How the cake calculator works
It uses the same math as the recipe cards in Bakery Pricing Studio, for one cake per order, before tax. Why each cost is there: how to price baked goods.
Minimum price = (cost per cake + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − payment fee %)
Price for your margin = (cost per cake + fixed fee) ÷ (1 − payment fee % − margin %)
Price per serving = price for your margin ÷ servings
Prices are rounded up to the next cent, so the minimum never falls short of your costs.
Worked example: a 24-serving cake
These are the fictional numbers the calculator starts with.
| Item | Detail | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredients | cake, filling, buttercream and decorations | 18.50 |
| Your time | 3.5 hours (210 minutes) at 12.00 an hour | 42.00 |
| Other costs | gas and electricity | 2.00 |
| Board and box | board, box and ribbon | 3.20 |
| Cost per cake | 65.70 | |
| Minimum price (fees 4% + 0.30) | (65.70 + 0.30) ÷ 0.96 | 68.75 |
| Price for a 40% margin | (65.70 + 0.30) ÷ 0.56 | 117.86 |
| Per serving | 117.86 ÷ 24 | 4.91 |
| Left at a price of 130.00 | 130.00 × 0.96 − 0.30 − 65.70 | 58.80 |
Time is 42.00 of the 65.70, almost two thirds of the cost. Use your own minutes: a simple buttercream cake and a sculpted or tiered cake can take very different amounts of time.
Price per serving or per cake?
A price per serving makes cakes of different sizes easy to compare and to quote: the customer tells you how many people the cake is for, and the price follows. Work out your price per serving from one cake you make often, then check it for bigger and smaller cakes, because the board, the box and the decorating time do not grow evenly with the number of servings.
What makes one cake cost more than another
- Decorating time: fondant, sugar flowers, piping, painting and lettering add hours.
- Structure: tiers need dowels, boards and extra time to stack and level.
- Ingredients: fillings, ganache, fresh fruit and toppers add up.
- Delivery and setup: price it separately, with your driving time and costs.
Common mistakes
- Pricing only the ingredients and leaving out hours of decorating.
- Forgetting the board, box and supports, which can be several dollars per cake.
- Quoting a per-serving price from a small cake for a large tiered one without checking the time.
- Giving away delivery when it takes an hour of driving.
Free cake calculator or Bakery Pricing Studio?
| Free cake calculator | Bakery Pricing Studio | |
|---|---|---|
| Recipes | One at a time; only your last numbers are remembered, in this browser | Up to 20 recipe cards in your own Google Sheet |
| Ingredient costs | You work out the batch cost and type it in | Save each purchase once; every recipe that uses it updates when the price changes |
| Order quotes | Not included | Quote builder with the fixed payment fee counted once per order |
| Your own prices | Check one price at a time | Your price, the minimum and the target side by side on every card |
| Cost | Free | USD 3.50 once, instant download on Etsy |
Keep a price for every cake you make
Bakery Pricing Studio keeps up to 20 recipe cards in Google Sheets: one for each cake size or design, priced from your ingredient purchases, your time and your packaging. When a price changes, every card updates.
Questions
How much should I charge for a cake?
At least what the cake costs you plus payment fees, and more for a margin. In the fictional example, a 24-serving cake needs 68.75 to cover costs and fees and 117.86 for a 40% margin.
How much should I charge for a cake for 50 people?
Enter 50 servings with the ingredients, time and board for a cake that size. Larger cakes usually need more decorating time and stronger supports, so check those rather than doubling a smaller cake.
How do I work out a price per slice?
Divide the price of the cake by the number of servings. In the example, 117.86 ÷ 24 is 4.91 per serving.
Should I charge for delivery?
If delivery takes your time and fuel, yes. Price it separately so customers who pick up do not pay for it.
Does it work for cupcakes and cookies?
Use the cookie pricing calculator for cupcakes, cookies and brownies sold in boxes.
Are my numbers saved or sent anywhere?
The calculator runs in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere. Your numbers stay in this browser so they are there next time; "Reset example" clears them.
Next: work out your ingredient cost · free bakery order form · how much to charge for cupcakes