[PinkSurvivor]

My 1st son's chocolate overload cake he requested - Not for the party (family cake)



Cupcakes for a friend



Cupcake topper (first try will be more of a perfectionist tomorrow lol)



So you see they are not amazing and I don't try to be professional but for just a kids backyard party they suffice

Thanks for the advice. I just told her I will give her the cost of ingredients and what ever she thinks they are worth as a fair price

ETA Yes a few pics were taken in the bathroom LOL it has the best light

This post has been edited by PinkSurvivor: 01/03/2012, 01:24 PM

[Malaya]

They look great! Make sure you get a price from her that you agree on before you start. Saves any later angst.

Lol at the pics on the bathroom.

[jossy]

I make cakes for living and I charge as follows: $3 per cupcake with buttercream icing only (e.g. a swirl), with a simple fondant decoration or sprinkles $3.50 (e.g. flower or other cut out plopped on the swirl, edible glitter) and for edible images or other custom designs from $4 per cupcake. These prices are fine for my area in Tassie, on the mainland the prices are higher. What sort of toppers are you making? I only ask because three to four hours to make 18 toppers seems a little long and as a PP mentioned a professional decorator in your area would probably be able to do them much quicker than that. I'd suss out local decorators in your area and take it from there. The chocolate cake you made your son has me craving some something sweet.....

[PinkSurvivor]

Thanks Jossy. I grossly over estimated the time it would take to make the toppers (Thank goodness!!!) The practice one the Bee I posted (last photo) is what I am making for half the cupcakes then then for the other half I am doing a honeycomb pressed circle of fondant with a white daisy fondant flower and green leaves on each side placed on top of buttercream icing on the cupcake.

It took me 1.5 hours which isn't too bad for me anyways. I know professionals would do it quicker than me but thats why I don't want to charge for my time in full as I am not super fast and its more of a hobby.

I thought it would take me longer as my trial topper tok a little longer but once I had a little production line going it was rather quick.

Thanks again for the advice. I think around $2.50 to $3 would be a benchmark for what I class as fair since I will be spending at least 3 hours baking and decorating so minus costs to make them will be less than $10 per hour but as a hobby its just for fun, not profit but she wants me to make a cake next week and I have a couple other people wanting one so I don't want to keep doing it for free either if that makes sense

[morgansacre]

My son just showed me a guy that makes cupcakes with "Holden or Ford" logo's on, he charges $25 a dozen. My son wants the Ford ones for his sons Birthday I think they are really for my son.....DS even painted the cot and DGS bed in Ford Blue

Lynn

[YodaTheWrinkledO...]

wow, I just wanted to say that you do some great cakes for a hobby Pink Survivor!

I reckon $3/cupcake would be a fair deal. Or $2.50/cake + ingredients..

[jossy]

Make sure you post a pic once you're done! It sounds like you've worked out a fair price. I did it as a hobby for ages and loved it. I was on maternity leave and an opportunity came up to take a voluntary redundancy so I grabbed it with two hands and set myself up to decorate cakes! The kitchen is registered with the council, I make a nice profit (which is only going up) and I love it. It really has changed our lives - I'm much happier than I ever was at my job of ten years - and we're now looking at opening up a shop front. It's awesome! I'm sure your cupcakes will turn out great, the bee you posted was very cute.

[PinkSurvivor]

Here are the finished cupcakes for the party I did half of bee's and half of honeycomb with a flower.



I decided to charge the $2.50/each which a slightly low but I am not professional so I think its fair. As I get better and do some courses and look into an ABN I can charge a bit more Thanks again for the advice.

[countrymel]

They look fab!

Yay you!

[lamarque]

Wow, they're gorgeous!