BAKERY PRICING GUIDE
Does taking a cake deposit mean paying processing fees twice?
If a processor charges a fixed fee per successful payment, a deposit and a later balance normally create two fixed-fee charges. With the same percentage rate on both payments, the combined percentage base is still the full order total. Enter the terms that apply to your account; a deposit is part of the order price, not extra revenue.
Separate a deposit from an extra charge
A $180 order with a $60 deposit leaves a $120 balance. Revenue is $180, not $240. At an illustrative 3% plus $0.30 per payment, processing one $180 payment costs $5.70; processing $60 and $120 costs $6.00 in the aggregate model. The $0.30 difference is the second fixed charge. These are demonstration rates, not a provider tariff.
Decide before sending the customer quote
For $40 of order costs, a 25% target margin after fees, 3% processing and a $0.30 fixed charge, one payment gives ($40 + $0.30) / 0.72, rounded up to $55.98. Two payments give ($40 + $0.60) / 0.72, rounded up to $56.39. Budget the planned payment schedule before agreeing a total.
Recognize when the shortcut stops working
If the deposit uses one payment method and the balance another, their percentage rates may differ. A rate applied to tax or a minimum transaction charge also changes the calculation. Calculate each actual charge separately; the worksheet assumes the same rate on the whole order and only multiplies its fixed fee. Per-payment rounding may produce a few cents of difference.
Reconcile split-payment rounding
The $56.39 modeled price can be split into $28.20 and $28.19. Under an illustrative rule that rounds each 3% plus $0.30 charge to the nearest cent, both fees round to $1.15: $2.30 in total, instead of the aggregate model rounded to $2.29. After $40 cost, $14.09 remains, about 24.99% of $56.39. Under that particular rule, $56.40 split equally leaves $14.10 after $2.30 fees, exactly 25%. Confirm the actual rounding and payment amounts rather than treating a displayed 25.00% as a guarantee.
Keep order terms separate from fee arithmetic
A processing worksheet cannot decide whether a deposit is refundable, what cancellation terms are valid or whether a card surcharge is permitted. Check your provider agreement and local requirements before setting those terms. Do not add an unexpected fee to an accepted order.
Put the agreed schedule in writing
Record the agreed total, deposit amount, balance and due dates in the wedding or everyday quote template. Reconcile the actual provider fees after payment. This guide concerns transaction costs; the quote templates concern the customer-facing agreement.
Model this payment arrangement
Open the illustrative schedule, then replace the costs and rates with your own agreement.
Open the payment fee calculatorContinue with a related question
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