How to Price Products for Online Shop: A Taka Profit Guide

Many new sellers set prices by looking at another Facebook page and charging a little less. A few weeks later, orders are coming in but the money isn't. The reason is almost always the same: hidden costs like delivery, COD charges, ads and returns that were never added to the price.

This guide shows you how to price products for an online shop step by step, with worked Taka examples you can copy and adjust.

Step 1: Know your full cost per order

Your cost is not just what you paid the supplier. For a typical Bangladeshi COD shop, a delivered order carries these costs:

• Product cost. What you paid per piece, including transport from the wholesale market or supplier.
• Packaging. Poly bag or box, tape, label, thank-you card.
• Delivery cost you absorb. The part of the courier charge you don't pass on to the customer.
• COD charge. Many couriers take a small cash handling fee on the amount collected. Check your courier's current terms.
• Ad cost per order. Your Facebook ad spend divided by delivered orders.
• Returns allowance. The cost of refused parcels spread over the ones that were delivered.
• Other costs. Payment fees, phone bills, staff, website plan, if any.

Step 2: Calculate your ad cost and returns allowance

These two are the costs sellers most often forget.

Ad cost per order

Suppose you spent ৳6,000 on Facebook ads last month and 60 orders were delivered.

Ad cost per order = ৳6,000 ÷ 60 = ৳100

Use delivered orders, not total orders, because refused parcels don't bring money.

Returns allowance

Suppose you shipped 100 parcels and 12 came back. Each return cost you about ৳150 in delivery and return charges (use your courier's actual numbers).

Total return cost = 12 × ৳150 = ৳1,800 Delivered orders = 88 Returns allowance per order = ৳1,800 ÷ 88 = about ৳20

Step 3: A worked pricing example

Take an illustrative example: a shop selling a cotton three-piece. The shop shows the customer a separate delivery charge but absorbs the COD charge and part of the courier cost.

Now compare possible selling prices:

If the shop had priced at ৳1,250 just because "the product cost ৳950, so ৳300 profit", it would actually keep only ৳125. At 50 orders a month, that's the difference between ৳6,250 and ৳16,250.

You can run your own numbers in seconds with the free profit calculator, which includes COD, delivery and ad costs.

Step 4: Choose a pricing method

Once you know your cost, pick a method for setting the price.

Cost plus margin

Add the profit you want on top of your full cost. Simple and safe. If your cost is ৳1,125 and you want ৳300 profit, price at ৳1,425, then round to ৳1,450.

Market based pricing

Look at what similar products sell for on other pages and websites. If the market range is ৳1,350 to ৳1,650, decide where you sit based on your quality, photos and service. Then check that the price still covers your full cost.

Value based pricing

Some products are worth more to customers than their cost suggests: handmade items, unique designs, gift boxes, home-cooked food. Price on the value you deliver, and explain that value clearly in your description.

In practice, most shops combine all three: calculate the floor from cost, check the market, then adjust for value.

Step 5: Plan discounts without losing money

Discounts are powerful during Eid, Pohela Boishakh and sale campaigns, but they come straight out of profit.

Using the example above, at a ৳1,450 price with ৳325 profit:

• A 10% discount (৳145 off) leaves ৳180 profit.
• A 20% discount (৳290 off) leaves just ৳35 profit.
• Free delivery on top of 20% off could mean a loss.

Safer options:

• Show a compare at price. For example ৳1,750 crossed out and ৳1,450 as the selling price, if ৳1,750 is a genuine regular price.
• Bundle offers. "Any 2 for ৳2,700" raises order value and spreads delivery and ad costs over two items.
• Free delivery above a minimum, such as ৳2,500, instead of on every order.
• Small gifts that cost little but feel valuable.

Step 6: Price for COD and delivery areas

In Bangladesh, the delivery charge usually changes by area. You have two options:

• Same product price everywhere, different delivery charge. Most common and easy to understand.
• Build delivery into the product price and advertise free delivery. Simpler for the customer, but your price looks higher than pages that show delivery separately.

Outside Dhaka orders often have higher return rates and higher return costs. If that's true for your shop, your outside Dhaka orders earn less profit, even at the same price. Track this and adjust, for example by asking for the delivery charge in advance on risky orders. Our guide on delivery charges inside and outside Dhaka goes deeper.

Mistakes to avoid and a monthly review

• Pricing from product cost only, ignoring ads, COD and returns.
• Copying a competitor who may have cheaper suppliers or may be losing money.
• Discounting all year, so customers never buy at the full price.
• Not reviewing prices when supplier costs, courier rates or ad costs change.
• Rounding badly. ৳1,437 looks odd. Round to a clean number like ৳1,450.
• Hiding the delivery charge to make the price look lower, which leads to refused parcels.

Review your prices every month

Pricing is not a one-time job. Once a month, look at your numbers:

1. Total sales and number of delivered orders.
2. Total ad spend, and ad cost per order.
3. Number of returns and return cost.
4. Profit per order for your top five products.

If profit per order is falling, fix the biggest cost first: cut weak ads, reduce returns with confirmation calls, or raise the price slightly on your best sellers.

Show your prices clearly with EasyMall

Once your price is set, show it clearly. On an EasyMall store you add a selling price and an optional compare at price for discounts, set separate inside and outside Dhaka delivery charges, and let customers see the full total before they confirm a cash on delivery order. The store is free forever on your own easymall.app address.

Work out your numbers with the profit calculator, then create your free store and list your products at prices that actually make money.