I price per bead.

But I don't know about this: "cost of material + labor times 3"

I do materials + labor + uniqueness + 10% overhead.

Laura

I price per bead too.  If I make a necklace with 5 different stones in it and the prices per bead are as follows,

      ie. citrine   78c/bead     used 8

          amethyst 12c/bead    used 28

        quartz      7c/bead      used 40

       seed beads between beads = 25c total

       4mm crystals     5c/bead   used 25

       clasp $1

      total $14.70 for necklace, x4 (time, labor, uniqueness, negot. margin)

necklace price now 58.80 (and I always round up to a whole #) so $59

Then I have room to wiggle if I need to give a "bargain" to make a sale.

Angela

 
Never undercharge for your labor!

Cheers!

 What if you are buying beads at normal cost instead of wholesale?  Do you use the same type of equation?  or only double the cost of materials?  I am a hobbyist but have recently sold a few things to co-workers.  I always have trouble deciding who much to charge since I don't buy wholesale.

I buy at wholesale and near-wholesale, but since I sell the beads too when I do a project I always figure the cost as the retail price of the beads, and I do generally consider it for the whole strand or package unless I use less than half of said strand or package. I consider it like if I go to a bead store and buy materials for a specific project, that's the price I pay whether I use every bit of the materials or not.

I always price per bead. Most beads don't come on strands at my wholesalers. I find I always use most beads in different items  anyways... I like my leftovers..they inspire and challenge !

I keep a book with details of each necklace, I date by season and also give them a name.

That way I can always look up prices later on ...