How much would you say I was asking for this cake?

[Cosmos45]

Just out of curiosity really.. I make cakes as a hobby, they are buttercream decorated rather than fondant and I have made some recently for a few local people (NHS workers and stuff). Someone local asked me if I would make them a cake, I do not know this person but it was someone who knew someone type of scenario.

I sent this message:

"I don't actually have a cake business but I do make cakes for family and friends. I have been asked recently to do a few for people - the ingredients, box and board come to about £9 and I am starting to ask for a small amount (say £10) to cover a bit of my time. I only do swirly icing types ones and I could do you pink swirly one, I will send a picture of the type of thing I mean"

Reading that, how much would you have given me for the cake when you came and picked it up?

I'd have given you £20

£19 but I can see how it could be interpreted as £10 total.

I imagine you hoped for £19. I suspect you got £10. With them believing the small amount to cover your time was £1 more than the cost of materials.

Though obviously we haven't seen the cake yet...

£20. As you ask for £19, so rounding it up would seem the easiest thing to do.

I'd give you £20 but the way you worded it was ambiguous.

£19 rounded up to £20 but you need to be absolutely explicit in giving the headline figure rather than your working.

Agree with others - I'd have gave you £20, but I don't think you're reply was completely clear so I'm thinking you may have been given £10?

Yep, what PP said. At first I thought you were asking for £10 then I read it more slowly and realised that you probably meant 9 + 10 ie £19.

You really shouldn't be charging for your time if it's a hobby though. It drives the people selling professionally absolutely crazy, because they can't hope to compete and it makes people expect low prices for time consuming handmade cakes.

I imagine you meant £19, but it’s easy to read it as £10 sorry

I’d have given £20 too but can see where someone may have got confused

I would assume you asked for £19 would give £20.

It does also sound like ingredients cost £9 so you want £10 as you want some money for your time (£1).

See I would probably have gone for £10...nit really appreciating the time spent.. Def needs to be clearer if you want £10 + costs

£10 I interpreted your message but as others have pointed out you probably mean £19.

I think you have worded it very poorly.

Your message is very unclear and really implies you’re only asking for £10.

£19. It's pretty clear. £9 ingredients, £10 labour.

^ Sorry OP at first read I agree with dicksplash and would have thought you meant £10 overall.

You have worded it very poorly, if someone read it quickly I can understand how they would just give you £10.

You really should have specified a total amount in your message to prevent confusion. You expected £19/£20 and they offered £10?

Wording is ambiguous. Many would read as £10 total. Especially as it’s your hobby, I expect they assumed they were covering ingredients only.
If you are the cake maker I’d chalk it up to experience and be clearer in conversation.
If you are the cake receiver, I can see why/if you gave £10

You should be expecting £0, you're not allowed to accept money for making cakes if you aren't registered with your local authority and HMRC.

I agree with the others, it could easily be read at £10 or £19.

Do you have to be registered to start charging more than just the cost of ingredients for cakes?

I’d say £19. It is a little unclear though.

My friend had a cake business. On her website she said it was her passion and that she really enjoyed making her cakes etc. She lost count of the amount of cheeky bastards that asked if she could make them one at cost seeing as she enjoyed baking them anyway!

I think a casual reader would just see the 'I've started asking for £10' and assume that was it. Next time just say something like - 'I charge £20 to cover the ingredients and my time'.

You should be expecting £0, you're not allowed to accept money for making cakes if you aren't registered with your local authority and HMRC.

OMG OP! The tax man will hunt you down for not declaring your £10 profit! Run! Run away now or throw yourself at the feet and beg for mercy.