How much should I charge for cut vinyl?

This is the number one question we get asked. The truth is, the only person who can answer that question is you. That said, there are a number of ways you can start to come to your own conclusions. This article is designed to get you thinking about pricing your product in a way that will be both lucrative and competitive.


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The Top Down Approach

In this article we’re going to take a look at the big picture, and try not get bogged down in the details that can change from job to job. I’ve developed a calculator to help you experiment with potential profit scenarios. These calculations will help you determine where your pricing needs to be to satisfy your profitability requirements.

First we’ll need to identify some key figures...

Operational Overhead

Let’s start by calculating your operational overhead. This includes ongoing expenses that are required to run your business day to day, but not expenses specific to a particular job. The accuracy and completeness with which you estimate these expenses will directly affect the accuracy and completeness of your calculations. Examples include things like website hosting, domain registration, equipment, squeegees, knives, rent, and utilities.

For this example, let's assume you’re a part time home based vinyl decal business in your first year of operation. Your yearly operational overhead is:*

*Notice that we’re not adding any rent or utilities, because in this scenario you’re a home based business so we're assuming that your living expenses are covered by another source of income.

In our example, your combined yearly operational overhead expenses are $1300/year or $108 per month

Profit Goal

The profit goal is the amount of money that remains after operational overhead is deducted from your total earnings. In other words this is your paycheck. Unlike many of your operational expenses, your profit goal is a variable you can adjust to arrive at pricing that is both lucrative and competitive.

Returning to our example, let’s assume your initial modest goal is to make an extra $2400/year ($200 per month).

Calculations

This is a screenshot. The calculator is found here.

Price Per Square Inch

Given the scenario set out above, our calculator will present you with a range of price per sq inch options. As with your profit goal, the price per square inch can be manipulated to arrive at a pricing structure that works for your business.

This is a screenshot. The calculator is found here.

Let’s consider what it might mean to select a relatively low price of $.15 per square inch in this scenario. To reach the total income required of $308/month you’ll have to sell roughly 2053 square inches of cut vinyl. You can get to that amount of cut vinyl in a variety of ways, one hundred thirty-seven (137) 5x3 inch window decals, two (2) 24x72 inch wall decals or five (5) 18x24 inch yards signs. Or if you felt the market or complexity of the work warranted a higher price per square inch you might opt to charge $.27 per square inch meaning you’d need to sell 1141 square inches of vinyl to reach your total income required of $308/month. You could reach your total square inches by making seventy-six (76) 5x3 inch window decals, one (1) 24x72 inch wall decal or three (3) 18x24 inch yard signs.

As you can see, you can answer the question, "What should I charge for cut vinyl?" in a variety of ways. We recommend you take some time to experiment with our calculator to help you identify a pricing structure that works for your business.

Give it a try!