Why does custom work cost more?

‘Volume Volume Volume’

In business it used to be ‘location location location’ as the three most important things needed for success. But not online.

To illustrate. With a store front it takes about 30 minutes to work with a customer and design and make a custom printed graphic. When the customer designs themselves online, well, it takes us 30 minutes to do TEN printed graphics. So we produce and make 10 times as much with the customer designing. So, our prices reflect this reality. We don’t like to say ‘CHEAP’, but well, they are. They really are. The prices that is. Not the quality.

So, yes, a bit of sticker shock when we have to raise the price for custom work. It won’t by 10 times higher. Still at even 3 or 4 times higher the pricing is not sustainable for the business. The truth is: Custom work is subsidized by our regular work. Just doing custom work and we would go bankrupt. Why do it at all?

Well, we are graphic designers. It’s what we enjoy. So, steady yourself. The price for custom work will be higher, but really, never high enough.