How much would you pay for this cake?

[Younganddumb]

The header is pretty self explanatory 😂 I made a cake yesterday and was wondering how much you guys would pay? I tried my hand at a baking business just after having my son, the orders were rolling in but I wasn't charging enough so wasn't really making any profit. Looking to start it back up but want to know how much you'd pay? Tia

To add though, as a cake for a parent and not a paying client they'd likely be over the moon, it's definitely a step above your average home bake

It looks like it'd feed four people.

This is the most unmumsnet response ever. The cake should feed 30 with all the bird like appetites!

do you have any idea how much sugar paste flowers cost 😂 you're looking at over £100 for that amount

Course they don't

We're talking about a business proposition. The op didn't post in chat to share a cake she was proud of, she posted a question about launching into business.

If something costs you £100 to make but nobody is prepared to pay more than £50 for the item, then you don't have a viable business.

It doesn't matter whether you agree with their perception of value or not.

It's perfectly normal to decorate a cake with non edible flowers people.

AFAICS in general the only people who appreciate just how much ingredients cost and how many hours it all takes are those who have done it themselves and can make their own.

Plus cake making us seen as women’s work, or hobby, so not comparable with ‘proper work’.

But I hope you can make a viable go of it OP.

Why on earth would I pay for a plainly iced cake with flowers plonked on top? I can do that myself! What's the skill you're selling? I can't see it?

Shit loads of people do exactly this for their wedding. Most can't it do themselves or don't have the time. You do, so that's great.

you need to practise applying your marzipan and fondant.

it's 2023 though!

£30. I paid £45 for an amazing cake with lots of detail so basing it on that.

The cake is of a good standard but the writing brings it down a notch, maybe £40, £50 x

I don't understand. I thought you said it took 11 hours? That's just over 5.

What have I missed?

This woman makes palette knife cakes

https://www.instagram.com/webakecakesinhale/?hl=en

Hand painted, beautiful and unique! They're expensive, but worth every penny. I've ordered from her quite a few times. Worth every penny.

But your cake, sorry to say doesn't look that great. There are better looking supermarket cakes. I don't care how flawless your technique is, or how long it took you. I wouldn't pay more than £30 for that.

https://www.marksandspencer.com/flower-festival-tulip-cake-serves-24-/p/ckp60184113#intid=pid_pg1pip45g4r5c3
https://www.marksandspencer.com/personalised-piped-rose-sponge-cake-serves-24-/p/ckp60164884#intid=pid_pg1pip45g4r4c3

If you're going into the 60-70 bracket, things with far, far more detail than yours:

https://www.marksandspencer.com/find-the-fossil-cake-serves-28-/p/ckp60576557#intid=pid_pg1pip45g4r9c4

Of course not the same style, but I think in terms of 'work' and 'aesthetic'.

You can buy pre-iced supermarket cakes and decorate yourself.

How often do people want a really ‘special’ cake though , probably would make more money by making brownies or more ordinary cakes that people would buy more frequently . I pay £16/17 for a GF sponge for my daughter once or twice a month the last time I bought a cake with actual icing and decoration was ages ago .

@Mammyloveswine I know how much ingredients cost and I know how to make cakes. That's why I wouldn't be buying a cake off the OP. I'm clearly not the target audience. If the OP also added treats, bakes and cupcakes then she's more likely to attract a bigger audience. Plenty of other people would buy this cake though, as I said.

That's because most people don't have the skills to fix their plumbing. Lots of people can bake cakes to a good enough standard that they're happy with. And the ones that can't, will buy them from the supermarket or off bakers like yourself. Most people need their plumbing to work to heat their homes and have running water etc. Handmade cakes aren't a necessity for a lot of people. Silly comparison really.

I don't know why people are dismissing buying a cake with real flowers. They are very popular around here, especially for wedding and big birthday cakes. I honestly think people underestimate the time and skill in cake decorating. It's not two quick hours at home, it's designing, shopping , baking, decorating and admin. A personalised cake is very different to one from from a supermarket.

At least £150-200.

£65

I think your target market would pay £100+ for that type of cake, although I can't really tell from the picture how many it's supposed to feed. Even when you've correctly targeted your audience and are marketing effectively, the margins on bespoke cakes are very slim though. Those I've known who have had very successful businesses make extra money doing magazine spreads, live events, shows and teaching on the side.

There is a huge difference between a small 6 inch cake and a wedding cake though.

I'm a very good amateur cake baker (with a set of letter cutters!) and I could easily make that cake to that standard in less time than the OP. I'm not a professional baker, and I wouldn't be able to do neat enough piped writing (hence using cutters), neat enough piped dots (hence using silver balls) or high quality home made sugarcraft flowers (hence I'd use fresh), but that cake as it stands wouldn't be a challenge for me tbh. I don't really think that cake as it stands is saleable because it uses all the short cuts that non professional amateurs would use, so why pay a professional to make a cake using amateur techniques and short cuts?

OP has explained that it was a rush job due to late change of date, so that explains why she has done it how she did. However, assuming OP has the skill to do the piping and the sugarcraft flowers to a professional standard, and it's better presented on a drum etc then yes, it's a £80+ cake.

I would never buy a bespoke cake. Waste of money imo. I'd just buy one from a supermarkets

I think people just won't pay these days, for things that take time and skill to make.

If the flowers were edible i would say £80-£100.

As it is with fake (or real) flowers and the lettering about £30.