Pricing Handmade Products: What I Wish I Knew Earlier

When I first started selling my handmade products, pricing felt like a guessing game. I wanted my items to be affordable, but I also knew I needed to cover my costs and actually make a profit. Fast forward to today, and I can confidently say I’ve learned A LOT about pricing—mostly the hard way. 😅 If you’re a fellow maker struggling to price your work, here’s what I wish someone had told me sooner.

1. Your Time Has Value (Charge for It!)

In the beginning, I priced my tumblers based on materials alone. Big mistake. I wasn’t factoring in the time it took to design, prep, apply, package, and ship each order. If you’re not charging for your time, you’re essentially working for free. And last time I checked, exposure doesn’t pay the bills.

💡 Lesson: Calculate how much time it actually takes to make each item and include that in your pricing. Your skills are valuable!

2. Stop Worrying About Being “Too Expensive”

One of the hardest lessons to learn? Not everyone is your customer.

When I first set my prices, I kept hearing:
❌ "That’s too expensive!"
❌ "I can get something like this at Target or Walmart or any other big store for half the price."
❌ "Can you do it cheaper?"

And guess what? Those people were never going to buy anyway.

💡 Lesson: The right customers understand that handmade products cost more because they’re crafted with care, not mass-produced.

3. Factor in ALL Your Costs (Not Just Materials!)

When I started Rise Up, I thought pricing = cost of materials + small profit. WRONG.

I wasn’t factoring in:
✔️ Packaging & shipping supplies (Tissue paper, stickers, boxes, etc.)
✔️ Transaction fees (Etsy, Square, PayPal all take a cut.)
✔️ Booth fees for craft fairs
✔️ Marketing costs (Website fees, ads, business cards)
✔️ Time spent on admin tasks (because listing an item on Etsy doesn’t magically happen in two minutes!)

💡 Lesson: Add up all the hidden costs of running your business—otherwise, you’ll be working hard but barely breaking even.

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4. Discounts & Sales? Do Them Strategically

I used to undervalue my work just to make a sale. I’d offer big discounts or freebies without thinking about the impact. Now? I only discount strategically.

✔️ Bundle Deals – Instead of slashing prices, I offer a deal on multiple items (buy 2, save $5).
✔️ Loyalty Perks – Returning customers get a discount code as a thank-you.
✔️ Seasonal Sales – Limited-time discounts for holidays bring in new customers without devaluing my work.

💡 Lesson: A sale should benefit your business, not just the customer.

5. Confidence in Your Pricing = Confidence in Your Brand

The biggest shift? Believing in my prices.  I used to feel guilty when someone said my products were expensive. Now, I stand by my pricing because I know:

✅ My materials are high quality.
✅ My designs are unique.
✅ My time, skills, and effort deserve fair pay.

💡 Lesson: If you don’t believe your work is worth the price, no one else will either. Own your value!

Final Thoughts: Price for Profit, Not Just for Sales

If you’re struggling with pricing, here’s your reminder:

✔️ Your time is valuable.
✔️ Not everyone is your customer—and that’s okay.
✔️ Price in a way that allows you to stay in business, not just make a sale.

Trust me, when you price with confidence, you’ll attract customers who truly appreciate your work. Are you a maker? What’s the hardest part about pricing your handmade products? Drop a comment and let’s chat!

📌 Shop my designs here 🛒

Until next time,
Jecca