A small engraved name tag can be easy to make and surprisingly easy to underprice. The piece may use little material, but entering personalization, checking spelling, importing names, aligning hardware and replacing a wrong item all consume time. Price the responsibility and the setup, not only the tiny piece of stock.
Build a complete per-tag cost
- Blank tag, adhesive, pin, magnet, clip or lanyard.
- Laser time per name and material testing.
- Data entry and spelling verification.
- Individual handling and packing.
- Remake allowance for incorrect names or failed tags.
- Setup for the first tag and validation of the name list.
Treat a list of names as a project
A batch of name tags is not the same as producing the same design repeatedly. The customer supplies variable text, and every item must be checked against the correct person, spelling and attachment type. Charge for the workflow that prevents mixing up names.
Use a minimum charge
For very small orders, setup can be larger than the entire material and machine cost. A minimum order value or setup fee keeps the economics sensible. Publish the policy before receiving the list so the customer can plan accordingly.
Offer clear quantity tiers
A useful structure might include a low quantity tier, a standard batch tier and a larger batch that benefits from repeated layout and production. Do not create a discount that assumes every name uses the same character count and attachment until you have checked the order.
Verification language
Ask the customer to approve a spreadsheet or proof of names before production. State who bears the cost of a replacement after approval. A short approval step is often worth more than trying to recover a mistaken personalized order after it has shipped.
Use the pricing calculator with a setup allocation appropriate for the full name list, not just the machine minutes of one tag.