How to Price Your Products in 7 Easy Steps + What to Consider
Setting the right price for your product is a critical decision that can make or break your business.
You don’t want to price your product too high and drive away customers, but you also don’t want to price it too low and miss out on profits.
Finding that sweet spot requires careful consideration of many factors, including your costs, target profit margins, customer preferences and industry trends.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through seven easy steps to help you price your product effectively.
We’ll also discuss some other key considerations that you should keep in mind as you set your prices, such as how price affects demand, how to set revenue targets and how to monitor your pricing strategy.
So let’s get started!
What is product pricing and why is it important?
Product pricing is the process of determining the optimal price point for a product or service that maximizes revenue while still appealing to customers.
Setting the right price is essential for the success of any business because it affects both customer demand and profit margins.
Pricing strategies vary based on a wide range of factors, including the type of product or service, target market, competition, and industry trends.
It’s influenced by production costs, marketing expenses, customer demand, economic conditions, and more.
Effective product pricing is a delicate balancing act between generating profits for the business and meeting the customer’s expectations.
In the following section, we’ll outline seven easy steps to help you set the right price for your product.
Finding the best pricing model is an experiment
Even the biggest organizations in the world struggle to understand all the nuances of pricing.
Some experiment with price points that totally alienate their customers, while others do the same but with great success.
Case study: Apple’s iPhone
In 2007, Apple made a bold move by dropping the price of its iPhone by $200 just two months after its initial release.
The original iPhone launched at a price of $599 for the 8GB model, but within two months, the price was slashed to $399.
This price cut infuriated early adopters who had already paid the higher price and it sparked a wave of negative press for Apple.
Despite the backlash, Apple’s gamble paid off in the long run. By the end of 2007, Apple had sold more than 1.3 million iPhones and the device became one of the most popular smartphones on the market.
Apple’s price cut is an excellent example of how experimenting with pricing can pay off in the long run.
While it may be risky to make such a bold move, it can increase demand, sales volume and overall profits.
The key is to be strategic, carefully consider all of the factors at play and be prepared to make adjustments as needed.
But before that, it’s important to have a baseline pricing strategy. Let’s look at the seven steps to pricing your products.
How to price your products in 7 easy steps
Pricing a product can be daunting, but by following a few simple steps, you can set a price that meets your business’s needs while appealing to your customers.
Here are seven easy steps to help you price your products effectively:
1. Understanding your costs
Before you can set a price for your product, you need to understand the costs associated with producing it.
This includes direct costs, such as materials and labor, as well as indirect costs, such as overhead and administrative expenses.
Understanding your costs will help you set a minimum price that covers your expenses and ensures that you make a profit.
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2. Add up your variable costs
Variable costs are expenses that fluctuate based on the volume of your production. Examples of variable costs include materials, labor and shipping costs.
By adding up your variable costs, you can determine the cost of producing each unit of your product.
Let’s say, for example, you produce handmade jewelry. Your variable costs might include the cost of materials, such as beads and wire, as well as the labor required to make each piece.
If you make ten pieces of jewelry, your variable costs will be higher than if you make five pieces because you’re using more materials and labor.
By understanding your variable costs, you can set a price that ensures a profit.
3. Consider fixed costs
Fixed costs are expenses that do not vary with the volume of production, such as rent, salaries and equipment.
It’s important to consider fixed costs when pricing your product because they can affect your profit margin.
By factoring in fixed costs, you can determine the minimum price you need to charge to cover all of your expenses.
4. Identify your target profit margin to set a price
Once you have a clear understanding of your costs, the next step is to identify your target profit margin.
Your target profit margin is the profit you want to make on each unit of your product.
It’s the difference between the selling price and the cost of production, expressed as a percentage of the selling price.
It’s essential to research the standard profit margins in your industry and identify where your business fits within that range.
For example, retail stores may have a target profit margin of 20-30%, while restaurants may aim for a target profit margin of 10-15%.
However, these are just general benchmarks and vary depending on the specific business.
When setting your target profit margin, it’s crucial to consider the competition, customer expectations and the value that your product brings to the market.
If you set a profit margin that is too high, you may price yourself out of the market and lose customers to competitors. On the other hand, if your target profit margin is too low, you may struggle to cover your costs and make a profit.
By setting a target profit margin, you can determine the minimum price you need to charge to achieve your desired profit.
This calculation involves dividing the cost of production by one minus the target profit margin expressed as a decimal.
For example, if your cost of production is $10 and your target profit margin is 30%, you would divide $10 by 0.7 (1 – 0.3) to get a minimum price of $14.29.
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5. Identifying the customer
Identifying and understanding your customer is crucial for pricing your products effectively (and just about everything else in business).
Understanding your customer demographics, such as age, income level and location, can help you set a price that meets their needs while also ensuring that you make a profit.
To identify your customer, you need to consider various factors such as:
- Their purchasing habits,
- The value they place on your product,
- And their willingness to pay.
If your product is targeted towards a high-end market, you may be able to price it higher than if it is targeted towards a budget-conscious market.
You should also consider how your customers perceive your product compared to your competitors, as this can influence their willingness to pay.
Another factor to consider when identifying your customer is their shopping behavior.
Do they typically look for the cheapest option or are they willing to pay a premium for quality?
It’s important to remember that pricing is not just about maximizing profits; it’s also about creating value for your customer.
By setting a fair price, you can build a loyal customer base and increase your sales over time.
Related Posts:
- Five Customer Expectations You Need to Meet
- Customer Retention Strategies: How Do You Increase Customer Loyalty
- Customer Experience Management: What Is It and How to Get Started
6. Learn the commonly-used pricing models in your industry
Every industry has its own pricing models and it’s important to understand these models when setting a price for your product.
For example, in some industries, it’s common to price products based on markup from the cost of production, while in others, pricing may be based on the perceived value of the product.
We’ll talk more about many of these pricing models later in this post.
7. Use a product pricing calculator
Product pricing calculators can be a useful tool for determining the optimal price for your product.
These calculators take into account factors such as your costs, profit margin and industry trends to provide a recommended price.
While these calculators can be a helpful starting point, it’s important to adjust the price based on your own unique circumstances and customer needs.
Other considerations for pricing a product
By following the seven steps I shared above, you can set a price that meets your business’s needs while also satisfying your customers.
However, there are other important factors to consider when pricing a product.
Understanding how price affects demand
Price and demand have a direct relationship: as the price of a product increases, demand decreases and vice versa.
The price elasticity of demand refers to the sensitivity of demand to changes in price.
In general, products with a high price elasticity of demand are more sensitive to price changes than those with a low price elasticity of demand.
For example, luxury goods such as high-end fashion or jewelry tend to have a low price elasticity of demand because consumers are willing to pay a premium for the exclusivity and quality of the product.
Folks who purchase Bentley cars and Gucci bags are far less concerned with fluctuations in price. Most people buying luxury items don’t do so because of some price-to-value judgment; they do so for the brand name and the status associated with it.
In contrast, products with a high price elasticity of demand, such as generic products, are more sensitive to price changes because consumers are more likely to switch to a cheaper alternative.
Understanding how price affects demand is crucial when setting a price for your product. By balancing your target profit margin with the price elasticity of demand, you can set a price that maximizes your revenue and profit.
Setting a revenue target
Setting a revenue target is another factor to consider when pricing your product. A revenue target is the amount of revenue you want to generate from selling your product within a specific time frame.
This can help you determine the minimum number of units you need to sell to achieve your revenue target.
Setting a revenue target can also help you determine the pricing strategy you need to use to achieve your goals.
For example, if your revenue target is high, you may need to use a premium pricing strategy to ensure that you generate enough revenue to meet your target.
On the other hand, if your revenue target is lower, you may need to use a value-based pricing strategy to appeal to price-sensitive customers.
Observe your sales data and adjust as needed
Finally, observing your sales data and adjusting your pricing strategy as needed is crucial when pricing your product.
By monitoring your sales data, you can identify trends and patterns in customer behavior, identify opportunities for improvement and adjust your pricing strategy accordingly.
For example, if you notice that your sales are declining, you may need to adjust your pricing strategy to appeal to customers better.
Or, you may also need to adjust your pricing strategy if you notice that your competitors are offering similar products at a lower price.
By considering these factors in addition to the seven steps above, you can create a pricing strategy that maximizes your revenue and profit.
What are the best product pricing strategies?
Pricing your product can be a daunting task, but there are several pricing strategies that businesses can use to set the optimal price for their product.
Doing market research into both your customers and competitors is essential before deciding on a pricing model. In fact, we recommend studying as many competitors as possible (especially ones that are larger and more established than you).
These organizations often pour tons of money into research and development, effectively letting you shortcut the entire experimentation process by replicating their best practices.
With that said, here are some of the most effective pricing strategies that businesses use:
Competitive pricing
Competitive pricing is a pricing strategy in which a business prices its product at or below the prices of its competitors.
When someone tells you a product has a “competitive price,” this is typically what they mean.
This strategy is effective when a business wants to increase its market share or enter a new market. By offering lower prices than their competitors, businesses can attract price-sensitive customers and gain market share.
For example, when Samsung launched its Galaxy S21 smartphone, it priced it at $799, the exact price of the iPhone 12.
This move was a very strategic and intentional play on Samsung’s part, as the Galaxy S21 had more memory, RAM and a larger screen than the iPhone 12.
Cost-based pricing/cost-plus pricing
Cost-based pricing, also known as cost-plus pricing, is a pricing strategy in which a business calculates the cost of producing a product and then adds a markup to determine the final price.
This strategy ensures that a business covers its costs and makes a profit.
For example, if a business produces a widget that costs $10 to produce, it may add a 50% markup to the retail price, resulting in a final price of $15.
This pricing strategy is commonly used in manufacturing industries where the cost of production is a significant factor in determining the price of the product.
Dynamic pricing
Dynamic pricing is a pricing strategy in which the price of a product is adjusted in real time based on changes in demand, supply and other market factors.
This strategy is commonly used in industries such as hospitality and air travel, where prices can vary based on factors such as time of day, day of the week, or season.
For example, hotels may adjust their room rates based on the occupancy rate of their hotel. If their occupancy rate is low, they may lower prices to attract more customers, while if their occupancy rate is high, they may increase prices to maximize revenue.
Market-oriented pricing
Market-oriented pricing is a pricing strategy in which a business sets its price based on the perceived value of the product in the market.
This strategy is effective when a business wants to target a specific market segment or when there is a high level of product differentiation.
For example, Apple uses market-oriented pricing for its products, such as the iPhone, iPad and MacBook. Apple prices its products higher than its competitors, based on the perceived value and quality of its products.
Whenever someone asks, “Why is Apple so expensive?” The answer is really quite simple: “Because the market will pay!”
Apple’s pricing strategy is effective in attracting customers who are willing to pay a premium for their products.
Value-based pricing
Value-based pricing is a pricing strategy in which a business sets its price based on the perceived value of the product to the customer.
This strategy is effective when a business wants to differentiate itself from its competitors based on product quality or features.
For example, when Nike launched its Flyknit running shoes, it priced them at $150, which was significantly higher than the price of its other running shoes.
This pricing strategy was effective in attracting customers who valued the innovative features of the Flyknit technology and were willing to pay a premium for it.
Demand Pricing
Demand pricing is a pricing strategy in which a business sets its price based on the level of demand for the product.
This strategy is effective when a business wants to increase revenue by pricing products based on their popularity or scarcity.
For example, when Disney released the Blu-ray edition of its classic movie “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” it initially priced it at $29.99.
However, when demand for the product was high, they increased the price to $49.99 – a textbook example of the demand pricing model.
Final thoughts
In conclusion, pricing your products well is essential to the success of any business.
By understanding all costs associated with production and how price affects demand, businesses can make informed decisions about how to price their products.
In addition to the seven easy steps to pricing a product, businesses need to consider factors such as setting a revenue target and observing sales data to adjust pricing strategies accordingly.
There are various pricing strategies that businesses can use, such as:
- Competitive pricing,
- Cost-based pricing,
- Dynamic pricing,
- Market-oriented pricing,
- Value-based pricing,
- And demand pricing.
Each strategy has its own advantages and disadvantages and businesses need to choose the most effective pricing strategy based on their specific industry and target market.
Ultimately, by taking the time to understand costs and demand and choosing the right pricing strategy, businesses can set prices that appeal to customers while also maximizing profit.
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