods such as handmade cookies and cupcakes.
- It is effective for every baked item that a home baker is capable of producing.
Labor: Valuing Your Time
Yes, you are correct. Your time is precious, and you should be compensated for the services you provide. It is your profession as a cake decorator, and the number of hours you intend to spend on a cake should be taken into consideration. If someone requests an elaborate cake topper or delicate sugar flowers, the cost of these should be factored into the final pricing.
Estimating the Time a Cake Will Take
- Then you might wonder, ″but what if a cake takes longer to bake and decorate than I want it to?″ And this is when things become difficult.
- An unexpected request from an existing or potential client might be extremely difficult to fulfill.
- It’s possible that you have no clue how long something will take, or that you’ll have to attempt it several times before you succeed.
- In those sorts of scenarios, all you can do is make the best guess you can and hope that you’re near to being correct.
- Some cakes will take longer to bake than anticipated, while others will take less time.
- I try to reassure myself that everything will work out in the end.
- I’d also want to point out that I only take into account active time for this portion of the calculation.
- Non-productive time, such as waiting for your cake layers to cool or for a fondant feature to set, is not included in this calculation.
Hourly Rate
- The second aspect that might be difficult to figure out is your hourly rate of compensation.
- When it comes to cake, the further along you are on your trip, the easier it is to find this out.
- I know that when I first started out, I was grateful for any cake orders that came my way.
- In addition, I lacked experience and confidence in my abilities.
- The idea of compensating myself for each cake I baked sounded absurd at the time.
- But you know what?
- I’ll tell you something.
- If you worked in a bakery, you would be compensated on an hourly basis!
- Even if you believe you are still in the learning process, you should pay yourself at least the minimum salary.
- You may also modify your hourly rate to reflect your previous work experience and abilities.
- You may start off at a slower rate, but as your talents expand over time, you will be able to boost your rate of progress.
Cost of Ingredients: Direct Costs
- Now we’ll get to the second half of my calculation, which is the cost of your raw materials.
- All of these expenses are categorized as direct costs.
- The ingredients you use to bake each cake are included in your direct costs.
- It’s critical that you keep track of these so that you can figure out how much it costs to produce a particular cake.
- Most of us have a collection of go-to recipes (such as my vanilla cake recipe), and it’s actually rather simple to figure out how much it will cost with a little bit of research and calculation.
- Even though this may be the work of my inner CPA, I constructed an Excel spreadsheet to assist me in rapidly calculating the cost of each cake that I make.
- I understand that not everyone enjoys statistics in the same way that I do, but I believe that the majority of bakers out there like being organized and exact.
Create a Pricing Spreadsheet
A costing sheet is less difficult to develop than you may believe, and once it has been made, the file will take care of the rest of the job for you.
List Out Your Ingredients
Each and every item I purchase for my cakes is listed on a master sheet, which includes everything from butter to freeze-dried strawberry powder! Following the completion of my ingredients list, I added a price column to the right of it.
Price of Each Ingredient
- After that, I went through my grocery shop and receipts to find out how much each component was going to cost.
- However, you are not required to know how much a container of salt costs.
- The price of a teaspoon or the cost of a cup of flour is essential information.
- The next column, which I created, provides a standard serving amount for each component.
- For example, I use a teaspoon to measure baking powder and a cup to measure brown sugar while baking.
Calculate the Cost per Unit
- This subsequent step will take some time.
- You must determine how many servings of each item are included within a container or bag.
- Consider the following example: a small bag of granulated sugar contains approximately 8 cups of sugar.
- If you’ve made it this far, consider yourself lucky.
- The cost per unit of each component can now be readily calculated, and the results can be linked to your recipes!
Calculate the Cost for Your Most Popular Recipes
For each of my most popular cake recipes, I created a separate tab, and then calculated the costs for each of my cake batter and frosting varieties. I realize this is a lot of effort, but it will be worth it in the end. It also allows you to see how much money you’re actually making on each cake that you sell, which is a valuable tool.
Overhead and Special Equipment: Indirect Costs
- Finally, we’ve reached the final component of our equation — indirect expenses.
- Indirect expenses are everything you spend money on to produce a cake that is not directly related to the components.
- Depending on the cake, this might involve variable expenditures like the purchase of cake boxes, cardboard cake rounds, parchment paper, or even particular cutters or molds that are required to fulfill the cake order successfully.
- Fixed expenditures such as rent and energy, as well as large baking equipment like as ovens and stand mixers, are included.
- Even though the majority of us home bakers do not have a distinct area to work from, I believe that virtually all of us have purchased baking equipment!
- Whether you’re using an edible printer or an airbrush, you should assess the depreciation of such instruments throughout their estimated lifetime and include them in your overhead costs calculations.
- You’ll be able to accurately account for all of the expenses associated with baking cakes.
- These kinds of expenses may quickly pile up, so it’s critical to factor them into your price calculations.
Recognizing Your Clientele
- As I previously stated, one of the most common mistakes that home bakers do is attempting to compete with grocery store baked goods.
- I believe that we have all done it at some point in our lives.
- Individuals who dash to Walmart at the last minute to pick up a sheet cake, on the other hand, are not the same people who reach out to you weeks (or months) in advance to commission you to make a unique cake for a special occasion.
- Grocery stores employ lower-cost ingredients and bake in large quantities.
- You’re working with top-of-the-line ingredients to create unique tastes and visually appealing presentations.
- Your cake should not be priced at a level that is comparable to the cost of a supermarket cake.
You Should Be Too Expensive For Some People
- In 2016, when I was still selling my cakes, the average price for an 8-inch tier cake was $100, according to my records.
- I had more demand than I could handle, and individuals in New York City are ready to pay a lot of money for unique items.
- Even after that, people continued to tell me that I should charge more for my cakes.
- It completely blew my mind.
- People typically spend more than $100 on a custom-designed cake.
- Your interest rate should be high enough that some customers will choose to walk away.
- Unless you’re receiving complaints that you’re charging too much, you’re probably not charging enough.
- To find out how much people in your region are prepared to pay for a bespoke cake, it’s quite acceptable to ask around first.
- By contacting other custom bakers in your region, you may get a sense of what rates are going for in your area.
- It’s also a fantastic way to meet new people!
Don’t Try To Undercut Other Bakers / Bakeries
- Just make sure you aren’t trying to undercut the prices of other local bakeries or cake stores.
- Because the cake community is small, you want to help out your fellow bakers whenever you can.
- If you receive a cake order merely because your pricing is lower than the competition, you may not be attracting the type of customers you desire.
- The sort of individual who goes about for the lowest bespoke cake they can find is often not the type of person you want to be a recurring client at your bakery.
- You can rely on me on this!
- Additionally, if you set your rates too cheap, you risk devaluing custom baking in your region, which will ultimately affect everyone in the end.
Understand That Other Bakers Aren’t Competition, They’re Fellow Artists
- When I first started baking cakes, I viewed other bakers as competitors, which was foolish of me.
- In reality, each cake maker has their own distinct style and range of products to offer.
- It may take some time for you to find your own personal style, but the more cakes you bake, the more you will organically develop it.
- I discovered that I really enjoyed working with American buttercream and that I adored creating bright, fun cake designs!
What Goes Around Comes Around
- It’s uncommon that I got to deal with fondant, and when I did, I’d happily recommend them to one of my other cake buddies who specialized in those sorts of cakes, rather than working with them myself.
- Alternatively, if my cake calendar was completely packed, I would refer customers to other area bakers whom I knew and trusted.
- When the same thing happened to them, they returned the favor, and as a result, we developed a wonderful working connection between ourselves.
Delivery vs. Pick Up
- Was there another rookie error I made at the start of my journey?
- I DID NOT CHARGE FOR DELIVERY IN THIS CASE.
- It makes me feel uncomfortable to say that out loud.
- If someone requests that you bring a cake, you should always charge a fee.
- You have the option of charging a flat cost for delivery within a specified radius, or you may charge a distance-based fee for deliveries outside of that radius.
- In either case, remember to include in the cost of petrol, the wear and strain on your vehicle, and the monetary worth of the time it will take you to transport the cake to your customer.
Strategies for Friends and Family
- If you’ve learned how to price a cake for business, what do you do when friends and family want you to bake something for them? There is no correct answer to this question, and it is a matter of personal preference. Baking businesses have done a number of things, including: offering a specified discount (for example, 50% off)
- just charging for ingredients
- providing cakes free of charge, but only to direct family members
- charging full price.
- No matter the technique you use, make your intentions crystal clear from the start.
- When you explain how much money and work goes into baking a cake, the majority of people are sympathetic and accepting.
- I adored preparing birthday cakes for my friends for no charge, and I always thought of it as a gift from me to them!
- As a result, I never felt any sort of pressure to bake for them because they never requested or expected me to do so.
- But I also didn’t have to worry about my extended relatives requesting baptism and anniversary cakes for me.
- A large number of people, on the other hand, are in a different scenario.
- It is best to establish ground rules in advance if you have demanding family or friends who want you to drop everything and prepare intricate cakes for them.
- Thus, expectations will be more realistic, and future conflict will be avoided.
Key Takeaways on How To Price a Cake:
- You should respect your time.
- Maintain meticulous records on the costs of your ingredients.
- Include any additional expenditures (such as cake boxes, special equipment, and so on) in your pricing
- Understand the type of clients you’re aiming for, and work hard to expand your consumer base
- Make contact with other bakers in the area
- Charge for delivery
- Establish a consistent expectation for friends and family members in order to avoid awkward situations.
Let Me Know Your Thoughts!
If you have any further suggestions on how to price a cake, or if you have any questions that I haven’t addressed, please leave a remark in the section below.
Other Related Posts:
- In order to focus on my baking business full-time, I quit my corporate job. Here are some things you should think about before quitting your corporate job.
- ‘What Should I Do With All of My Cakes That I Don’t Sell?’ I wonder.
- My business model is that of a cake baker who does not sell her cakes.
Price List
Continue to the next section: Price List MarkWalkerFord2021-05-25T19:58:19+00:00
12 minimum cupcakes per flavour
Original (but adored) Cupcakes – £2.00 per cupcake
Vanilla — Vanilla sponge cake topped with your choice of vanilla frosting in your desired color.
Decadent – £2.25 per cupcake
A marbled cake made with vanilla and chocolate sponge with vanilla and chocolate icing. Chocolate – Chocolate sponge cupcakes with chocolate ganache frosting made with chocolate buttercream The flavor of white chocolate is represented by white chocolate sponge cupcakes with white chocolate icing. Lemon – A lemon sponge cake with a lemon icing on top.
Premium – £2.50 per cupcake
- Cream Cheese Icing on Red Velvet — A classic red velvet choco sponge topped with cream cheese frosting.
- Cake with coconut – Coconut sponge layered with white chocolate icing.
- Oreo – Oreo vanilla sponge cake with Oreo icing and a small oreo cookie on top.
- Cream cheese icing atop a carrot cake with a carrot filling Strawberry – A sponge cake made with strawberries and vanilla, topped with a genuine strawberry icing.
- The Morello cherry conserve is layered on top of a moist ground almond cake and topped with an almond icing.
- Strawberries and Vanilla Cheesecake – Strawberry and vanilla sponge cake with biscuit coating, vanilla icing, and a fresh strawberry garnish.
- Savory Salted Caramel — A light and fluffy sponge cake filled with a salted caramel filling, vanilla frosting, and a drizzle of salted caramel.
Boozy Mini Cupcakes (Please note these contain alcohol) 24 minimum per flavor
£1.25 per mini cupcake
White rum drizzle and rum buttercream icing are applied to a vanilla and strawberry sponge cake for the Strawberry Daiquiri. Vanilla and pineapple cupcakes with a coconut touch and rum drizzle, as well as rum buttercream icing, make up the Pina Colada. Using a white rum icing, this Mojito cupcake is a sweet and refreshing take on the iconic beverage.
Approximate servings per cake
| Size | Round | Square |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 12 | 18 |
| 7″ | 18 | 24 |
| 8″ | 24 | 32 |
| 9″ | 32 | 40 |
| 10″ | 36 | 50 |
| 12″ | 54 | 72 |
| Size | Round | Square |
|---|---|---|
| 6″ | 12 | 18 |
| 7″ | 18 | 24 |
| 8″ | 24 | 32 |
| 9″ | 32 | 40 |
| 10″ | 36 | 50 |
| 12″ | 54 | 72 |
Please keep in mind that the costs listed below are only a guideline or a starting point; the pricing for customised orders will vary based on the specifics of the order.
Flavours
- Vanilla sponge with vanilla icing: Vanilla sponge with white chocolate frosting: Vanilla sponge with chocolate frosting Vanilla frosting or chocolate icing on a marble sponge is optional.
- Cake with chocolate filling and a chocolate icing Cake with almond icing and Morello cherry preserves – Cherry Bakewell Vanilla icing atop an Oreo sponge cake.
- Lemon sponge cake with lemon icing Pink Lemonade Sponge – Pink lemon icing on a sponge cake Vanilla and coconut icing atop a coconut sponge cake carrot sponge with cream cheese icing on top Cream cheese icing atop a red velvet sponge cake.
- Cake made with white almond marzipan and classic frosting, called Jamaican Rum Cake.
Buttercream Cakes
Round (beginning price): 6″ £40 7″ £45 8″ £50 9″ £55 10″ £60 12″ £70 Square (starting price): 6″ £45 7″ £50 8″ £50 9″ £55 10″ £60 12″ £70 Round (starting price): 6″ £45 7″ £50 8″ £55 9″ £60 10″ £65 12″ £75 Square (starting price): 6″ £45 7″ £50 8″ £55 9
Rainbow and Ombre Cakes
£60 Rainbow Cakes – 8″ in diameter Cakes with ombre rosette designs – 6″ £40 – 8″ £60
Sugarpaste Cakes (incl. a ribbon and message)
Round (beginning price): 6″ £55, 7″ £60, 8″ £65, 9″ £75, 10″ £85, 12″ £95 Square (starting price): 6″ £55, 7″ £60, 8″ £65, 9″ £75, 10″ £85, 12″ £95 (starting price) – 6″ costs £60, 7″ costs £65, 8″ costs £70, 9″ costs £80, 10″ costs £90, and 12″ costs £100.
Tiered Celebration Cakes
Round (starting price)
£125 for two tiers of 5″ and 7″ 6″, 8″, and 10″ = £150 A three-tier system of 5″, 7″, and 9″ Equals £225 6″, 8″, and 10″ equal £275. £400 for four tiers of 5″, 7″, 9″, and 11″ £475 for 6″, 8″, 10″, and 12″ 5th Tier = £675; 7th Tier = £675; 9th Tier = £675; 13th Tier = £675 ″6″, ″8,″ ″10,″ ″12,″ ″14″ = £775
Square (starting price)
- Two-tiered 5″ and 7″ = £150 each 6″, 8″, and 10″ = £175 A three-tier system of 5″, 7″, and 9″ = £275 6″, 8″, and 10″ are equal to £325.
- A four-tiered system of 5″, 7″, 9″, and 11″ = £475 £550 for 6″, 8″, 10″, and 12″ £775 for five tiers of 5″, 7″, 9″, 11″, and 13″ 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, and 16 inches = £875 Please keep in mind that these are beginning pricing intended to serve as a guideline.
- Price quotations for bespoke cakes and wedding cakes are available upon request once the final design has been agreed upon.
2022 Average Custom Cake Cost (with Price Factors)
- Specialty cake bakers are skilled in creating multitiered adorned marvels that cannot be purchased off the shelf at a regular grocery store or supermarket.
- They are as much about display as they are about flavor, and many pros are well-versed in satisfying both of those desires.
- Professionals also know how to convey a complex, fragile cake to its destination in a safe and fresh manner.
- The cost of a cake is determined by the number of people it must serve, the number of layers it has, the flavor(s), how sophisticated the design is, and the distance it must be delivered.
Cost-saving strategies
- Choose a simple or templated design; a great degree of personalization will increase the cost of the project.
- Select the least priced standard flavor available.
- In order to accommodate the amount of visitors, request fewer slices.
- If you want a towering cake but don’t have the funds, try adding noncake adorned layers made with styrofoam or another material.
- Consider the case of a ″deconstructed″ cake, in which the baker does not need to add any further layers.
- A square cake, rather than a circular cake, is preferable since it is easier to cut and can accommodate more people.
Price Guide –
- A simple or templated design is preferable; excessive levels of personalization are more expensive.
- The least priced standard flavor should be selected.
- According to the number of visitors, request fewer slices.
- To get a towering cake without breaking the bank, try adding noncake adorned layers made of styrofoam or another material to the design.
- A ″deconstructed″ cake is one where the baker does not need to create layers to achieve the desired look and texture.
- A square cake, rather than a circular cake, is preferable since it is easier to cut and can accommodate more people.
Sponge Cakes – Available in Round / Heart / Square shapes – Iced with buttercream filling
Pricing is for a frosted cake with a picture print or a decorative message, as shown in the table below.If you want icing figures, carved cakes, or more complicated bespoke embellishment, please get in touch with us for a price quote.Size Servings Cost 6 inch parts (14/18 portions) £45 cake with a 6 inch drop (5-6inch deep) £55 8-inch 28/32-portioned sections £55 8-inch drip cake with icing (5-6inch deep) £75 10 inch 46/50-portioned pieces £65 10 inch drip cake with a 10 inch drip cake (5-6inch deep) £85 12 inch 66/72-portioned pieces £80 Drip cake with a diameter of 12 inches (5-6inch deep) £100
Fruit Cakes – Available in Round / Heart / Square shapes – Iced with marzipan layer
Figures and unique decoration are not included in the prices. Size Servings Approximately £60 for eight inch 48/64 parts 10 inch chunks of 80/100 calories £80 12 inch 112 144 part sections £100
Tiered Sponge Cakes – Available in Round, Square and Heart shapes
The cake was assembled after it had been iced with buttercream filling. Figures and unique decoration are not included in the prices.
Two Tiers Size Servings Cost
The following sizes are available: 6 and 8 inch 42/50 parts £120; 8 and 10 inch (74/82). The following sizes are available: 112 122 portions £190; 10 and 12 inch 112/122 portions £190
Three Tiers
Serving Sizes and Prices parts of 6/8/10 inch 88/100 sections of £270 £340 for 8/10/12 inch 140/154 piece parts
Four Tiers
6/8/10/12 inch 152/172 piece cost £395 per serving size
Cupcakes Individual cupcakes start from £2.20 each. Please contact us for more details on the wide variety of cupcakes we can provide.
The option of delivery for tiered cakes is available throughout Lancashire and Cheshire for an extra fee. Please get in touch with us for a delivery quote.
Prices
Below is a starting price guide for some of my
most popular cake sizes and shapes
BIRTHDAY & CELEBRATION CAKES
START FROM:
8″ ROUND from £55/8″ SQUARE from £75 10″ ROUND from £85/10″ SQUARE from £110 12″ ROUND from £115/12″ SQUARE from £145
GIANT CUPCAKES From £55
NOVELTY SHAPED CAKES From £175
WEDDING & CELEBRATION CUPCAKES
From £2.65 each
(A minimum order quantity of 12 is required.)
SHORTBREAD WEDDING FAVOURS
From £3.50 each
Bespoke 3 TIER WEDDING CAKES, (10″/8″/6″)
Naked Wedding Cakes start from £300
Semi Naked Wedding Cakes start from £330
Iced Wedding Cakes start from £385
Just some of the flavours available:
VICTORIA SPONGE WITH BUTTERCREAM AND SEEDLESS RASPBERRY JAM VANILLA OR ALMOND CAKE RED VELVET CAKE CHOCOLATE CAKE CHOCOLATE FUDGE CAKE LEMON CAKE SALTED CARAMEL CAKE
CARROT CAKE MARBLE CAKE RICH BRANDY SOAKED FRUIT CAKE COFFEE CAKE MARBLE CAKE
Please note, my cakes contain wheat flour (gluten), milk and eggs
and are also produced in a kitchen that uses nuts.
Chocolate Ganache contains Milk and Soya.
Fruit cakes also contain Almonds and Sulphites
If you would like a quote or to book a cake, please give me a call on 07749 813787 or 01543 318933 Email:
9.00 – 18.00 hours, Monday – Friday (by appointment only), Saturday – Sunday (by appointment only). Rochester Avenue, Burntwood, West Yorkshire, WS7 2DL
How Most Birthday and Other All-Occasion Cakes Are Priced (3 of 3) – Omaha Cake Gallery
First, we spoke about the five most frequent techniques that bakers use to price their all-occasion cakes, which do not include wedding cakes, in the first part of this series. In the second article, we explored how to evaluate a cake artist’s or bakery’s pricing based on the total value they provide, similar to how to evaluate a hotel’s cost by utilizing a 1-5-star rating system.
In this third article, we’ll discuss the variables to price a cake and how it effects the final price.
- Starting with a standard round-layered or sheet cake, we’ll go on to the next step. In the majority of circumstances, the following factors will decide your price: The size of your cake (number of serves)
- The taste of your cake (e.g. the price of a carrot cake is generally greater than vanilla cake)
- It doesn’t matter if your cake contains a filling (for example, a basic vanilla cake or a vanilla cake with layers of strawberry filling)
- It is important to consider the type of icing (for example, basic buttercream as opposed to chocolate ganache or rolled fondant)
- The level of customisation (for example, a cake with buttercream flowers vs a cake with a sketch or piping of various jungle animals)
- the size of the cake
- and the number of guests.
- The price of your cake will change depending on each of the five variables.and it will fluctuate very drastically. Keep in mind that the ″amount of customisation″ is the single most important element in deciding pricing. The additional cost for your cake design is determined by the hourly rate charged by the cake artist multiplied by the projected time it will take to construct the cake in your design. When ordering a quarter (14) sheet cake with a cluster of flowers, you will most likely be charged the usual amount for a quarter sheet cake. We’ll use the cake artist as an example, and we’ll assume that their normal quarter sheet cake costs $34.99. Now, if you wanted to decorate the cake with multiple buttercream jungle creatures that were piped onto it, it would take an extra 30 minutes. Assuming your cake designer costs $45 per hour, the additional piped creatures would cost around $23 dollars to include in your cake design. Furthermore, a skilled cake artist with advanced talents will charge around the same as a senior hair stylist or nail technician at a spa, which comes to approximately $50-$75 per hour on the average. The one exception is when it comes to wedding cakes. We have a separate topic on how cake designers charge for designing wedding cakes in our wedding cake category, which you can access by clicking here. Next, we’ll talk about how to price 2-D (a block of cake that has been molded but is not standing upright) and 3-D (a block of cake that normally has one vertical axis) cakes. It is the enhanced talent of the cake artist and the additional time required to construct a 2-D or 3-D cake that is the primary distinction between purchasing a sheet or layered cake and purchasing an artistically designed cake. For example, the cake in the 2-D photo below took around one hour to create by a cake decorator, according to the manufacturer. The price is determined by taking the material cost of $18 and doubling it to a total of $36
- then adding one hour of labor at a rate of $50 per hour to arrive at a final price of $86 for the product. The Cake Gallery’s costs are often 30 percent cheaper than national pricing, despite the fact that $86 is a fair and respectable price (according to research completed by my team). At the time of writing, our price was $59 per month. When it comes to producing a 3-D cake, such as the one seen below, the same price criteria that are used when creating a 2-D cake are applied. The most significant difference is the greater level of expertise and time required to develop and construct it. In the cake depicted below, I’ve used a combination of buttercream, rolled fondant, and gum paste sugar pastes to create a flawless portrayal of a cake that demands a considerable amount of talent and understanding (frosting and sugar based decorating mediums). It is possible to serve 35 persons with this cake. Designing and decorating took 5 hours at a rate of $75 per hour. The whole cost of the project, including supplies, was $450. For the sake of marketing research, we sent this photo to 100 licensed cake shops, bakeries, and home bakers in the United States to see how much they would charge to replicate it. The most expensive item sold for $1,195, and the most inexpensive one sold for $295. As you can see, there is a significant disparity in the way cake artisans value their time, expertise, and profit from one another. As a side note, the boutique that provided my research team with the $1,195 figure was not located in either Los Angeles or New York City. They are a nationally famous cake store with a staff of only seven individuals. Nonetheless, because they are a five-star cake store that is in high demand, they are able to charge such exorbitant fees. Tiered cakes are the final category to be discussed. This category is complicated enough to warrant a whole article on its own. As a result, I’m going to stick to the point and offer only the information that is really necessary. First and foremost, there is a basic general rule of thumb that you should keep in mind: A 2, 3, or 4-tiered cake will cost three to four times as much as an equivalently adorned sheet cake or sheet cakes of the same size and design. For example, if you need to serve 100 people, a whole sheet cake may cost $80, however a 3-tiered cake for 100 visitors will cost between $300 to $400 on average. Even if you just want a lower quantity of, say, 20 serves, a decorated 14-sheet cake will cost on average $25 to $35, but a 2-tiered cake for the same number of dishes would cost between $85 and $120. Once again, the cost of a tiered cake is around three to four times that of a sheet cake. One of the most often asked questions I get is, ″Why is there such a big variation in price?″ If you’ve read the preceding two articles, you’ve probably realized that the labor cost to construct a 2, 3, or 4-tiered cake is significantly more than the labor cost to create a sheet cake. This is due to the additional time required to decorate a 2-tiered cake. Yes, the additional material costs contribute around $5 to $10 to the final price, but the work required is the primary driver of the price rise. Another rule of thumb is that the cost of the ingredients used to bake and construct the cake is normally just 15 percent to 25 percent of the total cost of the end product. Keep in mind that it is all about the hard work involved. Once again, a hair stylist serves as an excellent illustration. The fact that they charge $70 to style your hair means that they only spend $8-$10 on material costs, which equates to just 12 percent -15 percent of their total revenue. When you take into consideration the aspects that go into determining the final pricing of a cake, you will find that they provide a rather decent value for the final amount they ask. Please keep in mind that I’ve worked with and mentored a large number of cake decorators around the country. I’ve discovered the bulk of them are creative hard-working folks who adore making and creating cakes. Price is always a concern, but in most cases, you can expect to obtain a particular degree of service and ability in exchange for the money you shell out. After reading this series of articles, here are six essential points that will help you better understand the process of pricing a cake. The amount of time it takes to construct your cake is the most important factor in determining the price you spend.
- The second aspect to consider is the level of expertise possessed by the cake artist or by the personnel of a cake boutique or bakery.
- Round layered and sheet cakes are the least expensive types of cake. 2-D, 3-D, and tiered cakes are often twice to four times the price of standard cakes.
- It’s similar to selecting a hotel from one to five stars when starting a cake company or becoming a cake decorator. Their costs will be commensurate with the degree of overall service, skill, and product quality that they provide.
- Comparing apples to apples is a good idea. When you compare the pricing of a grocery store bakery to the price of another grocery store bakery, you are comparing apples with apples. Comparing the price of a grocery store cake to the price of a cake crafted by a cake boutique is like comparing apples to oranges
- the final deciding factor is the availability of your cake artist. Cake artists that are in great demand will charge labor rates, which will result in their charges being significantly more than the norm. It does not necessarily suggest that they are taking advantage of you
- rather, it just indicates that the marketplace acknowledges their superior ability, customer service, and business philosophy
His businesses include The Cake Gallery in Omaha, Nebraska, and WeddingCakeSalesAcademy.com, which he founded in 2007. Ed is an author, lecturer, coach, and consultant to cake shops, bakeries, grocery store bakeries, and home bakers. He has written several books and spoken at conferences. [email protected] is the best way to get in touch with him.
How Much Cake Do You Really Need for Your Next Birthday Party?
June 20, 2018 @ 5:25 p.m.Eastern Daylight Time Picking up a cake from the shop, whether for a birthday or other special occasion, is simple enough.But have you ever given any thought to how much cake you would require?Most likely not, and, to be honest, neither have we – at least not until today.In related news, This Oprah-approved brand has just released an ice cream maker that takes up very little counter space and is quite portable.
Sure, having too much cake might not appear to be an issue, but consider the following: If the cake isn’t devoured immediately following the party’s conclusion, you’ll be left with stale cake that will linger in the refrigerator for days on end, eventually needing to be thrown out.However, the worst case scenario is that there isn’t enough cake to go around, and, after all, no one wants to be a part of that celebration, right?It is at this point that the cake size parameters come in handy.If you follow their instructions, you’ll have enough slices for everyone at the celebration.More: Recipes for 2-ingredient desserts that will satisfy your sweet tooth
The guest list
Prior to anything else, determine the amount of attendees that will be attending your party. Depending on this figure, you may find yourself experimenting with other elements that are accessible in large quantities or choosing for a smaller, more intricate cake. Make a note of this number or make certain that it is included into all of your birthday celebration preparations.
The round cake
Round cakes may be made in a variety of sizes ranging from 5 inches to 12 inches in diameter and with a single layer or many layers.If you are planning on making or purchasing a layered cake, you should be aware that a single 12-inch cake will yield approximately 25 servings, whereas it will typically take about three 10-inch cakes to serve 50 people each with a slice.If you are planning on buying or making a layered cake, you should be aware that a single 12-inch cake will yield approximately 25 servings, while a single 12-inch cake will yield approximately 25 servings.Alternatively, if you are organizing a large gathering of about 100 people, you will want at least six 10-inch round cakes.
The sheet cake
- Sheet cakes are widely accessible at the majority of grocery shops and warehouse distribution centers nationwide. Here are some of the most popular sheet cake flavors to choose from. Keep in mind that the size of the servings may vary depending on how thickly you cut the pieces. Quarter sheet cakes are exactly what their name implies: they are about one-quarter the size of a full sheet cake. The dimensions are typically 9 by 13 inches, and they may be purchased in a single or multiple layer configuration. Because quarter sheet cakes are often rectangular in shape, they are an excellent choice for decorating with designs or messages.
- The half sheet cake is around 11 by 15 inches in dimension and is normally one layer in thickness, serving 30 to 40 people per serving. The versatility of half sheet cakes makes them ideal for any birthday celebration, and they are also simple to customize with creative words or images.
- The whole sheet cake is roughly 18-by-24 inches in size and normally one layer. Using the entire sheet, you can feed 70 to 80 people, making it an excellent centerpiece for any large gathering.
More: 18 Unbelievably Tasty 3-Ingredient Dessert Recipes
Additional desserts
If you intend to serve any additional sweets in addition to the cake, please sure to reduce the amount of the cake you require proportionately. You should reduce the quantity of your birthday cake if you will be serving cookies and ice cream with it. This will reflect the fact that the majority of guests will not be coming back for seconds and will prefer smaller pieces.
Take home
Think about investing in a couple disposable take-home boxes to store leftover cake and sweets in between events.This will not only prevent the cake from accumulating on your waistline, but it will also ensure that everyone has the opportunity to try the delectable treats.If you know how much cake to order, you can make any birthday celebration a delicious success and ensure that everyone is pleased and satisfied.An earlier version of this article was published in October 2014, and it has been updated.Please leave a remark.
Determining Two Tier Cake Pricing
If you are intending to bake and sell cakes, you will want to know two-tier cake pricing to guarantee you are charging a decent amount.There is frequently a significant amount of labour involved in creating and assembling a two-tier cake.When it comes to cakes, there is a wide range of pricing.Making a two-tiered cake will cost more money depending on a number of different factors.This covers the flavors of the cake and the flavors of the icing, as well as the style and size of the cake.
Knowing the appropriate pricing strategy can help you ensure that your business is profitable.
Cake Layers vs Tiers
It is common for people to make the mistake of confusing cake layers with cake tiers.They are, however, two quite distinct things.The term ″layers″ refers to separate cakes that are layered on top of one another with icing or filling between each layer.Cakes can contain two, three, or even four layers depending on the design.When the layers are piled and topped in icing, they come together to form a whole cake.
Tiers are cakes that are placed one on top of the other on a cake stand.Tiers are often made up of two, three, or four cakes each.Each tier is made up of a cake that has many layers on top of it.Small two-tier cakes are frequently made using an 8-inch base cake and a 6-inch top cake as the starting point.For medium-sized two-tier cakes, a 10-inch base cake and an 8-inch top cake are usually sufficient.
- When making a huge two-tier cake, a 12-inch base cake with a 10-inch top is commonly used.
Two-Tier Cake Prices
In the event that you run a bakery or wish to sell your own handcrafted cakes, you will want to know how much to charge for your products.Prices vary widely depending on factors like as size, ingredients, location, decorations, and the presence of rivals.For example, a cake that has been carefully adorned with fondant will be more expensive than a cake that has been finished simply with buttercream.When it comes to two-tier cake price, the majority of bakeries will charge anywhere from $4 to $10 per serving.It will serve around 30 people if you make a two-tier cake with an 8-inch base and a 6-inch top, which is the most typical size.
The usual two-tier cake will cost between $120-$300, depending on the size and design.Calculating the value of various components of the cake-making process will assist you in determining how much you should charge.Understanding these many elements will assist you in determining the appropriate pricing.3-piece nonstick leakproof springform pan set (four inch, seven inch, and nine inch).
Decorations
For a plain cake with little or no embellishments, bakers would frequently charge at the lower end of the spectrum, between $4 and $5 per serving. Cakes with extra embellishments, such as flowers, will, on the other hand, cost around $5-6 per serving. Cakes that are covered in fondant and contain complex designs tend to be on the expensive side, costing between $6 and $10 each serving.
Cake and Frosting Flavors
Common cake flavors such as vanilla, white, and yellow are often not significantly more expensive than their regular counterparts. However, more expensive tastes such as almond, Boston cream, coconut, turtle, tiramisu, and key lime may be charged at higher prices by bakeries. Furthermore, any cake varieties that incorporate alcohol will almost certainly be more expensive.
Size
Despite the fact that the majority of two-tier cakes are 8-inch round cakes and 6-inch round cakes, there are several larger sizes available.Using a 10-inch round cake and an 8-inch round cake, you may get between 48 and 60 servings per cake.There is a range in price from $192 to $600 depending on the taste and embellishments chosen.It will serve around 75-90 people for a huge two-tier cake consisting of a 10-inch round cake and a 12-inch round cake.This will range in price from $300 to $900, depending on the embellishments and taste selection you make.
Location
Pricing may be influenced by a variety of factors, including location. Bakeries in large cities sometimes demand higher prices than bakeries in small communities. There is greater rivalry in major cities, which might push up the price.
How To Price Cake?
When someone are initially starting out in the cake business, they will frequently charge less because they are just getting started. Some new, home bakers would charge roughly $2-$3 per dish, depending on their experience. As they get more experience and become more skilled at their craft, they will be able to charge a higher rate.
Ingredient Cost and Labor
When estimating the cost of a cake, it is important to include the costs of ingredients and labor.Determine the cost of ingredients per cake so that you can get an exact idea of the total cost to produce it before you start baking.In order to do so, you may calculate the price depending on the number of servings in the product you purchased and the amount of product you are using each cake.In addition, the cost of labor will be taken into consideration.Making and decorating a cake can take several hours, so make certain that the expense of labor is covered before proceeding.
Include the cost of baking ingredients as well while calculating your budget.
Different Factors To Determine Cake Cost
There are a variety of elements that influence the cost of a two-tier cake, all of which must be considered. They will often range in price from $4 to $10 a dish on average. Do you have any queries about the cost of a two-tiered cake? If this is the case, please post your queries in the comments section. Do you think this article is interesting? Please share this with your Facebook friends.
Specialty & Theme Cakes – Pricing & Flavors
Skip to the main content Specialty & Theme Cakes – Pricing & Flavorsadmin2021-08-05T15:39:32-04:00 Specialty & Theme Cakes – Pricing & Flavors Our unique cakes begin at a price that includes three layers of cake and two layers of filling, depending on the design.A typical flavor offered on our website is used as the basis for the starting price calculation (one cake flavor and two filling flavors).In addition, we provide a birthday greeting.Any extra décor will be charged at the appropriate rate; please enquire about your unique design.Please enquire about the additional cost of fondant-covered tiers.
Thank you.
Standard Specialty & Theme Cake Prices
| SIZE | SERVINGS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 6 inch | 4-6 | $45.00 |
| 8 inch | 8-12 | $55.00 |
| 10 inch | 16-20 | $70.00 |
| 12 inch | 30-40 | $80.00 |
| 14 inch | 50-60 | $100.00 |
| SIZE | SERVINGS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 6 inch | 8-10 | $55.00 |
| 8 inch | 16-20 | $65.00 |
| 10 inch | 30-40 | $80.00 |
| 12 inch | 40-50 | $90.00 |
| 14 inch | 50-60 | $110.00 |
| SIZE | SERVINGS | PRICE |
|---|---|---|
| 1/4 sheet cake | 25 | $60.00 |
| 1/2 sheet cake | 50-60 | $100.00 |
| full sheet cake | 100-125 | $200.00 |
Please keep in mind that prices are subject to change without notice.
How to price cakes: your time & bakes are valuable!
If you’ve ever been stumped when it comes to determining how much to charge for a cake, check out our comprehensive guide on cake pricing and download our handy cake pricing chart for help!It might be a difficult decision to make when determining how to price your cakes, bakes, and crafts, especially if you’re just starting out in your professional cake business.Along with dealing with potential clients who seem to believe that ″How much?!″ is an appropriate answer when you offer a reasonable price for a great, personalized cake, there are a slew of other considerations.The most important thing to remember is that your time and baked goods are valued!So continue reading to find out our definitive guide on pricing your cakes as well as how to deal with that difficult client who wants to know where their money is going.
Cake pricing guide
Keep in mind that you are worth the price you are charging when setting your cake pricing.Many people, from the tiniest home baker to the biggest names and brands, may express dissatisfaction with the pricing of cakes.Laura Dodimead, author of Life in Sugar, has first-hand knowledge of this.After spending hours creating, sketching, and concocting the most odd flavor combination for a cake that is entirely personalized, entirely original, and entirely suited to their specifications, how many times has the buyer returned to you with the question ″How much?″ ″But it’s only a piece of cake!″ In order to assist you in determining the overall ‘price per slice’ cost of your cake, we’ve included a simple printable chart.While the materials and prices associated with each cake will be unique to you and your company, understanding approximately how many servings you can obtain from different sizes of cake is a tremendously beneficial starting point for any business owner.
Now it’s time to get down to business with pricing your cakes.As Laura points out, one of the most difficult aspects of being a cake designer is determining how much to charge for cakes, especially when you are made to feel as though you are charging too much for your services.Keep in mind to always price your cakes based on their worth rather than their cost.When it comes to determining how much to charge for a cake, this concept may be split down into five fundamental components.After the adverts have ended, the content resumes.
Know your market
A big difference might be made depending on where you are headquartered and where you are transporting your cakes.In the current state of the economy, if you’re situated in or around London or the South East/West, you’ll have to charge more for your cakes simply because everything in the southern part of the country is more costly than it is in the northern part.Keep in mind that the identical cake prepared in Sheffield and London might require different prices due to differences in ingredient costs, transportation charges, and other factors.When it comes to gasoline, you’ll want to figure that in as well.Say you’re a baker who works out of Nottingham, but you’re making a cake for a client who is headquartered in London.
While your ingredients will most likely be less expensive than if you were to purchase them in London, you’ll also need to account for the expenses of gasoline