To price a product for your online shop in Bangladesh, add up the real cost of one delivered order (product, packaging, courier charge, COD fee, returns and ad cost), then add the profit you want. Most new sellers forget returns and ad cost, and lose money on every order without noticing. This guide gives a simple formula, a worked example in taka, and ways to raise profit without raising the price.
Written by the Sellsull team, October 2026. Courier and ad costs change; use your own numbers in the formula.
The pricing formula
Selling price = product cost + packaging + delivery you pay + COD fee + return cost per order + ad cost per order + your profit.
Each part, explained:
- Product cost: what you paid per piece, including transport from the wholesale market or import charges. See product sourcing in Bangladesh.
- Packaging: poly bag, box, sticker, tape. Usually ৳10 to ৳40.
- Delivery you pay: zero if the customer pays the delivery charge, or the full courier charge if you offer free delivery.
- COD fee: couriers usually charge about 1% of the collected amount for cash on delivery.
- Return cost per order: the money you lose on returned parcels, spread over all orders.
- Ad cost per order: your ad spend divided by the number of delivered orders, not total orders.
A worked example
A seller in Dhaka sells a ladies' three-piece. The customer pays the delivery charge. Out of 100 orders, 15 are returned.
| Cost item | Per order |
|---|---|
| Product cost (with transport) | ৳720 |
| Packaging | ৳25 |
| COD fee (about 1% of ৳1,450) | ৳15 |
| Return cost (15 returns × about ৳110 lost on each, spread over 85 delivered orders) | about ৳20 |
| Ad cost per delivered order | ৳250 |
| Total cost per delivered order | ৳1,030 |
| Selling price | ৳1,450 |
| Profit per order | ৳420 |
If this seller had priced at ৳1,100 because "the product costs ৳720", the real profit would be about ৳70 per order, and one bad week of returns would wipe it out. The return cost in the table is only the lost delivery charge; if returned items come back damaged, add that too.
For courier charges, Pathao's published rates (checked October 2026) start at ৳60 inside Dhaka and ৳110 outside Dhaka for parcels up to 500 g. Check your own courier's merchant panel, since rates differ by weight and contract. Comparison: which courier to choose.
Three common pricing mistakes
- Ignoring returns. In COD selling, some orders always come back. Count them in the price. Ways to reduce them: reduce returns and cancelled COD orders.
- Using total orders instead of delivered orders for ad cost. If ৳10,000 of ads brought 50 orders but only 40 were delivered, the ad cost is ৳250 per order, not ৳200.
- Copying a competitor's price. Their product cost, ad cost and return rate are not yours. Start from your own numbers.
How to raise profit without raising the price
- Increase order value. A second item in the same parcel costs you almost nothing extra in delivery. Use combo offers, an upsell at checkout, or free delivery above a set amount. See combo offers, upsell and order bump and free delivery rules.
- Cut fake orders. A call before sending and a small advance for risky orders reduce returns. See order confirmation call script and advance payment per product.
- Lower ad cost per order. A clear landing page with the price, delivery charge and a short order form converts better. Guide: landing page for Facebook ads. To set a budget you can afford, read Facebook ad budget for beginners.
- Buy better. Buying a slightly larger quantity often lowers the price per piece, but only for products you have already tested.
Should you show "regular price" and "discount price"?
Showing a regular price with a discount can help, but only if the regular price is honest. Customers in Bangladesh compare prices across pages, and a fake "50% off" damages trust. A safer option is a real offer: a combo price, free delivery on two items, or a time-limited coupon. See coupon and promotion ideas.
Delivery charge: show it or include it?
- Show it separately (for example ৳70 inside Dhaka, ৳130 outside) when your product price is already competitive. Customers in Bangladesh are used to this.
- Include it in the price ("free delivery") when the product is light and the price can carry it. It often raises orders, so recalculate your profit first.
On Sellsull you can set delivery charges by zone, give free delivery on chosen products, or set rules such as free delivery for 3 items. See delivery zone and charge setup.
Frequently asked questions
How much profit margin is good for an online shop in Bangladesh?
There is no single number. What matters is profit per delivered order after ads and returns. Many sellers aim for a product cost around half of the selling price or less, so there is room for ads and returns, but test this with your own numbers.
How do I include Facebook ad cost in my price?
Divide your ad spend by the number of delivered orders from those ads. Add that amount to your cost per order. Until you have data, use the maximum you can afford and check it weekly.
Should I charge the customer for delivery?
Most Bangladeshi shops do, with a lower charge inside Dhaka. Free delivery works well as an offer for larger orders.
How often should I review my prices?
Check every month, and whenever product cost, courier charges or ad cost change.
Is there a free tool to calculate this?
A simple spreadsheet with the formula above is enough. Sellsull's reports show your orders, returns and sales, which give you the real numbers to put in it. Starting a shop? Read how to start an online business with low investment.
