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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)

817 replies

MrsA2015 · 10/10/2016 17:58

Background: I'm a home baker using decent/top quality ingredients in my cakes, friends and family buy off me for special events and am trying to kick start a little baking business from home ( after receiving loads of compliments and encouragement which I'm thankful for!) A friend has requested a cake (pictured) and offered well below the asking price knowing what quality I use and usually the one to berate others if they take the mick when it comes to price. I don't over charge and usually find I've undrecharged when adding up costs ( new to this). How much would you expect to pay for this cake? I'm just feeling a little upset really, I love her and will still make it just surprised at asking to pay less than half. I understand mates rates and all...
Before you ask
Yes she can afford it
I don't buy wholesale ingredients
No I didn't stick to my price (out of shock)

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)
OP posts:
Thread gallery
32
MumsBakeCakes · 11/10/2016 13:51

Definitely worth more than you have been offered- and probably worth more than you actually think it is! If you are thinking about turning your passion into a business take a look at www.food.gov.uk/business-industry/startingup - it doesn't cost anything to register with local council, and they really all are a lovely bunch of people. Happy to chat if you need some advice.

FannyWincham · 11/10/2016 13:57

Teen's wording is great. I'd go even further and give her the cost of the ingredients so that she cannot argue:

Friend, I have looked into the time and costings and there no way I can make the cake for £40. I'm sure you weren't trying to take advantage and have just underestimated the ingredients and time involved. However, the price allowing for ingredients, time and expertise will need to be £XXX. This includes £xx for ingredients alone. I am happy to offer you a significant discount on my time if you would be willing to allow me to use pictures of the cake in my portfolio and write me a testimonial for my business website. I will understand if that is outside your budget, but I am sorry I cannot do it for less.

CookieLady · 11/10/2016 14:00

I personally wouldn't bake her a cake. I can just see her trying to manipulate you by laying on the guilt trip "but you agreed", etc. It's not worth the hassle.

Send her a brief message: Hi friend, I've worked how much it would cost to bake the cake and £40 is not even close to even cover the cost gas/electricity and ingredients let alone the time and effort I'd put in. For that reason I can't bake the cake. Hope you find someone else who can x.

beepbeep · 11/10/2016 14:11

I made this for a friends daughter - she gave me £20 - to cover costs!!!!!

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)
2kids2dogsnosense · 11/10/2016 14:36

Blimey, beep - that is AMAZING!

Twenty quid, eh?

Can you do me five, different colours, and can one of them have Count Duckula characters instead of the ponies. One with PingWing would be nice, too, and one with the Clangers. Ponies will do for the other two.

As you will be making so many you will benefit from Economies of Scale, so shall we say £15 per cake? I'd like them for the weekend . . .

2kids2dogsnosense · 11/10/2016 14:40

confugled
I also think that you should ask her to watch over your dd while you bake as obviously it's not conducive to being able to bake well if you have to keep running off at critical moments or disappearing off to change a nappy or worry about little fingers touching the oven or the cake... And again - if she's not prepared to give up two days to you making this cake then why does she think that you should be giving up two days to make this cake?

Excellent suggestion, as was the rest of your post re: friend doing the shop for ingredients.

MillionToOneChances · 11/10/2016 15:26

I think if she's a good friend and wants you to help her out, getting her to buy the ingredients and spend two full days looking after your daughter while you make it is exactly right Grin

Alibobbob · 11/10/2016 15:35

Thank you Groovee

Lovely cake but mate was taking the piss lol.

beepbeep · 11/10/2016 16:45

Of course 2kids, I'll have them ready in 30 mins - that ok??!!

sleeponeday · 11/10/2016 17:27

A friend of mine has a cakemaking business, and when I commission her I haggle her up, not down. If someone is a mate, you don't want to rip them off. If they want mate's rates then they are no mate, IMO.

sarahs999 · 11/10/2016 17:33

I'm a prof baker with own business and have learnt the hard way that you just can't do favours for friends and family unless you really are happy to lose money. It just gets too hard - everyone has a birthday, everyone has friends with birthdays... anyway. You need to work out your pricing structure. Try the Cakeulator app to help. Then show people this (not sure if already posted but it helps to explain to people).

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)
KERALA1 · 11/10/2016 17:34

My friend and I are both self employed and love to swap entitled client behaviour stories.

I write a particular sort of legal document. A woman rang me up - she was doing her own and wanted me to advise how to do it!

My friend is an artist and a client said he wasn't going to pay her asking price, he would pay half. Oh and he would like her to come and present it to his wife - on Christmas Day.

Appleby39 · 11/10/2016 17:41

This was my son's 13th Birthday Cake this year and it only cost us £60 (Sponge Cake). The lady has a business via facebook and does amazing cakes. Definitely look into proper pricing as the cost and work involved especially some of the details on some cakes i can imagine take a lot of time. Good Luck with your cake venture.

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)
BengalGal · 11/10/2016 17:44

Wow cakes are way more expensive here than in the states. A cake like that in the USA would be like 70$ or 50£, unless it was some super fancy designer shop, and even then not 200$. . But you should go market rate with a reasonable discount. You could offer to make her a cake for her price and do something simple without fondant, etc. if she can't bear to spend so much.

Andylion · 11/10/2016 17:50

All these cakes are works of art. I am impressed. OP, send one of the texts, above.

Excellent suggestion, as was the rest of your post re: friend doing the shop for ingredients.
But what if the friend doesn't follow the OP's shopping list and buys the cheapest ingredients? If it turns out crappy, it will be the OP's rep that takes a beating.

jessebuni · 11/10/2016 18:01

Late to this party but i make cakes for family and friends for cost or below cost or gift if it's a close family member or friend. Depending on the size of this cake and the quality of the work I would say anything from £60 up to £200 if we're talking a 6" and 8" sponge for example decorated similar to this with coloured buttercream then £60-90 depending on quality but if it's say 10" and 12" then £120-200 etc. Bespoke cakes are often expensive and often beyond people's budgets in which case they should either buy smaller 1 tier cakes, make them themselves or go to a supermarket and grab a £10 cake. There's no shame in not being able to justify spending that on a cake however it's not fair to expect someone to work for less than the cost of ingredients or just ingredients and. It cover their gas/electric costs and time spent etc.

BendydickCuminsnatch · 11/10/2016 18:07

Ah MrsA, I bake for a living too and it is tough (I know, my poor feet are hurting from my diamond shoes, dream job etc etc etc)

Topper alone is at least £20ish from MissSarahCake soooooo she can swivel.

AmserGwin · 11/10/2016 18:07

Depends on the filling? Fruit would be more expensive than sponge. How much did she offer you? Surely you should be the one to state the price, not her?

SarcasmMode · 11/10/2016 18:13

Outs self.

My wedding cake - done by a lovely lady for a great price.

To expect to be paid more than half? (Pic included)
user1474627704 · 11/10/2016 18:22

I don't think you should be starting a business if you accept whatever people offer for your cakes. You know thats not how business works, right?

Sunshineonacloudyday · 11/10/2016 18:24

Between £50-£80 I think I would be shocked if it cost more.

FullTimeYummy · 11/10/2016 18:31

Is the simple answer that people who have never baked nor purchased an elaborate cake before have no idea how much they fucking cost and so think £40 is quite a bit for a cake and possibly think they are being generous to help your fledgling business.

With this in mind you might want to ask for the money you want in future

RichardBucket · 11/10/2016 18:33

BengalGal I showed my US friend and she said it could be up to $1000 there!

Coconutty · 11/10/2016 18:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

beccabanana · 11/10/2016 18:44

Can't you say you presumed the £40 was your cost for time (even though that would be a cheek) and you thought she would be paying for the ingredients on top. Either you give her a list or provide the receipts. Therefore cost of ingredients plus £40? If you find it awkward say it must have been a mix up as there's no way all the ingredients and time would amount to that little?

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