Costing & Pricing
Calculate accurate costs and optimize pricing for profitability.
Cost Components
Material Cost
Automatically calculated from BOM:
Material Cost = Σ (weight_grams × cost_per_gram)
Example:
- PLA (50g × $0.020/g) = $1.00
- PETG (20g × $0.025/g) = $0.50
- Total: $1.50
Labor Cost
Optional labor allocation:
Labor Cost = Print Time × Hourly Rate × Labor Factor
Example:
- Print Time: 2 hours
- Hourly Rate: $15
- Labor Factor: 0.1 (10% active time)
- Labor Cost: $3.00
Overhead
Fixed costs per print:
- Electricity
- Printer depreciation
- Maintenance
- Workspace
Component Cost
Non-printed items:
| Item | Unit Cost | Qty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| M3 Screws | $0.05 | 4 | $0.20 |
| Magnets | $0.15 | 2 | $0.30 |
Total Cost
Total Cost = Material + Labor + Overhead + Components
Example breakdown:
Product: Desk Organizer
─────────────────────────
Materials: $2.50
Labor: $1.50
Overhead: $0.50
Components: $0.30
─────────────────────────
TOTAL COST: $4.80
Pricing Strategies
Cost-Plus Pricing
Set a markup percentage:
Price = Cost × (1 + Markup%)
| Markup | Cost | Price |
|---|---|---|
| 50% | $4.80 | $7.20 |
| 100% | $4.80 | $9.60 |
| 200% | $4.80 | $14.40 |
Value-Based Pricing
Price based on perceived value:
- Unique designs: Higher markup
- Commodity items: Lower markup
- Custom orders: Premium pricing
Competitive Pricing
Research similar products:
Your Cost: $4.80
Competitor A: $12.00
Competitor B: $15.00
Your Price: $10.00 (profitable + competitive)
Marketplace Fees
Account for platform fees:
| Platform | Fee Structure |
|---|---|
| Etsy | 6.5% transaction + $0.20 listing |
| eBay | 12.9% final value |
| Amazon | 15% referral |
| Own Site | Payment processing only (~3%) |
Net Profit Calculation
Net Profit = Sale Price - Cost - Platform Fees - Shipping
Example:
Etsy Sale: $12.00
─────────────────
Cost: -$4.80
Etsy Fee: -$0.98
Listing: -$0.20
Processing: -$0.45
─────────────────
NET PROFIT: $5.57 (46% margin)
Shipping
Options
- Free Shipping - Build into price
- Calculated - Pass cost to buyer
- Flat Rate - Average cost across orders
Packaging Costs
Don't forget:
- Boxes/mailers
- Bubble wrap/padding
- Labels
- Tape
Bulk Pricing
Offer discounts for quantities:
| Quantity | Discount | Price Each |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0% | $10.00 |
| 5+ | 10% | $9.00 |
| 10+ | 20% | $8.00 |
| 25+ | 30% | $7.00 |
Profit Reports
Analyze profitability:
By Product
| Product | Sales | Revenue | Cost | Profit | Margin |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Phone Stand | 50 | $500 | $200 | $300 | 60% |
| Cable Clips | 200 | $400 | $100 | $300 | 75% |
By Material
Track which materials are most profitable:
| Material | Usage | Cost | Revenue | ROI |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PLA Black | 2kg | $40 | $150 | 275% |
| PETG Clear | 500g | $15 | $60 | 300% |
Cost Optimization
Reduce Material Cost
- Buy in bulk
- Find cheaper suppliers
- Optimize print settings (less infill)
- Reduce supports
Reduce Time
- Faster print speeds
- Batch similar products
- Optimize bed layout
- Reduce setup time
Reduce Waste
- Track and minimize purge
- Improve first-layer success
- Better print profiles