How much to pay a friend to make a Birthday cake??

[Pipercloe]

My friends son, who is 16 bakes lovely cakes.

I asked if he would mind baking one for DH birthday.

He is excited to make the cake, but I have no idea how much I should pay for this, I have no clue how much even the ingredients would cost for a cake. I’m on a bit of a budget currently, so don’t want to pay lots but also don’t want to under pay.

What is a reasonable price? 😬

Agree butter is the bulk of the cost. I get lovely eggs very cost efficiently from a local small holding. I hunt around and buy butter anywhere that has it on a deal!

Cake boxes - you can buy things like this, you can get larger.

https://www.lakeland.co.uk/73433/2-in-1-height-adjustable-cake-carrier-caddy-round-holds-30cm-cakes?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwvKi4BhABEiwAH2gcw0vGX7OGP79Li5J18vHm7zd1oMQzhD316gAd9p6xWObFeYEcbY7r3hoCwOwQAvD_BwE

I enjoy baking and use it a lot for my own things so consider this a sunk cost.

Boxes (paper/cardboard) can never be sterilised, so can’t be reused

No, which is why i use plastic ones.

Thank you for the link. That looks great, is it quite tall? My cakes are often tall so it would be great to find something like that which could house them, particularly for the ones I'm baking for close family/friends so could easily get back.

Going to have a hunt now for a tall version of this!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Plates-Acrylic-Non-Sticky-Reusable-Serving/dp/B09CZ76M15/ref=asc_df_B09CZ76M15/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=697314547646&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12833657977392770410&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9046070&hvtargid=pla-1464581701403&psc=1&mcid=9a43e4a5d2033369aab183f2db291d35&gad_source=1

You can use things like this covered in foil instead of buying a lot of boards. I also use a large silver or gold charger plates. If you are binning the foil covering & sterilising the plates, do tell me where the health & safety risk is?

When I do it for my close friends I send them the list of what I need, they buy it and then if they want to add something on top I leave it up to them, I'd probably feel uncomfortable at anything more than £20 on top of what they've paid for ingredients, but I do it because I love it

What did the food hygiene inspector say about this when they visited your home to give you your food hygiene rating?

Ohh I actually really like those! I think they look pretty cool being clear. Thank you for sharing. Added those to my list on Amazon!

Overpayment

Point me to the legal requirement to have a food safety inspection when you make occasional cakes for your own family & friends birthdays etc at zero charge?

I do not do this at any scale! I just make for nieces birthday, parents anniversary etc. I have a big family so we get through a big cake! You are really being absurd.

I have a full time job in finance, I'm not some craft baker dodging regulations.

From some googling, do food hygiene ratings even apply if you are not operating a business?

I think pretty much every PTA/WI/Rotary club/Scout fundraiser is more at risk than me making my kids birthday cakes, given none of those have their hygiene certificates either that I've ever come across.

A 3 tier cake will serve a minimum of 70 people and is very much a lot of cake.
Do you mean 3 layers?

The test is not if youre being paid, but depends on the number of people that will be eating it. It’s always advisable to have at least the city &guilds in food hygiene and if you’re sure your methods are hygienic, what’s the harm in having an inspection?

I mean this kindly, but it sounds like you’d benefit from some guidance in this area. You absolutely need to be complying with the new labelling rules too, which, respectfully, it sounds like you’re not.

No they don’t but legally you are not allowed to charge, even for ingredients. ‘Donations’ would be fine I guess.

Out PTA needs to have someone with level 2 food hygiene now even to make a cuppa!

Google says you do not need a hygiene certificate if you are making cakes for charity. And also not if you are making them for friends (as in the case of the OP).
If you are running a business, you do need certification.

Respectfully, it doesn’t matter if you’re being paid, if it’s being eaten by a large number of people, then it will usually fall under food hygiene legislation.

You absolutely do not need to have an EHO inspection for making family cakes for free. How absurd!!!
I’m not sure allergen stuff would come into play here either if there is no sale!

Even if you don't need the certificate you need to be following the rules so people don't get ill

Respectfully, I disagree.

Oh right so it's ok to kill someone with allergens if no money changes hands?????

I mean this kindly, but it sounds like you’d benefit from some guidance in this area.

I mean this kindly - dfod.

Since you are presenting yourself as an expert, please tell me what is the cross contamination risk of re-use of plastic items designed for reuse that have been sterilised?

You honestly do not fucking need city & guilds health and safety training to bake a bloody cake for a family birthday. I think you are really getting the wrong end of the stick.

Obviously not 🙄

I was talking about allergen labelling. If you’re not a business there is no legal requirement here in addition to no legal requirement for anything else.

Every fucking mum who's baked a birthday cake needs to apply the new labelling guidance. Right.

Honestly I'm pissing myself now.

In case it isn't blindingly obvious, i don't run a business.

It is the same with making toys. Some people take the rules too far.

I was told I need to get a CE toy mark for a toy I was making for me.

Additionally allergen training and level 2 food hygiene are 2 different sets of training. If you want to get your knickers in a twist about it 🫢

^This is good advice.
I'd say cost of ingredients and then £10-12 an hour for his time.