Step-by-Step Guide to Pricing Your Custom Candles for Maximum Profit
As a reseller or entrepreneur building your own candle brand, pricing your custom candles effectively is key to maximizing profits. Whether you're using Lumient's Private Label Builder for fully customized branded candles or the Wholesale Builder for ready-to-sell options, understanding how to set retail prices based on our competitive manufacturing costs can help you achieve healthy margins. In this step-by-step guide, we'll show you how to leverage our builders to price your candles for resale success, drawing from 2025 market insights and real examples from our platform.
At Lumient, we handle the manufacturing with premium USA-sourced materials, allowing you to focus on branding and sales. Our low MOQs and tiered discounts make it easy to start small and scale profitably. Let's explore the steps to optimize your pricing strategy.
Determine Your Base Cost Using Lumient's Builders
Start by calculating your per-unit cost from our platform
The foundation of profitable pricing is knowing your exact cost per candle. With Lumient's Private Label Builder, you can customize vessels, waxes, fragrances, and more, with MOQs starting at 120 units. For example, a basic 9oz clear jar soy candle with no label might cost $6.33 per unit at 120 units, dropping to $5.06 at 504 units with volume discounts.
Similarly, the Wholesale Builder offers pre-designed options with lower MOQs of 12 units, like a 9oz straight-sided glass candle at $7.50 each for small orders, reducing to $6.00 at 504 units. Use our online builders to experiment with configurations and see real-time pricing.
| Quantity Tier | Discount | Avg. Unit Price (Example 9oz Candle) |
|---|---|---|
| 120+ (Private Label) | 0% | $6.33 |
| 504+ | 20% | $5.06 |
| 1008+ | 25% | $4.75 |
| 12+ (Wholesale) | 0% | $7.50 |
| 504+ (Wholesale) | 20% | $6.00 |
Pro Tip
Start with our Wholesale Builder for quick testing with low MOQs, then transition to Private Label for full branding as your sales grow.
Add Your Operating Expenses
Factor in costs beyond manufacturing for accurate margins
Include your business overheads like shipping, marketing, storage, and platform fees. For resellers, shipping from Lumient to your customers (via fulfillment options) might add $2-5 per unit, while marketing on platforms like Etsy or Shopify could cost $0.50-2 per sale.
If your Lumient cost is $6.33 per unit and overheads add $3, your total cost becomes $9.33. This ensures you're pricing for true profitability.
Shipping and handling: $2-5/unit
Marketing/advertising: $1-3/unit sold
Storage/fulfillment: $0.50-1/unit
Transaction fees: 2-5% of sale
Research Market Retail Prices
Analyze competitors to position your brand effectively
Look at what similar custom candles sell for on retail platforms. In 2025, premium 9oz soy candles often retail for $20-35, with luxury branded options up to $50. Use tools like Google Shopping or Etsy to benchmark prices for scents and vessels matching your Lumient configurations.
Highlight your unique selling points, like Lumient's natural ingredients and USA manufacturing, to justify premium pricing.
Set Your Desired Profit Margin
Aim for sustainable markups based on your costs
For resellers, target 2-4x markup on your Lumient cost. If your total cost is $9.33, price at $25-35 retail for 60-70% margins. Wholesale to retailers? Offer at 1.5-2x your cost to allow them room for profit.
Leverage volume discounts in our builders—higher quantities lower your base cost, boosting margins.
Key Insight
Value-based pricing works best: Charge more for exclusive scents or custom labels available in our Private Label Builder.
Choose Optimal Quantities and Tiers
Maximize savings with volume discounts for better margins
Our tiered pricing rewards larger orders. In the Private Label Builder, ordering 1008 units drops the price to $4.75 each (25% off), allowing you to price competitively while increasing profits. For Wholesale, start at 12 units for testing, then scale to 504+ for 20% savings.
Calculate break-even: If selling at $25 retail with $5.06 cost, you need to sell ~40% of inventory to cover costs.
Smart quantity planning with Lumient's discounts turned my side hustle into a full-time business with 65% margins.
— Satisfied Reseller
Test and Optimize Your Pricing Strategy
Use data to refine prices for maximum sales
Launch with initial prices and track performance. A/B test on your site—try $24.99 vs. $29.99 for the same Lumient-sourced candle. Gather customer feedback on value perception.
Monitor metrics like sell-through rate and profit per unit to adjust.
Review and Scale Regularly
Adapt to market changes and grow your brand
Revisit pricing quarterly as market trends evolve. With Lumient's consistent quality and pricing, you can confidently scale from wholesale testing to private label empires.
By following these steps, you'll price your Lumient-sourced candles for maximum profit as a reseller. Focus on value, leverage our builders, and watch your business thrive.
Ready to get started? Visit our Private Label Builder or Wholesale Builder to configure your first order today.