Some people love wrapping gifts. Sharp corners, invisible tape, a ribbon that curls exactly the way it should. Others would happily pay just to avoid touching a roll of wrapping paper, especially in the busy period before the holidays, when they have neither the time nor the patience.
If you are good at wrapping and enjoy it, it can become a pleasant seasonal service for neighbors, friends or colleagues. The hardest part is usually setting the price. Too low means you are working almost for free. Too high and people reach for a gift bag instead. This guide shows you a simple way to work out your price – not specific amounts, because those differ in every town and country.
What makes up the price of one gift
Before you name your first price, find out how much one wrapped gift really costs you. There are three parts: materials, time and any travel.
Materials
Add up what you buy and divide it by the number of gifts it will cover.
- wrapping paper (test how many standard boxes one roll covers),
- tape, ribbons, bows, gift tags,
- tissue paper and gift bags, if you offer them,
- boxes for awkwardly shaped items,
- extras for premium wrapping: fabric, real ribbon, dried fruit, greenery, a stamp.
Buy materials with some to spare. A ruined piece of paper or a ribbon that did not work out is also a cost.
Time
Wrap several real gifts of different sizes and time yourself. A flat box may take a few minutes, a cuddly toy without a box or sports equipment several times longer. Add the time for messages with customers, receiving and handing over the gifts, and clearing the table.
Calculation
The method is simple:
- Decide what one hour of work is worth to you. Comparing it with the usual hourly pay for similarly demanding work in your area helps.
- Divide it by the number of gifts you can wrap in an hour. That gives you the labor price per item.
- Add the cost of materials per item.
- Round the result up to a nice number.
That is your minimum. Anything below it means you are paying to wrap other people's gifts.
How to find out what people compare you with
Customers will compare your price with what they already know: wrapping at home, buying a gift bag or having the gift wrapped in a shop. Some shops wrap purchases free of charge, others charge per item.
How to find out the usual prices nearby:
- ask in a few shops and stationery stores whether they wrap gifts and for how much,
- look at local ads and posts in groups where someone offers a similar service,
- ask a few people you know how much they would be willing to pay for one standard and one large gift.
You do not have to be the cheapest option. If you wrap more beautifully, collect gifts from people's homes or sort them by recipient, people will gladly pay more.
An offer in a few simple tiers
Two to four options are easier for customers than a long menu. Sample structure:
| Option | What it includes | How to price it |
|---|---|---|
| Basic, small | a book, jewelry in a box, a small toy, standard paper, a gift tag | your minimum |
| Basic, medium and large | a box of clothes, a board game, a shoebox | minimum plus a size surcharge |
| Irregular shape | sports equipment, large toys, anything without a box | per item, after you have seen it |
| Premium | thicker paper or fabric, real ribbon, a handwritten tag, decoration | an extra charge per item on top of the basic price |
| Gift bag | a bag with tissue paper for those in a hurry | materials plus a few minutes of work |
A few tips:
- Show photos. The word "premium" means nothing until people see it. Wrap a few sample boxes and photograph them in daylight.
- Keep basic really basic. Most people will choose it, so make it quick for you.
- Do not guess irregular shapes blindly. Until you see the item, give only an approximate price.
Extra charges, discounts and a minimum order
Decide in advance what you offer, so you do not have to make anything up on the spot:
- Express order: ready the same day or the next day, especially just before the holidays.
- Seasonal surcharge: on the busiest days of the gift season your time is more valuable, so feel free to charge more.
- Pick-up and delivery: if you go to the customer, add the time and travel.
- Boxing an item that does not have a box.
- The customer's own paper: a small discount, because your material costs go down.
- Bulk order: a lower price per item above a certain number of gifts, because you can work in batches.
- Sorting and labeling by recipient, which families with several children especially appreciate.
- Minimum order: if you travel to customers, set a minimum number of gifts or a minimum order value at which the trip is worth it.
How to show your offer to people nearby
Start with people who know and trust you.
Neighbors and local groups. Read the group rules first. Many groups on social networks or in chat apps only allow service offers on certain days or in one pinned thread. A short, friendly post with photos works best:
"Hi neighbors! Again this year I'm offering gift wrapping before the holidays. Basic wrapping, premium with a fabric ribbon and a handwritten tag, and a lower price per item for larger numbers of gifts. You can drop gifts off on weekday evenings and they'll be ready within two days. Photos below, I'll send the price list by message."
Colleagues. First check whether your workplace allows selling to colleagues. If it does, a short notice on the notice board or in the company chat often works, because people at work are short of time before the holidays.
Community events. Schools, clubs or associations sometimes organize gift wrapping as a charity event. Helping out there is a nice thing to do, and people will remember your work.
Recommendations. Add a small card with your contact details to every bag you hand over, not to the gift itself.
Practical tips that save trouble
- Make a list when you receive gifts. Write down every item, take a quick photo and have the list confirmed by message. Both sides will know exactly what was handed over.
- Agree on the pick-up time in writing. A short message with the day and time is enough.
- Be careful with valuables. With expensive items such as jewelry or electronics, it is better to wrap them while the customer waits or at their home.
- Protect the gifts from pets, children and anything that could spill.
- Payment: for normal orders on pick-up; for large orders ask for a small deposit for materials.
- Set a deadline. Decide in advance on the last day for dropping off gifts, so you are not wrapping all night before the holidays.
- Taxes and rules. In many countries even occasional income has to be declared. The rules differ, so check with the tax office or an accountant.
Let people nearby see your work
Beautiful wrapping is exactly the kind of skill people around you would gladly pay for, if they knew you offered it. At QuickCashSpace we are preparing a service that we think you will like. Sign up for news using the form right below this article and we will let you know when it launches.