Are custom commissions more or less profitable than pre-made items?
The real answer depends on how you price labor and how long each order keeps inventory tied up.
The Narrative (Left Column)
The Empathy
Custom commissions feel exciting because a buyer says “yes” before the work is even started. But then the details pile up: sketches, revisions, special materials, and messages that stretch across days or weeks. The order looks profitable on paper, yet it steals the same hours you could spend making inventory for the next market. Meanwhile, your pre-made pieces sell fast, but you worry the lower price tags mean you are leaving money on the table. The uncertainty makes it hard to choose what to prioritize.
The Education
Compare both paths using profit per hour and time-to-deliver. For commissions, factor in labor time, design rounds, admin time, and the longer delivery window that delays cash flow. If a custom piece sells for $220 with $70 in materials and 8 hours of work, the labor rate is $18.75/hour before taxes, and you wait two weeks to get paid. A batch of pre-made items might sell for $40 each, cost $12 in materials, and take 45 minutes apiece. Ten sales in a weekend can yield a higher hourly rate and same-day cash. Pricing has to reflect the timeline and extra labor, not just the materials.
The Solution
Track both categories separately: record labor hours, delivery time, and final price for each commission, and do the same for pre-made items in batch runs. Then set minimum pricing rules, like “custom work must hit $35 per hour and include a design fee plus a rush fee when the delivery window is under two weeks.” If commissions consistently beat your hourly goal, keep them open. If not, treat them as premium work with higher pricing and fewer slots, while keeping pre-made inventory as the steady profit engine.
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