How to Price Calligraphy Services for Maximum Profit (Stop Undervaluing Your Work!)

If you’re a calligrapher looking to refine your pricing strategy and improve profitability, you’re in the right place. Today, I’m going to share what you need to know when it comes to how to price calligraphy services. Pricing for custom work can feel overwhelming, but approaching it as a service, not a product is a subtle (but important!) shift that can make it a lot easier! Let’s talk about it!

But first, if you’re new here, welcome! I’m Alane, the wedding calligrapher and educator behind Write Pretty for Me. I’m here to help you grow a calligraphy business that you truly love (and that gives you some of your LIFE back!). Learn more about ways we can work together here!

The Role of Design and Management Fees

As a calligrapher, your work goes far beyond creating beautiful designs. That’s one of the reasons it’s so hard to price calligraphy services! From the moment a client reaches out, there’s a significant amount of behind-the-scenes work involved in bringing their vision to life. This is where a design and management fee becomes invaluable—not just for you, but also for the clarity it provides your clients.

A design and management fee compensates you for the time and expertise spent on non-tangible aspects of the project. This includes:

• Initial Consultations: Discussing design ideas, gathering details, and creating a plan.
• Project Coordination: Communicating with clients through emails, revising designs, and managing approvals.
• Sourcing Materials: Finding and purchasing supplies that meet the project’s specific needs.
• Administrative Work: Creating timelines, managing invoices, and handling logistics.
• Additional Value: Any additional extra touches you do for your clients, such as providing etiquette guidance or wording suggestions.

A Real-World Example

Let’s say you’re creating a full suite of wedding signage for a client. While the cost of materials—paper, ink, and easels—might seem straightforward, the hours you spend refining the design, communicating with the couple, and sourcing specific textures or colors aren’t. Charging a design and management fee accounts for this unseen work. For instance, a $500 design fee might cover five hours of planning, consultations, and project coordination, which means that your time is accounted for and your client’s project stays on track.

Personally, once I started charging a design fee, I found I could take on fewer clients, give them more attention, and still meet my financial goals. It’s a win-win. By incorporating a design and management fee into your pricing, you’re setting the stage for a smoother, more rewarding client experience while safeguarding your own time and expertise.

Pricing as a Service, Not a Product

I’ve already mentioned that when you price calligraphy services, it’s easy to focus only on the tangible aspects: materials, production time, and delivery. However, pricing as a service rather than a product shifts the focus to the expertise and effort you bring to every project—not just the finished item. This mindset not only helps you justify your pricing but also positions you as a professional offering a high-value, personalized service.

Why the Distinction Matters When You Price Calligraphy Services

Products are often seen as commodities with fixed costs, but custom calligraphy is far from a mass-produced item. Pricing as a service reflects the thought, skill, and creativity involved in transforming a client’s vision into a bespoke design. For example:

• The hours spent sketching layouts and refining details are not “free time.”
• Your years of practice, training, and experience are baked into the quality of your work.
• Each project is tailored to the client, meaning no two designs are alike.

By treating your work as a service, you’re not just pricing a wedding invitation suite or seating chart—you’re pricing the process of designing and creating something meaningful and unique. One way to showcase the service aspect is to share behind-the-scenes content (like sketch drafts, material sourcing, or design revisions) to highlight the effort that goes into your work. This makes great behind-the-scenes content on Instagram!

Why You Should Position Your Work As a Service When You Price Calligraphy Services

Adopting a service-based pricing model allows you to:

• Charge What You’re Worth: Clients aren’t just paying for the physical outcome but for your expertise, time, and ability to deliver their vision.
• Avoid Underpricing: When pricing only the product, it’s easy to overlook non-billable hours, making your work less profitable.
• Attract Ideal Clients: Those who value personalized service are more likely to respect your process and pricing.

Minimums vs. À La Carte Pricing

Next on the list of things to consider when you price calligraphy services, is having minimums vs. a la carte pricing. One of the most impactful ways to streamline your calligraphy business is by setting pricing minimums.

While offering à la carte options might seem flexible and client-friendly, minimums ensure your time and effort are compensated appropriately, especially for custom, labor-intensive projects. Both approaches have their place, but understanding how and when to use each can make a significant difference in your profitability and workflow.

When I first started offering calligraphy services, I took on every project, no matter how small. While this helped me build a portfolio, it also led to burnout. Once I implemented a minimum, my average project value increased, and I was able to focus on clients who valued my time and skills.

For instance, my 2023 minimum of $1,950 helped weed out inquiries that didn’t align with my expertise, while allowing me to offer à la carte options for simpler, one-off requests during slower periods. You can read more about how I incorporated pricing minimums into my own calligraphy business here.

What Are Pricing Minimums?

In case this idea is new to you, let me explain! A pricing minimum is the lowest amount a client must spend to book your services. It’s often referred to as an “investment minimum” and reflects the starting cost of working with you. This doesn’t mean you’re limiting what clients can order—it simply ensures that your time is spent on projects that are worth the effort.

For example, you might set a minimum of $1,500 for custom wedding details. This means even if a couple only needs a seating chart and a couple of small signs, their total order must meet or exceed this amount.

Benefits of Pricing Minimums

1. Better Use of Your Time: Minimums allow you to focus on fewer, higher-value projects rather than juggling numerous small, lower-value ones.
2. Improved Client Experience: With fewer projects on your plate, you can dedicate more time and attention to each client, elevating the quality of your work and their experience.
3. Financial Stability: Minimums help you maintain a predictable baseline income, making it easier to plan your workload and budget.

When to Offer À La Carte Pricing

While minimums are ideal for most situations, there are cases where à la carte pricing still works:

• For Smaller Projects: If you offer items like envelope addressing or single signs, à la carte pricing might appeal to clients with specific, low-budget needs.
• Off-Season Work: During slower months, à la carte options can help fill gaps in your calendar without the pressure of meeting a minimum.

The key is to clearly define which services fall under minimums and which are available à la carte. Every business is different as well! For instance, custom suite designs could require a minimum, while envelope calligraphy could remain à la carte for flexibility.

Supplementing Services with Rentals

Last on the list of things to consider when you price calligraphy services, is supplementing services with rentals. Adding rental options to your calligraphy business is an excellent way to expand your offerings and make more money as a calligrapher. Rentals like mirrors, easels, or table numbers not only enhance the value you provide to clients but also align with the values of eco-conscious couples looking for sustainable wedding options.

Examples of Popular Rentals

Here are some common rentals that work well with your calligraphy services:

• Mirrors: Perfect for welcome signs or seating charts. Mirrors are not only elegant but endlessly reusable, making them a sustainable choice. For advice on writing calligraphy on mirrors, head to this post!
• Easels: Stylish stands for displaying signs and other decor.
• Table Numbers: Reusable acrylic, wooden, or metal numbers for reception tables.
• Frames: For smaller signs like bar menus or table assignments.

When selecting rental items, I recommend you prioritize versatility, quality, and durability. Neutral colors and timeless styles appeal to a wide range of clients and ensure items can be reused often.

How Rentals Can Increase Your Profit As You Price Calligraphy Services

At the end of the day, rentals generate recurring income with minimal ongoing investment. For example, a large mirror you purchase for $200 might bring in $50 per rental. After just a few uses, you’ll have recouped your initial cost and start generating pure profit.

By bundling rentals with your calligraphy services, you can also justify a higher project price. Let’s say a client books a $1,500 custom signage package. By adding a mirror and an easel rental for $150, you’ve increased your total revenue without adding significant time or effort to the project.

Plus, for eco-conscious couples, the ability to rent rather than buy offers a meaningful way to minimize their wedding’s environmental footprint while still achieving their desired aesthetic.

When I first introduced rentals, I noticed an immediate impact on my workflow and income. Clients loved the convenience of getting everything in one place, and I appreciated having an additional income stream.

Want to hear me share even more about this? Tune into my podcast, the Calligraphy Biz Podcast, and in episode 11 we share even more advanced pricing strategies for calligraphers!

Pricing Calligraphy Services

Pricing calligraphy services isn’t just about numbers—it’s about valuing your time, expertise, and the personalized experience you offer your clients. From incorporating design and management fees to implementing pricing minimums and supplementing your services with rentals, these strategies can help you run a more sustainable and profitable business.

If you’re ready to refine your pricing strategy, attract your ideal clients, and make the most of your creative work, I’d love to support you. Head here for ways we can work together!! Or, come find me on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes and tips for calligraphers!