Custom birthday cakes: what they cost, and why
A custom birthday cake from an independent bakery usually costs more than a supermarket cake, and most of the difference is time. A decorated two-tier cake can take a baker a full day across baking, cooling, filling and finishing1.
Price is mostly set by three things: size (portions, not tiers), decoration (hand-piped or sculpted work takes longest) and lead time. Orders inside a week often carry a rush fee2.
At Harbour Bakery, a 20-portion sponge with buttercream starts at the price on our celebration cakes page, and we quote sculpted cakes after a short call.