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

[MrsA2015]

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)

What expat said...
Don't let people walk all over you! Stand up for yourself...value what you do...

Oh god the suspense is killing me

That's a beautiful cake. I would expect to pay £150 for it, perhaps more.

I bet she's offered £50 or less. Probably less.

For a wedding it's not out of the question to give the labour as the gift and only charge for the materials/energy etc. That still saves a canny bride a couple of hundred quid.

A proper deep cake like that in say 6" and 8" even in sponge would be £10 for the cake ingredients and another £3-5 for the icing ingredients, assuming using colours etc from your stash. So even if you borrow the sign on the top you're looking at £20 outlay, plus the equivalent of a full long day's labour minimum.

Going on the cake I had for my birthday, I would pay £80 for that

It's beautiful. If you can really make it look this pretty (which isn't intended to be a slight, I'm just terrible at making food look beautiful so I'm very impressed!) I'd expect to pay you around.... 200£.

I remember the price of our wedding cake... it was different (one 1 tier cake) and then many many mini cakes, individually decorated... so, yeah. At least 150£ for this cake, imo.

I reckon she offered £30 too.

Not placemarking at all.

If you go ahead and make it at a loss to avoid being honest with someone, then you are probably not ready to go into business doing this.

never openly place marked before

come on OP - tell us

Maybe she won't pay for your time because you procrastinate??? like now

Going to say £30 too

Has the price not been declared yet?

What a cheeky cow.

But can I ask, did your cake look as good as the photo?

i think the OP's waiting till the thread hits 1000 comments

Also, the bottom tier is double depth, so this is actually theoretically a three tier cake not two as it would appear.

Come on!
Also how big is it? Are you tempted to make it with stork? Actually don't as at least you should get some more orders. Make sure she gives ou your details.

I need to know the amount offered!

We had a close friend who only charged us £50 for a cake of this standard. She does it purely for leisure though so she isn't there to make a profit.. I could never afford to pay full RRP on one of those cakes. I don't think people understand the amount of time involved in making them.. I'm guessing she offered you £25-£30..

Maybe the whole cake is covered in gold leaf and the LOVE sign is gold plated? The Op maybe charging £1000.

Mrs A is there any way your friend could see this?

I guess if your mate was willing to credit you and promote your services far and wide for the cake it might be useful as a marketing cake....

I'm a cake maker, I want to state that as that cake is so tall I would price the bottom tier as 3 cakes and the top as 2 but I would deduct a bit off the price for the extra icing as it will use less than 3 and 2 individual cakes.

My prices for index prayed cakes are (guessing on size but that pic looks like a 6 and 8 inch)

6 inch - £15 X 2
8 inch - £25 X 3

And I would deduct £5 off for the icing.

But would charge a bit for decoration so my quote would be about £110 without the love sign on top as that looks like wood glittered to me.

But my prices are pretty cheap as people don't pay much in my area

Whatever she has offered tell her that you have added up the costs and that actually she hasnt even covered the cost of the ingredients, and that to make it will cost in the region of £150 so you will understand if she doesnt want you to do it.

She will kick off but the fact is that you dont have to make it, she can always go somewhere else.

£200 but £175 mates rates

Btw, the 150£ I suggested would be what I'd expect "mate rates" to be like...

So, how much??

My initial thought was £120-130 for a friend, £150 plus for anyone else.

What are your overheads? How long does it take?

It's stunning btw! You are very talented!

I'm guessing you have been offered £50.