April 18, 2010 - 3:06pm
Cost only spreadsheet
Hi all,
COST SPREADSHEET
I did a search of the archives but didn't find what I was looking for. I would like a spreadsheet to calculate the cost of ingredients going into my bread. More and more people are asking me to bake an "extra loaf" for them when I bake. I just don't know what to charge them. Here in the islands ingredients can get spendy and would like quick way to know what the cost for the ingredients are for a given loaf.
I tried to make my own Excel sheet but have forgotten too much of Excel to do it. If you have a simple program to sell or share, or know where I can get something like this, I'd greatly appreciate it!
Aloha,
Royall
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Hamelman has a page on computing batch cost at page 386 of Bread. It's a simple approach that can easily be done on paper.
Google came up with software, but it was $399.
... that I can send you. It requires some input from you (eg. prices that you pay for your products) but if you've used excel in the past you should be able to get it :)
message me your email!
Check your messages
Thanks to everybody! I sent out my email to a few of you and hope to hear from you soon!!
Aloha!
Hi Royall,
An additional expense for you to think of would be the cost of running the oven during your baking. Typical energy usage for a convection oven running for an hour or so at 325 F is about 1.4 Kwatts. So I'd reckon higher temperatures might be more on the order of 1.6 - 1.7 Kwatts for the same time period.
Looking at your local electric bill to see your average charge per Kwh (the number of Kwatts used per hour) will quickly allow you to get an estimate of running the oven for an hour. Rates on the Mainland are often much lower than here in Hawaii.
Calling Helco (808 969 6999) would also be an alternative if you can't find the electric bills and want a cost estimate.
aloha,
Dave Hurd, Hilo, Hawaii
Good morning Dave,
Yeah, with electricity at about 35 cents per KW here on the island it can and dose add up fast! I'm kinda lucky that my oven is propane. One of my 100# tanks (23 gallons) will last me about 5 months and is about $95 bucks to fill. That's using it for cooking, clothes drier, and a gas fired instant hot water heater. I may be going longer on a tank now, as I've put up a clothesline out on the lanai to help on the gas and electric bills. I couldn't afford to operate an electric range for all the bread baking I do! By the way Dave, love the bannetons that you found! I've used them many times making several rye boules and a few boules of lavender bread.
Aloha,
Royall