What is the Product Pricer and who is it for?
The Product Pricer is a tool that helps physical product makers quickly calculate their true cost — including materials, labor time, overhead, platform fees and more — so they can confidently price every product they make.
It’s for makers who create and sell physical products — including: laser engravers, CNC makers, woodworkers, ceramic artists, jewelry makers, metalsmiths + lapidary artists, candle makers, soap makers, resin artists, leatherworkers, sublimation + DTF makers, embroidery + sewing + quilting makers, polymer clay artists, 3D printing makers and cottage food producers to name a few.
It works whether you:
• sell direct to consumer or wholesale
• use marketplaces (Faire, Etsy, Shopify, markets, etc.)
• want to stop guessing and actually see the real math
If you make a physical product — this will show you what each item truly costs, and if it’s worth making.
Every Maker. Every Platform.
Do I need to fill out every field?
No - leave any fields blank if you need to. Your numbers will update based on what you've entered, and you can always come back to add more detail later.
For instance, if you're unsure of your overhead costs right now, you can skip that section and fill it in when you have better data. Or plug in a reasonable estimate and adjust it later as you learn more about your actual costs.
That said, the more complete your cost picture, the more accurate your profit reality will be. The goal is to account for everything that goes into making each piece - materials, time, overhead, taxes, platform fees - so you can see what you're truly earning, not just what you're hoping to earn. The tool works with whatever information you give it - start with what you know and add detail as you go.
Can I use this for wholesale + retail?
Yes — you can run ANY pricing scenario you want (retail, wholesale, bulk, etc.) by simply typing in the price you want to test — and it instantly shows you if that price is profitable.
Can I save multiple products?
Yes — save up to 1,000 products!
What if I sell on multiple platforms (Faire, Etsy, markets, etc)?
You can add ANY platform — Faire, Etsy, Amazon, in-person markets, Shopify, Square, etc. — and save them. The app includes fee inputs so you can see your true bottom-line across all the places you sell.
Will this app automatically update if Etsy/Faire/Shopify change their platform fees?
Platform fees can change — and those changes vary by platform and sometimes by seller account level.
This app does not automatically track or update individual platform fees — because every seller’s situation can be different.
You stay in control. If a platform fee changes, you can simply update that number in your calculations or save as a new platform. It only takes a few seconds.
This keeps your numbers accurate — without waiting for someone else to update them.
Do I need to know spreadsheets?
Nope! You just plug in your numbers and the app does the math for you.
What if my profit % is lower than 50%, but I’m still making good money?
Great question — the Product Pricer shows you multiple metrics because profitability isn’t only one number. Example: Some products can be produced FAST — so even if the profit percent is lower, you’re still making a great hourly rate. That's why when your profit drops below 50%, the Dashboard tells you "Review Costs & Pricing" instead of "Don't Sell."
Some products are “quick win profit generators” — others are slower and need higher margins to make sense. That’s why the app gives you more than just a profit % — it lets you see:
• profit per unit
• profit per hour
• profit per job
• true platform fees/costs
• your hourly rate for that job
The Bottom Line: YOU decide what’s worth it — this app shows the real math so you can make smart decisions.
Does this app tell me EXACTLY what to charge?
No — this app shows you the real math so you know your floor (your true cost + your profit goal). But pricing is still also influenced by:
• your target niche
• your geographic market
• your product positioning
• the platform you’re selling on (Faire, Etsy, stores, events)
• the perceived value of your brand + packaging
• your category / competition
• your brand story (customers buy meaning, not just materials)
The Product Pricer gives you the truth about YOUR numbers. So you’re not guessing anymore. So you're not losing money - or leaving money on the table.
From there — you can choose a strategic price based on your market, brand positioning, and what your buyers value most.
You are the guide — your product solves a real problem — and your pricing should reflect the value you deliver.
Do I include things like thank-you cards or marketing inserts in my per piece cost?
Yes. If you physically include it in (or on) the product or shipping package — it’s a per-piece cost.
That includes:
• branded thank-you inserts
• promo cards
• coupon codes
• small freebie gift additions
• business card inserts
• “how to use / care instruction” cards
• branded stickers you add to the package
• anything that is given with every purchase
If the customer gets it with their product — it’s part of the per piece cost. Because this isn’t a “business expense” — it’s part of the unit experience. These little items add up fast — and if you don’t include them, they secretly eat margin.
Do per piece costs change if I ship multiple items in one box?
Yes — because your per piece cost depends on how many units share that expense.
Example:
You spend $6 total on packaging + inserts for one shipment.
If you are shipping:
• 24 units → $6 ÷ 24 = $0.25 per piece
• 1 unit → $6 ÷ 1 = $6.00 per piece
This is why wholesale (multiple units per box) usually has lower per piece packaging cost — and retail (one at a time) has higher per piece packaging cost.
Why use this instead of simple rules (like “double my costs” or 4x multipliers)?
Those rules aren’t wrong — they’re just not accurate unless you’ve already accounted for all your true costs.
Many experienced makers who use 3x, 4x or even 6x models have already calculated their real overhead, labor, platform fees, packaging costs, taxes, etc. Their multiplier works because the math underneath was already done.
Most makers skip that step — and then the multiplier becomes random instead of strategic. This app shows you the real math first — so any multiplier you choose is based on facts, not hope.
Why not just use the $1 per laser minute method?
Because laser time is only one piece of the cost puzzle.
• Every laser engraves at different speeds. One machine may engrave and cut an ornament in 3 minutes, and another laser may take 10 minutes for the exact same design.
• Your geographic market + niche might not be willing to pay more just because your machine is slower.
And honestly — the “$1 per minute” rate was just a number that got tossed around in maker groups years ago and it stuck — not because it was based on real costs — but because it was easy to use.
Materials, overhead, software, finishing time, packaging, inserts, platform fees, shipping supplies, taxes — all of these affect your real profit. If you only price from laser minutes, you can appear profitable but still lose money overall.
This app shows you every cost — not just the one that’s easiest to measure. When you see the full math, your pricing becomes accurate and defendable — and you finally know which products are truly worth making.
Is this a one-time price or a subscription?
This is a one-time purchase. You get lifetime access to the app.
Pay once. Use forever. No subscription.
Do I need accounting or bookkeeping experience to use this?
Nope! This app is made for makers.
You don’t need to know accounting terms or how to set up spreadsheets. You just enter the real numbers you already know — and the app does the math for you.
What if I don’t know my overhead yet?
Most makers don’t — that’s normal.
Start by listing your monthly business costs that would exist even if you made ZERO products — like:
• rent / studio space
• software subscriptions
• utilities
• laser maintenance
• website hosting
• marketing that isn’t tied to a specific product (like signage, branding, etc.)
Then estimate how many products you typically make in a month.
Your monthly overhead ÷ your monthly quantity = your approximate overhead per piece.
And remember — this is just an estimate. You can update these numbers any time your production volume grows or your business expenses change.
I already have my own spreadsheet — why would I use this instead?
If your sheet already shows you every cost (materials, overhead, platform fees, taxes, etc.) and calculates profit per piece, per hour, and per job — great, keep using it.
Most spreadsheets don’t.
The Product Pricer is fast, clean and lets you confidently compare products and platforms in seconds — without formulas or manual updating.
Plus — this app lets you:
• save up to 1,000 products in ONE place (no more 1,000 tabs in Sheets)
• Compare any products instantly (to see what’s actually worth making)
• Swap pricing, time or materials in seconds — no formula breakage
• Cost dropdowns make updates fast and frictionless
• See your profit numbers instantly on a dashboard (no digging through tabs)
• Price wholesale, retail, bulk on the same screen
• Cost across multiple platforms (Faire, Etsy, Shopify, markets, etc.) so you see how profit changes
• Add your own custom platforms or fees if you sell somewhere unique
• Make confident decisions without spreadsheet setup, maintenance, or template drama
You’re not losing flexibility — you’re gaining speed and accuracy. This is pricing — without the guesswork. No formulas. No stress. Just fast, clear answers.
What happens if I clear my browser cache or cookies?
Your data is stored locally for privacy, so clearing your cache will erase it. Good news: you can easily back up and restore everything.
To back up your work:
• Download Saved Products
• Download Materials & Supplies Reference Library
To restore (or move to a new computer):
• Upload your saved files and you're back in business
Note: Product Pricer doesn't sync between devices—this keeps your data 100% private. Just download from one device and upload to another if needed.
Pro tip: Download backups after building your library. Save the files somewhere safe.
Will this work on Mac and non-Apple computers?
Yes — this works on any computer with a modern web browser (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge). Mac or Windows — both are fine. For the best performance and compatibility, I recommend using Chrome.
Do I need to use the same browser every time?
Yes. Your data is stored locally for privacy. But, good news: you can upload your data to a new device if needed.
To back up your work:
• Download Saved Products
• Download Materials & Supplies Reference Library
To restore (or move to a new computer):
• Upload your saved files and you're back in busines.
Your data is stored locally in your browser — so use the same browser + device to access your saved products.
If you switch browsers (ex: Safari to Chrome) or devices (Mac to iPad), your products won’t be there unless you upload them — because each browser stores its own local data.
How do updates work — will I get new features automatically?
Yes. When I release updates or improvements, they are automatically live in the app. You don’t have to download anything. Every time you open the app — you’re using the latest version.
Do you offer refunds?
Because this is a digital tool, refunds aren’t available — but I’m committed to making this valuable for you. Most common questions are answered in the FAQs — they’re quick and easy to skim. And if you ever need help using this calculator, you can always reach out — I’m here to help you get clarity. This tool will change how you think about pricing forever — and I stand behind it.
Who built this?
I'm an entrepreneur and maker. I've launched Amazon bestsellers, sold a business, earned an MBA and worked as a marketing director and director of qualitative research. When I started laser engraving in 2023, I built a detailed spreadsheet to track every cost - and calculate real profit for every product I made.
Then I saw all the pricing questions in the Facebook groups - and realized this was a huge pain point for all physical product makers. The only tools available were simple blog calculators that don't account for all your real costs or give pricing scenarios to make better decisions.
So I built the Product Pricer. Same accurate calculations as my spreadsheet—but way
Send me a note
Have an idea to make Product Pricer even better? Want to pass along how Product Pricer has been awesome for you? Send me a note.If you have questions - be sure to check the FAQ section - there's a lot of great info there.
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