Understanding Pricing Analysis
How the pricing confidence score works, where industry averages come from, and how to use the data to adjust your rates.
What is pricing analysis?
Pricing Analysis is a feature in Kontrol™ that compares your quoted prices against anonymized industry averages. For every job you quote, the system calculates a Pricing Confidence Score — a percentage that tells you how your price compares to what similar shops are charging for similar work. A score of 100% means you are right at the industry average. Above 100% means you are charging more. Below 100% means you may be leaving money on the table.
How industry averages are calculated
Industry averages are based on anonymized, aggregated data from Kontrol™ shops across the platform. The system factors in job size (quantity), number of ink colors, garment type, print locations, and geographic region. No individual shop's pricing is ever exposed — all data is aggregated into statistical ranges (median, 25th percentile, 75th percentile). Averages update monthly as new data flows in.
Industry averages are a guideline, not a target. If you offer premium service, fast turnaround, or specialty techniques, you should be charging above average. The score helps you understand where you stand, not where you should be.
Reading the confidence score
The confidence score appears on the job detail page in the Pricing section (Admin only). It shows: your quoted price per piece, the industry average per piece, and the confidence score as a percentage. Color coding makes it easy to scan: green means you are above average (healthy margin), yellow means you are near average, and red means you are below average (potential underpricing).
Step 1 — Check your pricing on a recent job
Open a completed job and go to the Costs tab. The Pricing Analysis card shows your per-piece price versus the industry average for a job of that size and complexity. If the score is below 90%, review your pricing matrix — you may be undercharging for that quantity or color count tier.
- 1Open a recently completed job
- 2Go to the Costs tab
- 3Find the Pricing Analysis card
- 4Compare your price per piece to the industry average
- 5Note the confidence score percentage
Step 2 — Identify pricing gaps
Run the Pricing Report from Analytics > Pricing to see your confidence scores across all recent jobs. Look for patterns: are you consistently low on small runs? Are your 6+ color jobs priced too aggressively? The report groups scores by quantity tier and color count so you can spot exactly where your matrix needs adjustment.
Step 3 — Adjust your pricing matrix
Based on the gaps you identify, update your pricing matrix in Settings > Pricing. Raise the per-impression rates for the tiers where you are consistently below average. Small adjustments — even $0.25-$0.50 per piece on mid-range runs — compound significantly over a month of jobs. Re-check your scores after 30 days to see the impact.
Do not change all your prices at once. Adjust one tier at a time (e.g., the 144-piece tier for 2-color jobs) and watch how it affects your quote close rate. If customers are still saying yes, you were underpriced.
Limitations
Pricing analysis does not account for specialty techniques (discharge, foil, embroidery combos), custom artwork fees, or rush charges. It compares standard screen printing jobs only. Geographic cost-of-living differences are factored in at a regional level, but hyperlocal market conditions (e.g., a small town with no competition vs. a metro area with 20 shops) are not captured.