My whole approach to pricing changed after a tough season in 2022

I used to price my arrangements by just guessing, maybe adding a flat 30% on top of my flower cost. It was a mess and I was barely breaking even. After a really bad summer where I lost almost $2,000, I switched to a real cost-plus model. Now I track every stem, the foam, the vase, my labor time, and even the ribbon. I build a spreadsheet for each design before I even make it. It takes more time upfront but I actually make a profit now. Do you all do detailed pricing or keep it more simple?

3 comments

3 Comments

nina14726d ago

That flat 30% on flower cost is where a lot of us get stuck. It never covers the real work. Your new system is smart, but building a whole spreadsheet for every single design sounds like a ton of extra work. I do a detailed cost sheet for each type of arrangement I offer, not for each individual one. Once I have the template, I just plug in the specific flowers. It saves a huge amount of time and still gets you to the right price.

benk2626d ago

Oh man, @nina147, you just nailed the whole problem with templates in general. It's like we all start with this perfect, detailed plan, but then real life needs one tiny change and the whole system falls apart. Your method of a master sheet for each arrangement TYPE is the smart move. It's that balance between being ready and being flexible. I see this everywhere now, not just with pricing. People get so stuck making a new rule for every single little thing instead of building a good, strong guide. Your way keeps you from redoing your work every single time.

cameron42611d ago

Disagree about it being extra work. Building one sheet per design forces you to really know your costs, which prevents underpricing later. That upfront time pays off fast.