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Original poster

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

304 replies

Cosmos45 · 12/05/2020 16:24

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?

OP posts:
Herpesfreesince03 · 13/05/2020 10:11

I guess I’m in the thick as mince catagory as I read that as you wanted £10 total (though it’s clearly worth more)

Original poster
Cosmos45 · 13/05/2020 10:15

@Opensesame1 - thanks for that. I actually work full time as a Project Manager for an IT company and this is literally just a hobby. I might in the future decide to do this as a business but not at this moment but you're comments are lovely thank you. I made this cake for my friends 6 year old for his birthday the other week.. my first foray into fondant! whilst I am not comfortable with modelling and shapes i was quite pleased with this.

How much would you say I was asking for this cake?
OP posts:
Opensesame1 · 13/05/2020 10:30

@cosmos45 it's great! I work mostly with fondant and with a bit of practice it's a lot less scary!! I baked as a hobby for a few years making my own kids cakes etc and after my second was born I decided not to go back to work and do this instead. Currently part time -ish but building to full time when my youngest is in school! I really enjoyed being part of family celebrations and seeing the look on the kids faces when they saw their cake! It really is priceless and to be able to do it for a living is something I couldn't have imagine at the start due to lack of confidence!

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Tink1990 · 13/05/2020 10:31

I really would have thought you meant £10 as well Blush I'm neither a CF or thick as mince, honest!

UnabashedlyNeurodifferent · 13/05/2020 10:32

You're clearly talented. I agree there can be a lot of hassle in the business side of things and if all you enjoy is the making cakes side of it and you have a satisfactory source of income, I won't blame you for thinking it a faff to bother doing so as anything besides a hobby.

As your friend, I would still pay you give you a worthy "donation" for those cakes because they're worth it.

bee222 · 13/05/2020 10:40

It does read as £10, but anyone that gives you less than £30 for that is a cheeky fucker.

3cats · 13/05/2020 10:48

Well, it's a bit funny to think that they thought you meant 9 pounds for the ingredients and 1 pound for your time. Maybe, 80 years ago, 1 pound for your trouble would mean something, or maybe if you were a 5-year-old. I feel like these days, people don't really read things properly anymore.

7654321j · 13/05/2020 11:11

Not everybody is good at reading/comprehension. Doesn't make them thick. Also, a tenner isn't a 'small amount' to a lot of people.

pooopypants · 13/05/2020 11:37

I detest fondant so I'd have snapped your hand off at £20 and actually given you £30 because that cake looks amazing OP.

I definitely think that if you do make any in future, don't undervalue your time - charging £10 for 2 hours work = £5 an hour!

Fairylillie · 13/05/2020 11:51

I would have given you £20.00, £9.00 for the ingredients plus £10.00 for your time, like you asked. It's easier to give a £20.00 note than try and get £9.00 in change.

In future, I would say the price is the cost of the ingredients (including all decorations, the board and the box to take it home in). The ingredients will vary depending on what people want, what decorations you can get etc and you should always get the full cost of this - plus £10.00 for your time.

WobblingMyWigglyBits · 13/05/2020 12:03

Nothing to add except it looks delicious!

Chicchicchicchiclana · 13/05/2020 12:07

"Normal person = £19
CF/thick as mince = £10"

Wish we still had quote of the week on Mumsnet. This should be it.

Crystal87 · 13/05/2020 14:03

I would have thought £19 but can see how some people would read it as £10. Next time just say the amount you want for it. It's worth £20 I'd say.

sunshineandlollypops · 13/05/2020 15:42

I think your buttercream cake is beautiful. I would have been happy to pay 25 to 30 for it.
I love to bake and have found that cake decorating supply shops are more reasonable than supermarkets for boards and boxes. Look online for one close to you or order online.
Keep on baking. You are very talented.

BrandyTrap · 13/05/2020 16:44

I don’t think your message is unclear at all!

BrandyTrap · 13/05/2020 17:03

But I wouldn’t, under any circumstances, have bought that cake because it looks far too pretty to spoil it by eating it :).

user1497879763 · 13/05/2020 17:37

It’s lovely and she got a bargain. I’d be embarrassed if I were her.
The more I read threads on here the more I feel I need to delete it as I can’t stand most of the people who post on here, as per some of the spiteful replies 🙄

Gingerkittykat · 13/05/2020 17:47

I was shocked when you said your costs for a cake would be £9 but then I don't know the cost of boards and when I added up a lot of butter etc I can see how it would add up.

I think anyone asking a friend of a friend to make a cake is prone to CFery anyway so would be happy to pay less, a lot of supermarket cakes cost more than £10.

VistaOfFreedom · 13/05/2020 17:48

I'd have paid you £20. Can't believe your message was misread!

clarehhh · 13/05/2020 17:50

After the say £10 you should have put on top then they would have totalled £19

OhCaptain · 13/05/2020 17:52

I suppose I can see how someone would misinterpret it but I read £19 and would have given £20 because I would never only give someone £10 for a cake like that!

Crazybunnylady123 · 13/05/2020 17:54

We had a cake made for dd last year and the lady asked for a tenner but we gave her £20 thinking the ingredients would cost at least £10-£12 pounds alone. We still think it was a bargain, she was going to make one this year but we didn’t because of Covid-19.

Jeeperscreepers69 · 13/05/2020 17:56

@thighmageddon. Who the hell are you? The tax police.!! Get over yourself. Some people just need to make a few quid

Elsie1966 · 13/05/2020 17:56

I read it as £19 but can see it could be read differently by some. The cake is beautiful, and I think that the person who it was for and paid you £10 is wrong to have done so they would never of been able to buy one like that for that price by a cake maker business or a shop
💐🍫 for you op

Coffeecak3 · 13/05/2020 17:56

I have made cakes for people in the past and never told a customer the cost of ingredients. The cake is a certain price which reflects the ingredients, time and expertise.
Also it's important to remember that your using energy( oven, mixer etc) and equipment which will depreciate.

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