How to Price Custom and Commission Work

A custom request is a compliment: someone wants something only you can make for them. It's also where makers most often lose money, because a one-off carries costs your standard products don't — design time, back-and-forth, sourcing special materials, and the risk that it's harder than it looked. Price custom work like your regular products and you'll quietly underpay yourself for your most demanding jobs.

What makes custom cost more

• Design and consultation — the time spent figuring out what they want before you make anything.
• Special materials — small quantities, rush sourcing, or pricier one-off supplies.
• Revisions — the back-and-forth that a standard product never has.
• Risk — a custom piece can't easily be resold if it goes wrong.

Build a custom price, don't wing it

1. 1Start from the true cost of the materials and base work.
2. 2Add the design, consultation, and revision time at your real hourly rate.
3. 3Add a premium for the risk and the bespoke nature of one-off work.
4. 4Set limits — how many revisions are included before extra charges.

Custom work should pay better than your standard line, not worse — it asks more of you, so it should give more back.

Protect yourself with a deposit

Because custom pieces are hard to resell, take a deposit up front — it funds materials and protects you if the customer disappears. Treat the job like a pre-order with a clear scope, price, and timeline agreed before you start.

Quote custom work on real numbers

The danger with custom is quoting a price before you know the cost. Hivara keeps a true cost on your materials and a real value on your time, so you can build a custom quote from actual numbers — and make sure your most demanding work is also your best paid.