Setting Prices
Setting the right price for your comics is crucial for both your revenue and attracting readers. Panels Store gives you complete control over your pricing strategy.
How to Set Prices
When you publish or edit a comic, you'll find a Price field in the metadata section. Simply enter your desired price in your store's currency.
Make sure you've configured your store currency before setting prices. All your comics must use the same currency.
Common Price Points
Digital comics on Panels Store typically fall within these ranges:
| Comic Type | Typical Price Range |
|---|---|
| Single Issue (20-30 pages) | $0.99 - $3.99 |
| Standard Issue (30-40 pages) | $2.99 - $4.99 |
| Extended Issue (40+ pages) | $4.99 - $7.99 |
| Graphic Novel / Collection | $7.99 - $14.99 |
| Premium / Deluxe Edition | $12.99 - $24.99 |
Prices ending in .99 (like $2.99 or $4.99) are psychologically more appealing to buyers than round numbers. This pricing strategy has proven effective across digital marketplaces.
Factors to Consider
Page Count
More pages generally justify higher prices. A 20-page comic priced at $4.99 might seem expensive, while a 100-page graphic novel at the same price could be seen as a bargain.
Production Value
Consider your investment:
- Full color vs. black & white
- Professional editing and lettering
- Cover design quality
- Overall production polish
Your Audience
- New Readers: Consider lower prices for your first issues to build audience
- Established Following: Your existing fans may support higher price points
- Market Position: Are you competing with established creators or carving a niche?
Genre & Market Rates
Research similar comics in your genre to understand market expectations. Some genres traditionally command higher prices.
Series Strategy
If you're publishing a series, consider:
- Pricing first issues competitively to attract readers
- Maintaining consistent pricing throughout the series
- Special pricing for season finales or major story arcs
Testing Price Points
Don't be afraid to experiment:
- Start with Market Research: Look at similar comics and their pricing
- Launch at a Specific Price: Begin with your best estimate
- Monitor Sales Data: Use your Panels Store dashboard (My Store → Sales) to track performance
- Adjust if Needed: You can update prices at any time
If you lower your price, readers who paid more won't receive refunds. If you raise your price, readers who purchased earlier still keep access at their original purchase price.
Special Considerations
Free Comics
You can set a price of $0.00 to offer free comics. This can be useful for:
- Promotional first issues
- Samplers or previews
- Building email lists or social media followers
- Supporting causes
Minimum Pricing
The minimum price is $0.50 (unless you go free). This is enforced by Stripe, which we use as our checkout and payment processor.
Price Updates
To update a comic's price:
- Go to My Store → My Comics
- Click on the comic you want to edit
- Update the Price field
- Save changes
The new price takes effect immediately for new purchases.
Related Topics
- Platform Fees - Understand how fees affect your earnings
- Payout System - Learn when and how you get paid