Selling and marketing
Vegan Pies Wholesale: Price a Case and Keep a Margin
A clear way to price vegan pies for shops so each case pays you, not just covers costs.
On this page
- What a shop expects from a wholesale vegan pie
- Add up the real cost of a case
- Set a wholesale price that leaves a margin
- What to put in a wholesale quote
- How to test a weekly order before you commit
- When to change the case size or the price
- Mistakes that cost you money on a wholesale order
- Check before you commit to a weekly order
What to remember
- Price a case, not a single pie.
- Your time belongs in the cost.
- Leave the shop room to mark up.
- Brevl is $20 a month with 0% commission.
- Check packaging and delivery before you quote.
Selling vegan pies wholesale is a different job from selling at a market table. A shop buys to resell, so your price has to work for both of you. This guide shows the costs to include and the questions to ask before you agree to a weekly order, and the selling guides cover your options if you are still choosing how to sell.
What a shop expects from a wholesale vegan pie
A buyer will ask about case size, shelf life, and labeling. They need to know the pies arrive consistent and safe. Write down your answers before the first call. If you cannot answer a question, say you will check and come back to them.
Vegan pies also need a clear allergen list. Ask your state food office what labeling your operation requires. Keep a written list for every flavor you sell. Your buyer may need that list for their own customers.
Case size matters to a shop. They may want a set number of pies per box so it fits their shelf. Ask what size they can store and sell. Then build your case around that number.
Ask the buyer how they will store the pies and how long they expect them to last. Your answer sets the delivery schedule and the case size. Write the shelf life on the quote so both sides know.
Add up the real cost of a case
Start with one pie. List the ingredients, the box, and the label. Then multiply by the number of pies in the case. Add your time and a share of your monthly costs. Brevl is $20 a month, so divide that by the pies you make each month.
Cost one pie
List every ingredient for a single pie and add the packaging.
Multiply by the case
Multiply the pie cost by the number of pies in the case.
Add your time
Decide your hourly rate and add the minutes you spend per pie.
Add monthly costs
Divide fixed costs like Brevl’s $20 fee by the pies you make each month.
Set the case price
Add your margin to the cost per case and check it against the shop’s budget.
Work the example on one sheet. Take a case of 12 pies. List the ingredient cost for all 12 from your receipts. Add packaging for all 12. Add labor: your hourly rate times the minutes for the case. Add overhead: Brevl’s $20 monthly fee divided by the pies you make each month, then multiplied by 12, plus any other monthly cost you already track. Add those four lines to get cost per case. Subtract that cost from your case price. The result is your margin after ingredients, labor, and overhead. If the margin is too thin, change the case size or the price before you quote.
Set a wholesale price that leaves a margin
A wholesale price is not your retail price with a discount. It has to cover your cost and leave you a margin. The shop will add its own markup, so leave them room. If the numbers do not work, change the case size or the recipe before you cut your own pay.
Write your retail price first. Then set a wholesale price that still covers your cost per case. Check the margin after every cost, including your time. The wholesale vegan baked goods guide walks through a retail based approach.
Your margin is the money left after every cost. It is not the same as your profit at the end of the month. The margin per case tells you if a single order is worth your time. Check it before you agree to a repeat order.
Do not set a wholesale price from a retail price alone. Start from cost per case. Then compare it to retail. If retail is lower than cost plus margin, fix the recipe or the case size.
What to put in a wholesale quote
A quote is more than a price. Put the case size, price per case, delivery day, and payment terms in writing. Add the allergen list and shelf life. Ask the buyer to confirm the order in writing.
State your minimum order and any delivery fee. A small order can cost more in time and fuel than it returns. If a shop orders below your minimum, say no or add a fee. Keep the same terms for every buyer so your margin stays predictable.
Put the quote next to your cost sheet before you send it. Check that the case price still covers ingredients, labor, and overhead. If the buyer asks for a lower price, change the case size or the delivery terms first.
How to test a weekly order before you commit
Run one delivery before you promise a weekly order. Time the bake, the pack, and the drive. Compare the actual time to your cost sheet. If the margin falls, change the case size or the price.
Check that the volume fits your week. A weekly order can push out market sales or custom orders. Write down the hours it takes and compare them to the hours you have. If the order does not fit, offer a smaller case or a different delivery day.
Ask how the shop will pay and when. A shop that pays on delivery is easier than one that pays in 30 days. If you can, get a deposit for the first order. Get the payment terms in writing before you start.
When to change the case size or the price
Change the case size when packaging or delivery costs rise. A larger case can lower the cost per pie, but only if the shop can store and sell it. A smaller case can protect your margin when the buyer has little shelf space.
Change the price when a receipt changes or your time rises. Tell the buyer before the next order. Keep the old quote for reference. Do not wait until the order loses money to check the numbers again.
Mistakes that cost you money on a wholesale order
Check before you commit to a weekly order
Ask the buyer how many pies they need each week. Ask which day they need delivery and how they will pay. Ask who labels the pies and who handles allergens. Get the answers in writing before you start.
Payment terms matter as much as the price. Ask when they pay and how. A shop that pays on delivery is easier than one that pays in 30 days. If you can, get a deposit for the first order.
A weekly order changes your week. Check that you can make the volume without dropping other sales. Check that the delivery day fits your schedule. If you sell to order as well, the vegan bakes to order guide covers deposits and pickup rules.
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- Vegan baking ingredients wholesale: cost per batch
- Frozen pies wholesale price list: cost and margin
- Homemade pies wholesale: cost, price, and your margin
Common questions
How do I price vegan pies for a cafe?
Start with your cost per case. Add ingredients, packaging, your time, and a share of monthly costs like Brevl's $20 fee. Then add a margin. A cafe will mark up your price, so leave them room and still protect your own pay.
What is the smallest wholesale order I should take?
Only you can set your minimum. Work out how many pies it takes to make the delivery worth your time. If a shop orders less than that, say no or add a delivery fee. Brevl's $20 monthly fee is the same whether you sell 10 pies or 100.
Do I need to label vegan pies differently?
Ask your state food office what labeling your cottage food operation requires. At minimum, tell the buyer what is in the pie and what it may contain. Keep a written allergen list for every flavor. Your buyer may need that for their own customers.
How do I know my margin is enough?
Write down your cost per case. Subtract it from your wholesale price. That number is your margin. Check that it covers your time and leaves something for growth. If the margin is thin, raise the price or shrink the case before you sign a weekly order.
Can I use Brevl to take wholesale orders?
Yes. Brevl gives you a shop you can customize, and you can take card payments through your own Stripe or Square account. You can also accept Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, and cash. The flat fee is $20 a month with 0% commission, and there is a 14 day free trial.
General information, not legal or tax advice.