How to price sublimation products and make a real profit

Do you sell well, work all day, but at the end of the month you don't see any money? This is the classic symptom of a fatal error: incorrect pricing.

Many sublimation printers look at the competitor's price and set theirs "a little cheaper." Or worse: they take the cost of the mug, multiply it by two, and think they're making 100% profit. This math will break your business.

Let's learn how to price professionally and guarantee real profit.

The 3 pillars of pricing

1. Variable Costs (What you spend per product)

This is everything that goes away when you sell a product:

• The cost of the blank product (mug, cup, etc.)
• Sublimation paper and ink
• Thermal tape and packaging (box, bubble wrap, bag)
• Credit card or marketplace fees (Shopee, Mercado Livre)

2. Fixed Costs (What you pay whether you sell or not)

Here lies the danger! Your fixed costs need to be divided and incorporated into each product you sell:

• Electricity, internet, rent
• Equipment depreciation (your press will break down one day, you need to save money for another one)
• Your salary (Pro-labore): Yes, the company's profit is not your salary. You need to define how much your hourly work costs.

3. The Profit Margin

Profit is the money that remains for the company to invest in growth (buy more inventory, run ads, buy a new press). If your margin is zero, you have a poorly paid job, not a company.

The practical formula

1. Add up the variable costs (Ex: Mug R$ 12 + Supplies/Packaging R$ 3 = R$ 15).
2. Add the proportion of fixed costs and your labor (Ex: R$ 8 per mug).
3. Total Cost = R$ 23.
4. Add your desired profit margin (Ex: 40%).
5. Selling Price = R$ 32.20. (Don't forget to add the card fee to the final value!)

How to charge more and escape competition?

If you sell the same white mug as everyone else, the customer will compare prices. To charge more, you need to add value:

• Create incredible packaging.
• Offer impeccable and fast service.
• Create exclusive designs, not just "copy and paste" from Google.
• Work with premium products.

When you offer an Elegance Glass, a Thermal Cup, or a Magic Mug from LiVE, you get out of the price war. The customer perceives the superior quality of the resin and finish, and pays more for it. At Outside, we provide the products that allow you to have the best profit margins in the market.