If you make a purchase using our links, we may earn a commission from our affiliate partners. Find out more information.
Are you unsure about how to price your handmade items? Selling handmade products can be a lucrative venture, but it’s important to use the right pricing formula to ensure that you cover all your business costs and still have enough profit to grow. This guide will provide you with the necessary information on how to price your handmade items, whether you are an Etsy seller or any other handmade business owner.
Important Terms to Understand
When pricing your handmade products, there are a few key terms that may affect your decision-making. It’s important to be familiar with these terms:
Retail Price: This is the price at which you sell your products directly to customers, whether online or in a physical store. It includes a markup to cover additional expenses like store overhead and marketing.
Wholesale Price: This is the price at which you sell your products in bulk to large suppliers or distributors. It typically applies when selling to local retail stores that sell your products directly to customers. Wholesale prices are lower than retail prices because selling in bulk is more cost-effective and profitable.
Selling Price: This is the final price that customers are willing to pay for your products. It may differ from the initially set price and is influenced by factors such as demand, market conditions, and negotiation.
The Downfalls of a Standard Pricing Formula
Many business owners rely on a standard pricing formula that only takes into account the cost of supplies, sometimes adding a small amount for labor costs. However, this approach often fails to consider other crucial expenses associated with running a handmade business, such as website costs, marketing, and shipping. Using a standard formula may result in financial losses before finding a more sustainable pricing method. Here are five common pitfalls of relying solely on a standard pricing formula:
1. Underestimating overhead costs: Many artisans overlook expenses like utilities, rent for studio space, and equipment maintenance, leading to inaccurate profit calculations.
2. Ignoring marketing and advertising costs: Building a brand requires investment in marketing and advertising, which is often not factored into pricing decisions.
3. Undervaluing time and labor: Artisans may set prices that do not adequately compensate for the hours spent crafting, performing administrative tasks, and engaging in other business-related activities.
4. Overlooking transaction fees and commissions: Selling through online platforms or galleries often entails paying transaction fees or commissions, which should be integrated into the pricing formula to avoid profit losses.
5. Neglecting business scalability and growth: Focusing solely on immediate costs without considering future investments in business growth restricts the business’s potential and sustainability.
A Profitable Pricing Formula
Instead of relying on a standard formula, a profitable pricing strategy should consider all expenses associated with running your business while also appealing to your target market. The following factors can help you establish a good starting point for pricing your handmade items:
1. Supplies: Calculate the cost of the supplies used to create each item, including materials and tools or equipment used for production.
2. Profit markup: Determine a small profit margin for each product, considering factors such as the perceived value of your items and your earnings goals. The profit margin may range from 5 to 20 percent.
3. Labor: Set an hourly rate for yourself or any team members involved in crafting the products. Consider the time spent crafting each item and performing other tasks like preparing shipments or marketing and web design.
4. Wage: Decide on the hourly wage you will pay yourself or your team members. The US Department of Labor estimates the standard rate for craft artists at around $20 per hour, but rates may vary based on location, experience level, and work type.
5. Overhead rate: Calculate the additional costs of running your business, such as office supplies, PayPal fees, accounting services, website hosting, platform fees (e.g., Etsy), and professional labor costs.
Example of the Formula in Action
By factoring in these elements, you can develop a pricing strategy that supports a sustainable business with healthy profit margins. Here’s an example to illustrate the formula:
Suppose you sell handmade pottery. The supplies for a small mug, including clay and glaze, cost you $10. If you can produce multiple mugs in an hour and set an hourly rate of $25, the labor cost per mug would be around $5. Consider additional overhead costs, such as workspace, website expenses, and marketing, equating to $5 per mug.
With these calculations, your product is priced at $20. Add a small amount for profit, and you can price your items around $22 or $23 when selling online.
Marketing Your Business
Once you have set your base price and per item cost in your online store, you may need to make adjustments over time based on your marketing efforts. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
1. Conduct market research: Check similar items’ prices on platforms like Etsy and Google Shopping to determine a competitive price range.
2. Be open to negotiation: Pricing handmade items often involves some flexibility. If customers regularly ask for discounted prices, consider setting slightly lower rates to increase sales. However, if your items frequently sell out quickly, a fair price may be slightly higher.
3. Implement strategies to reduce expenses: Flexibility in retail pricing can include offering discounts or free shipping for bundled purchases or reaching a specific spending amount.
4. Take high-quality photos and write detailed descriptions: Eye-catching photos and comprehensive product descriptions can help attract customers. Use plain backgrounds and images that depict the product’s scale, and include all relevant details in the description.
5. Keep accurate records: Maintain thorough financial records of your business transactions, including material costs, overhead expenses, and earnings. These records can provide insights into pricing trends over time.
The Benefits of a Profitable Pricing Formula
By factoring in all of your business costs and allowing for profit, your business can benefit in several ways:
1. Paying yourself a fair wage: A profitable pricing strategy enables you to earn a fair income for your work.
2. Scaling your business: Sufficient profits allow for expansion and growth opportunities.
3. Building a fund for unexpected expenses: Having a margin for profit helps you prepare for unforeseen costs that may arise.
4. Keeping organized records: Maintaining accurate financial records allows you to analyze trends and make informed pricing decisions.
Template for Pricing Handmade Goods
To streamline your pricing formula, you may consider using a workbook, calculator, or template specific to your business. Here’s a sample template that can help guide your pricing strategy:
[Product supplies + (hourly wage x labor time) + overhead rate] + profit markup = Pricing for Handmade Goods
By using this template, you can set a standardized formula that aligns with your business goals and ensures you cover all costs while earning a reasonable profit.
In conclusion, pricing handmade items effectively requires considering all aspects of your business and appealing to your target market. By utilizing the suggested pricing formula, conducting market research, and taking other marketing strategies into account, you can establish a pricing strategy that supports the growth and profitability of your handmade business.
