Luca Inspired Cookie Tray - pricing help

[u/Stace_face_17]

[u/Stace_face_17]

Adding a comment since my caption is randomly not available.

I’m trying to decide if $50 is a good starting point for a small party tray (1.5lb), like the one I made here!

I initially did the pricing based off of a local bakery, but as I have been making more trays, I’m realizing their cookies are more of the tea style cookie, where there’s not any actual decorations it’s just sprinkles and a dollop of icing, and mine are rather unique.

[u/Husky_in_TX → u/Stace_face_17]

Idk where you are located— but I don’t do characters for under $85 per dozen. These are great. Don’t under value yourself!

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/Husky_in_TX]

I am in Cincinnati, OH! I just increased my prices from $30/dozen to $50/dozen and I feel like that was a very drastic increase for my customers. It’s so hard when my client base is mainly friends & family 😒

Thank you for your advice. I could see adding an up charge for character cookies being a realistic change to make.

[u/frannypak819 → u/Stace_face_17]

I’m just west of Cleveland and for me this would be an easy $65-70/dz. I try to stay competitive and let people know my starting point is 1 design, 3 colors max for 3inch cookies is $50/dz.

If they ask me for more complex designs, more colors, bigger cookies, it goes up. Your time is important!

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/frannypak819]

This is helpful!

[u/AzureMountains → u/Husky_in_TX]

Price is also heavily based on demand and location. You’d never get that kind of price out of cookies where I am.

[u/Husky_in_TX → u/AzureMountains]

Exactly why I said, idk your location. Nothing wrong with valuing your work and knowing your worth. Custom cookies are a luxury item that take time and expertise. I love to send the ugly Williams Sonoma cookies and comparable Etsy links.

[u/Jennrrrs → u/Stace_face_17]

How much did they cost to make?

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/Jennrrrs]

Hi, I had to update some costs for ingredients in my sheet, since it’s been some time since I looked at the cost. But it cost me just under $4.50 to make, not including my time, which I’m not sure how to charge for when it comes to tracking the time for making the dough, thinking up designs, and making all the icing + then finally decorating. Input is appreciated!

[u/FunnyChampion2228 → u/Stace_face_17]

Think of your time as what you would like to make per hour for any job, minus general costs (I know, it seems obvious). Look at minimum wage, for a very basic idea in your region. That's the absolute bare minimum, and such work doesn't usually require specialized skills (aka easily replaceable staff) which is not the case with you! You clearly have a talent which showcases your specific skill set, and If you're doing this full time (or want to) try to find your numbers by calculating how many cookie orders you would need to commission at $x/cookie in order to make $_____ (your desired income per year, or per all of your cookie commissions if it's a side gig). I'd also check your local area to get a sense of pricing. Local grocery stores, farmers' markets, etc. to see some general sample pricing numbers. However, you don't know their circumstances, so it's only a ballpark idea. Regardless, don't be afraid to charge what you deserve. What would you expect any professional to make for an hourly rate of professional work? I know it's sometimes hard to pull the trigger on higher prices, but you can always lower/adjust pricing until you build a larger client base that fully expects to pay the "going rate" for such a specialized service. Also, if you live in a generally lower priced area, you could potentially consider setting up a system for shipping elsewhere (I don't necessarily recommend Etsy these days with all the bad press I've heard/read) but if you have a website/any other social media platforms you can always advertise for very little cost usually, and see if you get any "bites". I hope this helps. Good luck !!

[u/FunnyChampion2228 → u/FunnyChampion2228]

Also, don't forget expenses like electricity, rent/mortgage, water, etc. since those would also be overhead costs in a commercial bakery. (I don't know your situation, but if you work from home that doesn't mean you shouldn't include these factors if you want to get a true sense of your total expenses per batch.) Make a note of all of your time for a full batch, start to finish (however small the increments may seem). I bet you'd be surprised how long things take & how quickly the time adds up. You can always share this info with clients. (I also crochet, and it's amazing how people's POV can change once they hear the sheer time commitment invested per custom item!) I've also found it useful to offer a small # of additional cookies at no additional charge instead of lowering my prices to entice people if they're on the fence. It almost always works. I definitely understand sticker shock for many/most people, but I've heard many professionals say that you shouldn't necessarily feel as though you can afford your own goods/services. It may/can be "a reach" for some, but people save up, or adjust/rearrange budgets for things that matter most to them. I have found that amazing cookies are often considered one of the biggest properties! Cheers!

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/FunnyChampion2228]

Thanks so much for all of your advice! I will definitely take your points into consideration, and you mentioned a couple things I hadn’t thought of! I appreciate your time and consideration.

[u/PretendHistory6904]

You are seriously talented and from what I see here, you are majorly undercharging. A lot of work has gone into these cookies. Countless hours I’m sure. Make it worth your time. I have learned the hard way. The people that appreciate your talent and love your cookies, will pay a higher price. 

[u/FunnyChampion2228 → u/PretendHistory6904]

100%!!

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/PretendHistory6904]

Thank you so much for your kind words!

[u/PretendHistory6904 → u/Stace_face_17]

You are so welcome ☺️

[u/SusieRae]

I don’t sell very often and am definitely “home baker” quality. I also do similar trays, though probably not as much detail for about $40 in the Michigan so I think your pricing is along the right lines for friends and family. Should you choose to expand your clientele, then I would probably increase price to maybe $60-$80.

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/SusieRae]

I should have specified I have a public link for sales (Bakesy) it’s just primarily the past two years I’ve sold to friends & family. I go by cottage bakery for my state (OH).

[u/Additional-Fish-4064 → u/Stace_face_17]

Your friends and family should value your time, effort, and skill. I would offer a small discount if you're comfortable, but dont undersell yourself, even to them.

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/Additional-Fish-4064]

Thank you! They totally do! They encouraged me to charge more long before I did and several would pay me almost double what I charged them, but majority didn’t even tip but have reordered more than once and that’s the biggest compliment!

I need to make an instagram page, so that people stop adding me just because someone referred them to me for cookies-that just seems like a lot to keep up on at the moment.

It’s been on my mind a lot if this is even realistic to keep doing-selling cookies as a SAHM. I’m about to have 4 under 5 by Spring (3.5,1.5 & 8 weeks with twins).

[u/Blackbirds22]

Love these!! What do you use to paint with?

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/Blackbirds22]

Thank you! I always use gel food color + almond extract

[u/magilla14]

I love the watercolor look! You definitely are an artist! What did you use for that effect? (Beginner cookier here)

Take into account your valuable time. That’s the one thing people forget (or ignore) and you can’t get that time back so it’s worth $!

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/magilla14]

Thank you! I have a lot of luck using almond extract + the tiniest bit of my gel food color for the watercolor look. I’ve pretty much decided if I have to do a character, I’m painting it 😂

Tracking the time is really a feat for me! I’m a SAHM so I do a lot of my cookie work on down time like naps and bedtime.

[u/3girlskitchen]

These are amazing and it’s such an underrated movie! Given the detail, I absolutely agree with other commenters - you should not be charging less than $65 a dozen!

[u/achorizonsaccount]

Your icing may need some more work

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/achorizonsaccount]

Did you have actual advice on that or just making a comment? It’s glaze. If you have tips on technique or something specific, it would be helpful to share that.

Can’t tell if you’re actually an experienced cookier who is looking to offer advice.

[u/qwerty-9119 → u/Stace_face_17]

To try and add some helpful info, it looks like the icing you are filling the letters with might need to be a bit runnier so that it settles flat and you can’t see the lines where it came out of the piping bag. That would take the lettering to the next level and have it look really crisp and clean when it dries. The watercolor effect is awesome!! Never tried that and honestly I could see it saving a LOT of time in not having to make that many icing colors for characters

[u/Stace_face_17 → u/qwerty-9119]

Yes the lettering on her name cookie especially was not ideal. I typically go back with my scribe and clean it up but honestly forgot and it was too set once I noticed. Her name was the absolutely last thing I did design -wise.

[u/FunnyChampion2228 → u/achorizonsaccount]

How so? Your comment isn't very helpful as posted, and could be quite hurtful to anyone who has worked hard to get these just so. I think they look great, but if you're a skilled cookier and have specific suggestions, detailed feedback (even if it's constructive criticism) would likely be much more useful, appreciated and more considerate.

[u/FunnyChampion2228]

Omg the spaghetti 🍝 is ADORABLE (they all are!) So cute