Getting started
Bakery Online Shipping: Costs, Rules, and What to Charge
A clear way to price, pack, and ship baked goods so the box still makes money.
On this page
- What does bakery online shipping really cost?
- How to price a shipped box so you still make money
- What to check before you commit to shipping
- Mistakes that cost you money on shipped orders
- What to put in the box so it arrives safe
- How do you spread your shop fee across shipped orders?
- What should you test before you ship a large order?
- What rules limit where you can ship baked goods?
- How Brevl helps with bakery online shipping
What to remember
- Add postage to your price, not to your profit.
- Packaging is part of the cost, not a free extra.
- Brevl is $20 a month with 0% commission.
- A 14 day free trial lets you test the math.
Bakery online shipping looks simple until you add the box, the ice pack, and the label. This guide walks through the costs that decide whether a shipped order pays you or just keeps you busy. You will see how to price a box, what to check before you commit, and where Brevl fits. Start with the getting started guide if you are still setting up your home kitchen.
What does bakery online shipping really cost?
Every shipped box really carries five costs: ingredients, labor, packaging, postage, and your shop fee. Brevl costs one flat $20 a month and takes no cut of your sales ever. That flat fee does not change with the size of your order ever. You can read more about packaging costs online before you buy any boxes for shipping.
How to price a shipped box so you still make money
Add your ingredients
Use the cost of the whole recipe, not just the flour, and include butter, eggs, sugar, and any filling.
Add your labor
Decide an hourly rate for yourself and multiply it by the hours you spend baking and packing.
Add packaging and postage
The box, the tape, the label, and the shipping charge are real costs that are not free.
Add your shop fee
Brevl is $20 a month, so if you ship 20 orders, that is $1 per order. If you ship only 10 orders, that is $2 per order for your shop fee.
Set your price above the total
The difference between your price and the total is your margin for each shipped box. If the margin is too small, raise the price or cut a cost somewhere else.
Here is the math for one shipped box: price minus ingredients minus labor minus overhead equals margin. Overhead covers packaging, postage, and your shop fee for each single shipped order. Your shop fee is $1 per order at 20 orders and $2 per order at 10 orders. Use your own numbers for ingredients and labor because they change with every single recipe.
What to check before you commit to shipping
Check your state rules before you ship, because your state may limit home kitchen sales. The micro bakery laws guide walks through the questions you should ask before shipping any box. Also check your carrier’s rules for food and perishable items before you ship any single box. Test your packaging with a real box first before you take a large order.
Mistakes that cost you money on shipped orders
Insurance is another cost to check, and the insurance guide covers what to look for before you ship. Add insurance to your list of costs for every single shipped box you send.
What to put in the box so it arrives safe
The box has to protect the baked goods, so use a box that fits the item with a little room. Add padding inside the box so nothing moves around during the shipping at all. Put a clear label on the outside with your shop name and the return address. If you ship something fragile, write fragile on the box and test one box first.
How do you spread your shop fee across shipped orders?
Brevl costs $20 a month no matter how many single orders you ship each month. If you ship 20 single orders in a month, that fee is $1 per order. If you ship only 10 single orders in a month, that fee is $2 per order. The more orders you ship, the lower your shop fee per order becomes.
What should you test before you ship a large order?
Test one box to a friend before you take a large order from a customer. You will see what arrives broken and what does not arrive broken. Check the box, the padding, and the label after the test box arrives. Then change your packing before you ship a large order to anyone else.
What rules limit where you can ship baked goods?
Your state rules and the carrier rules may limit where you can ship your baked goods. Check both before you promise a delivery date to a customer. Brevl does not change those rules for your home kitchen. Start with your state guide and your carrier before you ship your first box.
How Brevl helps with bakery online shipping
Brevl gives you a shop to customize, and we set it up with you and move your old shop over. You can take card payments through your own Stripe or Square account, plus Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. Brevl costs one flat $20 a month with no cut of your sales, and a real person answers within minutes. It works on a computer and on a phone, and you can read more about taking orders online.
Try the free bake pricing calculator
Free, no signup.
- Sales tax on bakery items: permit, rates, and filing
- Bakery spreadsheet template: free download and 4 columns
- Home bakery boxes: 5 costs before you buy
Common questions
Can I ship baked goods from my home kitchen?
Your state may have rules about shipping food from a home kitchen. Check with your state agriculture or health department before you take a shipped order. Brevl does not change those rules. Start with your state guide, then set up your shop.
How do I price a shipped box?
Add ingredients, labor, packaging, and postage. Then add your shop fee. Brevl is $20 a month, so if you ship 20 orders, that is $1 per order. Your price must be above that total. The difference is your margin each box.
What does Brevl cost for a shipped order?
Brevl is one flat $20 a month with no cut of your sales. That covers your shop, orders, and payments through your own Stripe or Square account. You can also take Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. There is a 14 day free trial.
Do I need a business license to ship baked goods?
That depends on your state and your local rules. Check with your state agriculture or health department and your city or county. Brevl does not give legal advice. Start with your state guide before you ship your first box and then set up your shop.
Can I use Brevl on my phone?
Yes. Brevl works on a computer and on a phone. It is a full desktop workspace, not a phone only app. You can take orders, manage recipes, and get paid from either one. The 14 day free trial lets you try it.
What if I cannot ship to some states?
Your state rules and the carrier rules may limit where you can ship. Check both before you promise a delivery date. Brevl does not change those rules. Start with your state guide and your carrier.
General information, not legal or tax advice.