Many people expect a “home made” cake to be cheaper than the large grocery chains. I am not exactly sure why except they think we are baking just because we like it. This is not exclusive to the cake industry either. I used to make custom designed special occasion wear for children. I used fine French laces and Swiss fabrics. All of the embroidered details were done by hand and I never made the same outfit twice. People would gasp when they saw the price. I always gave them the name of a store where they could purchase a mass produced garment for less money but told them they would not get the same exclusivity. Many times they would go shop and come back to me when they realized the difference in quality and design. This is how I manage my cake making as well. I refer them to a reputable bakery (mass production) and let them decide if they wanted an “ordinary cake” or a very special one made exclusively for them. Some people are satisfied with a Grocery store wedding cake, others want something made especially for their event. Frankly, I would prefer that the customer who is satisfied with an ordinary cake to go get one. The key is to practice giving a price. Rehearse in a mirror. Make sure you look and sound confident when you say the price of your cake. If you sound the least unsure they will take the opportunity to try and talk you down. Confidence in your work and your value is the key.
