The most common sentence in handmade business is 'I don't know what to charge.' In India we also add '…because people won't pay much.' Both beliefs are fixable with one honest formula. Here's how we price every CraftyGhar piece.
The pricing formula that works
Charge for the whole truth: materials plus your time plus your overheads, then apply a margin that keeps the lights on.
- Materials + packaging + shipping-in = your true base cost
- Add your time at ₹300–₹500/hour — yes, your labour counts
- Add a 10–20% overhead buffer (utilities, tools, wastage, marketing)
- Final = base × 2 to 2.5 (the standard handmade margin)
- Compare to market, adjust the margin down, never the cost
Smart tip — If a price feels too high, first question your cost sheet, not your ambition.
Why 'nobody will pay' is usually wrong
Indian buyers absolutely pay premium prices for handmade — when the story, packaging and trust are premium too. The difference between a ₹150 candle and a ₹450 candle is rarely the wax; it's the story you tell and how it's presented.
Smart tip — Photograph against clean backgrounds, write your story on the product page, and package like the gift it is. Presentation is pricing.
Bulk, festivals and the 'cheaper plea'
- Set your minimum order quantity and stick to it
- Offer bulk pricing only above a real margin floor
- Festive season: raise margins slightly, every seller does
- Learn the polite no: 'I can keep quality high at this price'
Smart tip — The customer buying handmade is buying a person, not a product. Price like a person with standards.
Pricing is honest accounting plus confident presentation. Fix the math, fix the story, and your handmade prices will finally cover your craft.
