“Why is custom cake pricing so secretive?” | #youtubeshorts

I only more recently became aware that custom cake and cookie pricing was a bit of an avoided subject in the industry. As I've said time and time again, there is no specific 'formula' for pricing when it comes to art. I respect everyone's right and decision to share what they wish, but I personally don't understand why this particular aspect is kept more under wraps than other aspects of the baking world. A united understanding of pricing (though of course it will vary vastly from region to region) would strengthen the industry as a whole in my opinion and ensure custom artists are getting the payment they so deserve!

I am Ashleigh from Sweet Dreams Bake Shoppe!

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[SweetDreamsBakeShoppe]

I only more recently became aware that custom cake and cookie pricing was a bit of an avoided subject in the industry. As I've said time and time again, there is no specific 'formula' for pricing when it comes to art. I respect everyone's right and decision to share what they wish, but I personally don't understand why this particular aspect is kept more under wraps than other aspects of the baking world. A united understanding of pricing (though of course it will vary vastly from region to region) would strengthen the industry as a whole in my opinion and ensure custom artists are getting the payment they so deserve!

[shanabrown]

I own a bakery, too. I’m very transparent with my prices. My prices are based on servings, but must vary according to the decor. When someone asks me for a quote for a cake, I have to know how they want the cake designed and how many servings before I can give them an accurate quote. This is due to the fact that I have to be able to estimate how long the cake will take me to decorate. Any extra time spent decorating one cake is time I could be baking another item that makes me money. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[sarahirwin]

It's most likely to avoid competitors intentionally pricing just below them to steal their customers.

[izairwan]

I haaaate having to ask for pricing tbh. I don’t mind if it’s custom. But from my experience I’ve seen it a lot for not custom baked goods. Generally if i dont see a price list, i just dont buy it.

[michelebradley]

I used to bake custom cakes when my kids were little. I was a SAHM & it was good supplemental income.
I was very transparent. I charged per serving + 15% (for labor). I can't tell you how many times a customer would tell me I was too expensive, get a couple more quotes & then come back for my services. Sometimes just because you work out of your home people feel they can haggle or undercut your pricing. They go to a Bakery & pay whatever is asked - no haggling. The moral of the story? "Know your worth" & don't let anyone talk you out of it.

[chloemolander]

I am 18 and I am a new bakery owner! When I was first getting started I went to a locally owned baker and explained to the owner that I was a new baker and I was struggling a bit with my pricing for my cakes. I wanted to know if she could give me some tips on pricing for different sizes and customizations on cakes. She began yelling at me, demanding I giver her my full name and bakery name so she could call the cops and so she could exploit me on social media for stealing! It really hurt me and I actually stopped baking all together for a while, I was devastated that someone could treat anyone like that. I was a young kid walking in simple asking for help, thinking she was in my shoes in the beginning and would help me out. I just recently put myself back on the market in this industry.

[stefanigarcia]

I LOVE that you talked about this!! My husband is a super talented caricature artist in a larger American city. There are SO many artist, especially amateur artists who offer custom work like him, but super undercut the prices. This is so hard because between supplies, driving to locations and TIME, your work as an artist is super VALUABLE!! You make AH-mazing cakes! Keep up the amazing

[melanytodd]

Thank you for sharing this ❣ Transparency about pricing makes things SO much easier.

[comoxvalleycupcake]

Straight facts! It is hard to SET prices on custom work, as signing up for first time projects NEVER allows you to know how much WORK goes into it, so noobs will UNDER VALUE the time and materials going into it. I KNOW I undercharge for the time involved many times due to this phenomenon. If I knew where it SHOULD be, I would set it there to ensure we each worked together in setting good boundaries!

[myrealcalifornialife]

Exactly! It goes with so many professions, I own a small cosmetics company and I talk about real pricing and the extreme markup on cosmetics. Most companies only resell anyway, meaning everything is made in China and they just resell the products and because I know the real price and I can’t lie I priced my handmade items accordingly. People ask how I am able to sell things at my affordable rate and I am honest about the inflated markup. When your making things by hand that’s different but even then there has to be a line because it gets to a point where your just paying for that persons name and I think that’s crazy. Your so amazing and so talented, sorry to rant! 🥰🥰🥰

[helpmerhonda]

YES!!! This! It was so frustrating just trying to budget for our wedding. Searching bakery websites just to get a ballpark idea of pricing to know if they are even in your price range.
I was ready to make an appointment for a tasting with a highly recommended bakery but I hadn’t been able to find any pricing info. I decided to search their website one last time and FINALLY dug deep and found 1 line in a huge paragraph about base costs for buttercream cakes $6.00US/slice + $175 delivery fee within 20 miles.
Thank you Ashley for your honesty & transparency. You are teaching and mentoring us in so many ways.

[sandranavarro]

Yes, I totally agree with you! I simply don’t understand the issue with saying how much you’re pricing your desserts. I began selling cakes not so long ago and I always try to check cakes that are similar to orders I get just to get an idea of a price, but it’s very hard to find any info. I literally have to message bakers and ask for their prices. As a result when I first started I severely uncharged my cakes because I had no idea the costs I had to include.

[justheretowatchthisdumpste]

I’ve avoided buying from people/businesses because they don’t offer any pricing info at all; just calling or messaging someone asking for a price gives me anxiety and if I can’t afford it I feel like I’m disappointing them and wasting their time.

[realformost]

🛎 🛎🛎 you got it! People want everything on a discount! They want custom work for less. They have no idea!

[bxxmb]

When I did a business course and used my custom cakes as a model... I found that if I charged for all my actual costs my cakes would be hugely more expensive than I charge... eg... You have to charge an hourly wage for yourself which includes time spent shopping, driving, looking online/magazines /books for the design and time spent making decorations, gas /electric charges etc...
I used to be finishing off cakes at 3 in the morning..

[randomchick]

Share your costs always!!! You’re 100% right that secrecy with money only helps people that want to benefit from ignorance

[mog-gyveroneill]

YouTube, baking, AND a full time job?! Good god, woman.. you're fabulous!!

[terriseaton]

Would have liked to see finished product.
I find the art that goes into making an edible sculpture fascinating!

[lorrainehicks]

I love how honest you are. I'm just starting out and not only do I want to get paid a fair price but I don't want to price so under that that is the reason they come to me if I'm not the right fit for them. Thank you for sharing and keep on caking 💜

[Liberaltrash]

Pastry chef here. I agree with you. Pricing from state to state, area to area, can vary. I do think it helps to say 'in my area/city...'. Also, it varues by quality of ingredients. I always use premium products, everything from scratch. It helps to know if someone works from a cake base (cake mix) or uses premade icing or fondant. Love your work.