Print-on-Demand Pricing and Margin
Price each print size so your estimated take-home looks right after checkout. The catalog blocks retail below a platform floor (lab cost, card processing, and platform commission). Prodigi or Gelato base costs are read-only; set each variant in Products → Product Catalog.
For print-on-demand, the catalog shows provider base cost (what the lab charges) and your retail price. You choose retail to leave take-home you are willing to keep. At payment, the platform settles lab production, lab shipping, card processing, and a platform commission (shown in the dashboard) that funds provider APIs, the shared base-product catalog, and fulfillment; the remainder is your Connect net. For digital and donation fees, see Digital vs print products and Donations and fundraising campaigns.
The catalog enforces a minimum (floor) so those settlement costs can be funded. Use estimated take-home in the pricing UI when you decide how far above that floor to price.
Prerequisites
Dashboard → Products → Product Catalog → POD product → pricing fields
What you're looking at
Pricing fields: provider base cost (often read-only), retail price, platform floor / estimated take-home per variant (wording may say Platform commission).
Real-world example: one product, several catalog variants
When you add a print product from the platform catalog (Products → Product Catalog → add print product), you select one or more variants. Each variant is a provider SKU with its own base cost: what the print partner charges for that size and material. The figures below are examples; use the base cost shown in your dashboard when you set retail prices.
Scenario: You create a single storefront product called “Studio wall prints” and attach these variants so buyers pick a size and material at checkout.
Fine art — Enhanced Matte (GLOBAL-FAP-*)
- 8×10 — SKU
GLOBAL-FAP-8X10— base cost $9.00 - 16×20 — SKU
GLOBAL-FAP-16X20— base cost $13.00
Stretched canvas (GLOBAL-CAN-*)
- 8×10 — SKU
GLOBAL-CAN-8X10— base cost $17.00 - 16×20 — SKU
GLOBAL-CAN-16X20— base cost $42.00
Lab lustre — C-Type (GLOBAL-PHO-*-PRO)
- 8×10 — SKU
GLOBAL-PHO-8X10-PRO— base cost $2.50
Sample retail prices (print margin only)
Price each variant separately. Canvas costs more to produce than fine art at the same size. Example retails that leave headroom above base cost (before platform commission and card processing on the live checkout):
| Variant | Base cost | Example retail | Headroom (retail − base) |
|---|---|---|---|
| FAP 8×10 | $9.00 | $29.00 | $20.00 |
| FAP 16×20 | $13.00 | $45.00 | $32.00 |
| CAN 8×10 | $17.00 | $59.00 | $42.00 |
| CAN 16×20 | $42.00 | $109.00 | $67.00 |
| PHO 8×10 PRO | $2.50 | $19.00 | $16.50 |
How settlement works (POD): On each paid print order the platform is the merchant of record for the charge split. It retains enough from the payment to cover lab base, lab shipping, an estimate of Stripe card processing, and platform commission (a percent of print subtotal from your plan / platform settings). The remainder goes to your Stripe Connect account as your net. Card fees are recovered in that settlement, so they are not taken again from your Connect transfer.
Minimum price: The catalog blocks retail below a platform floor derived from base cost, platform commission %, and the Stripe fee estimate (percent + fixed cents). If a variant won’t save, raise retail until it clears the floor. Estimated take-home in the UI already reflects this model.
Related catalog: wall calendar
Calendars use different SKUs. For example, A4 dated CALENDAR-A4-L-DATED has base cost $9.95. Price them on their own product; don’t copy fine-art 8×10 retail onto a calendar without checking base cost.
Implementation steps
- Open your POD product in Product Catalog.
- Note the provider base cost for the default size (compare variants in the table above if you use the same catalog SKUs).
- Research competitor retail prices for similar prints.
- Set retail using estimated take-home; stay at or above the floor for that variant.
- Preview customer-facing price on the public product page.
- Adjust each size variant when base costs differ (for example CAN 16×20 base $42 vs FAP 16×20 base $13).
- Document your pricing rule for future SKUs.
What you'll see
Every variant saves above the floor, with estimated take-home you are willing to publish before you promote the product.
Provider price changes
Partners update base costs occasionally. Revisit retail prices when you receive cost change notices.
Sales tax
Tax rules vary by region; consult a tax advisor for nexus and collection obligations.
Verifying your setup
- Base cost and retail price are set for your POD SKU.
- Price is at or above the floor; estimated take-home looks right.
- Public storefront shows the intended price.