Price a product or service
A pricing worksheet that separates markup, gross margin, incomplete costs and break-even arithmetic. Paste this prompt into ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok or Claude, change the parts in brackets to suit you, and generate.
- Written for
- ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok, Claude
- Status
- Tested 9 Oct 2026 in Grok, 9 Oct 2026 (one run; model id not exposed)
- Test settings
- The page's exact default prompt was run once in Grok on 9 Oct 2026. The default details already written on the page were the input. They are illustrative, not a record of a real event. ChatGPT and Gemini were not used. The first result was kept.
- Variability
- A different set of details, or another run, will change the wording. This is the first result for the defaults on this page.
Prompt
Build a pricing worksheet from supplied figures; distinguish markup from gross margin. Product/service: Handmade soy candles, 200 g jar Per-unit costs, with currency and whether each is variable: Wax ₹70, jar ₹35, wick and fragrance ₹30, packaging ₹20, 20 minutes of my time Observed competitor prices, dates and inclusions: ₹349 to ₹599 online Customer and use case: Gift buyers aged 25–40 1. Itemise supplied per-unit costs. Show the known subtotal and missing labour valuation, fees, taxes or returns assumptions separately. Do not treat an unpriced cost as zero or call the subtotal a full cost. 2. Illustrate 30%, 50% and 100% MARKUP on a complete supplied unit cost C: price=C×(1+markup). Gross margin=(price−C)/price; these markups correspond to about 23.1%, 33.3% and 50% gross margin. A 100% gross-margin price is impossible for positive cost. If costs are incomplete, show formulas and questions, not a definitive priced recommendation. 3. Compare only supplied like-for-like competitor prices; mark missing dates/inclusions. Proposed Basic/Standard/Premium tiers need different user-confirmed contents and costs; do not invent bundles or prices merely to create three options. 4. Explain a proposed price in one factual sentence after its inputs are complete. 5. For break-even, ask for monthly fixed costs F and complete variable unit cost V. Contribution per unit=P−V. If positive, units=ceil(F/(P−V)); if zero or negative, state that these figures cannot cover fixed cost. Do not double-count fixed costs in V. Return a costs table, calculation examples or formulas, market comparison with caveats, and up to three essential questions. Keep commentary under 300 words. This is a planning worksheet, not a profitability guarantee or an instruction to publish a price.
Customise
For example: Handmade soy candles, 200 g jar.
For example: Wax ₹70, jar ₹35, wick and fragrance ₹30, packaging ₹20, 20 minutes of my time.
For example: ₹349 to ₹599 online.
For example: Gift buyers aged 25–40.
Fields start with illustrative values; replace them with your own facts. The prompt updates as you type. Copy prompt copies your version.
Example output
Actual tested output. The notes used for this result are an example, not a real event. This box is not copied. Replace the notes above with your own before you paste the prompt.
Planning worksheet only. Not a profitability guarantee, and not a price to publish. Costs | Item | Supplied figure | In the subtotal? | | Wax | ₹70, variable | Yes | | Jar | ₹35, variable | Yes | | Wick and fragrance | ₹30, variable | Yes | | Packaging | ₹20, variable | Yes | | Your time | 20 minutes, unpriced | No | | Fees, taxes, returns | Not supplied | No | | Known subtotal | ₹155 | Not a full unit cost | ₹70 + ₹35 + ₹30 + ₹20 = ₹155. Labour is missing, so ₹155 is not called a full cost and is not treated as if the 20 minutes were free. Markup on a complete unit cost C only: price = C × (1 + markup). Gross margin = (price − C) / price. Markup of 30% gives price 1.3C and gross margin about 23.1%. Markup of 50% gives price 1.5C and about 33.3%. Markup of 100% gives price 2C and 50% gross margin. A 100% gross-margin price is impossible for a positive C. Do not put ₹155 in as C while the 20 minutes are unpriced. No selling price is recommended. Market: ₹349 to ₹599 online. No dates. No inclusions. Not confirmed as 200 g soy candles, and not confirmed with or without shipping or a gift box. Not like-for-like. No Basic, Standard, or Premium tiers, because different contents and costs were not confirmed. The one-sentence price line waits until C is complete. For break-even, send monthly fixed costs F and complete variable unit cost V. Contribution = P − V. If that is positive, units = ceil(F / (P − V)). If it is zero or negative, these figures cannot cover fixed cost. Do not also fold F into V. Questions: What rupee value do you give those 20 minutes? What are F, payment fees, taxes, and returns? On what date, and with what inclusions, were the ₹349 to ₹599 prices for a candle like yours?
How to use it
- Open ChatGPT, Gemini, Grok or Claude.
- Paste the prompt and replace the [BRACKETS] with your details.
- Review names, facts and the requested format; follow up with corrections or missing details.
How to use this prompt
- Fill Customise with your real details. Do not let the tool guess a missing fact. Write the missing information clearly if you need to.
- Press Copy prompt and paste it into the AI app named above. This page copies the prompt. The answer is created in the external app.
- Check names, facts, numbers, language and the format you asked for. If something is wrong or incomplete, ask for a correction.
Good to know
- Results are only as good as your cost figures; remember platform fees, returns and your own time. Run once in Grok on 9 Oct 2026 using the illustrative defaults on this page. Check the draft against your own facts before you use it.
- Check facts before you rely on the answer.
