School Catalog Fundraiser vs. Candy Bars

Learn Whether a Catalog or Candy Bar Sale Works Better for Your School

If your school's done catalog fundraisers each year, how do you know this type of sale is best for your school? Choosing the right type of fundraiser matters more than picking the next best catalog that promises to make you a lot of money. Taking a step back and choosing the right fundraising program can be daunting, since there are so many options. Consider affordability, order processing, and delivery.

Do you want your students to take orders from a brochure with pictures of items for sale inside, or should you order the product and then ask them to sell it as they collect the money? To answer this question, consider the pros and cons of each fundraising type to determine which option is best.

If you're undecided about whether to take orders and collect money through a brochure fundraiser or an 'in-hand' candy bar sale, the following information may help. A note on transparency: Big Fundraising Ideas offers both, so we have used published terms and shown the trade-offs for each.

Catalog vs. Candy Bars at a Glance

This table uses Big Fundraising Ideas' published terms. The catalog column uses the Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraiser as its example.

From Big Fundraising Ideas' product pages, October 2026. Confirm current terms before you order. Other catalog programs differ.

1. How a Fundraising Catalog Works

With the catalog fundraiser, each student receives a brochure and order form. After you show the brochure to potential supporters, they select one or more items and record them on the order form.

The group usually collects payment when the order is placed. At the end of the sale, the order forms and money are returned to the sponsor, who then forwards them to the school fundraising company.

Once the order has been processed, it's delivered to the school. The students who participated in the sale then picked up the boxes with their names on them and delivered the items to the people they sold to.

So what are the pros and cons of the catalog fundraiser? For a detailed example, see the Otis Spunkmeyer cookie dough fundraiser.

PROS:

• Receive the exact number of items that have already been paid for—no under- or over-ordering issues to have to deal with.
• Items are prepacked by the seller, so there is no item sorting at delivery.
• Prizes are offered to every student who participates. With a candy bar fundraiser, often only the top sellers get prizes.
• Each sale is worth more, so fewer sales are needed to reach your goal.

CONS:

• It requires an additional step: delivering items to customers. Selling candy bars only requires meeting with the customer once, where money is exchanged for the product.
• It may require dealing with occasional broken or missing items. Parents usually have a certain period to report any brochure item discrepancies.
• Occasionally, a student might collect money in exchange for orders but never turn it in. Money handling needs attention, so use a sign-out sheet and have two adults count the money.
• The wait from sale to delivery is longer, about three to four weeks after order forms for the Otis example.

2. How Candy Bar Selling Works

School sponsors must order candy bars based on how many potential sellers they expect. This is done through the submission of a purchase order. Once their order arrives, candy bar carrier boxes are distributed to group members who sell them directly to neighbors, family, and friends.

Money is collected at the point of sale, then turned in to the sponsor at the end of the fundraiser. The average selling price is $1.00 to $3.00. Candy bars are popular products that can be immediately enjoyed.

With Big Fundraising Ideas, public schools pay no upfront cost using a purchase order; payment is due within 15 days of receiving the product, and unsold product is not accepted back. See no-upfront-cost fundraisers and how a school gets paid after a fundraiser.

Now, what are the pros and cons of a candy bar fundraiser?

PROS:

• Only one contact with the purchaser is necessary to complete the sale. Catalog fundraising requires two different steps. Take the order, then deliver the product.
• They're affordable to most people. This is seen as an advantage, particularly to high school groups, because sales can also be made to their peers who usually don't carry much money.
• They're often seen as an impulsive buy. You see it, you want it, and it's cheap.
• The campaign can be short, and the product ships within one to two business days.

CONS:

• If you order too much, you may be stuck with additional products. Unsold products are not accepted back. This can be an advantage because you can always ask your students to sell the leftovers.
• Prizes are usually only offered to the top sellers when groups offer them. This can discourage participation. Big Fundraising Ideas does not offer a company prize program with its candy bars, so your group can set any incentives.
• The sponsor must collect money after the product is distributed to the sellers. Some sellers may keep the product and not return any money. Or they may lose the product. Issues have been reported involving leaving it in the back seat of a car, where chocolate can melt.
• It takes many more sales to reach the same goal, since each bar earns far less than a catalog item.

See our candy bar fundraiser products.

How Many Sales Does Each Fundraiser Need?

To raise $1,000 in profit, here is how many sales each type needs, using published profit per item:

Calculated by dividing $1,000 by the profit per item, rounded up, before any fees. Illustration only. The top candy bar tier takes a large order, so most groups earn the lower percentages.

A catalog needs far fewer sales, but each one takes two steps and a longer wait. A candy bar needs many more sales, but each one is quick, and the money is in hand. The right trade-off depends on your sellers, your calendar, and your community.

Reducing the Risks of Each Type

For a Catalog Fundraiser

• Count and Record: Check order forms and money together when students turn them in, using two adults.
• Use Envelopes: Put each student's money in a labeled collection envelope.
• Plan Delivery Day: See school fundraiser delivery tips.

For a Candy Bar Fundraiser

• Use a Sign-out Sheet: Record who took how many bars and what they owe. See the sales tracking sheet.
• Release Product in Stages: Release more bars only after a seller repays the first batch.
• Keep Chocolate Cool: Do not leave bars in a car, and store them away from heat.
• Order from Sign-Ups: See the minimum order and the one-week school fundraiser plan.

For student safety, see school fundraising safety tips.

Which Fits Your Group?

Match the fundraiser to your goal, your calendar, and your sellers.

Both can work with an online store for supporters who are far away. For more on candy bars, see 5 reasons schools love chocolate bar fundraisers, peanut-free candy bars for school fundraising, and direct sale fundraisers. For help choosing, visit our fundraising products.

So which fundraising program will you choose for your school?

Weigh the number of sales you need, the time you have, and the work each type takes. Whichever you choose, set a clear goal, plan your money handling, and keep students excited. For ideas on getting more students involved, see how to improve school fundraiser participation, and for goal-setting, see how to set realistic fundraiser goals.

Frequently Asked Questions About Catalog and Candy Bar Fundraisers

Is a catalog fundraiser or a candy bar fundraiser better for a school?

It depends on your goal, your timeline, and your group. A catalog fundraiser sells higher-priced items and takes about five to six weeks from kickoff to delivery, while a candy bar sale sells low-priced bars on the spot and can finish in about a week. Compare the number of sales you need, the time you have, and how much work each requires.

How does a catalog fundraiser work?

Each student receives a brochure and an order form. Supporters choose items, the student records the order, and money is usually collected when the order is placed. At the end of the sale, the forms and money go to the sponsor and then to the fundraising company, and the order is delivered to the school for students to hand out.

How does a candy bar fundraiser work?

The sponsor orders cases of candy bars, and the order is placed with a purchase order. When the cases arrive, students sell the bars directly to family, neighbors, and friends, collect the money on the spot, and turn it in to the sponsor at the end of the sale.

Are candy bars sold on consignment?

No. A candy bar order is a purchase, not a consignment. With Big Fundraising Ideas, public schools pay no upfront cost using a purchase order; payment is due within 15 days of receiving the product, and unsold product is not accepted back, so order based on realistic sign-ups.

Which fundraiser needs less work after the sale?

A candy bar sale happens once, when money changes hands for the product. A catalog fundraiser adds a second step: delivering orders to supporters, which takes extra time and coordination.

Which fundraiser has less risk of ordering too much?

A catalog fundraiser. You receive the exact number of items ordered and paid for, so you don't over-order. With candy bars, you must estimate how many cases to order, and unsold products are not accepted back.

What are the money handling risks of each?

In a catalog fundraiser, a student may collect money for orders and not turn it in. In a candy bar sale, a student may keep or lose a product without returning the money. Use a sign-out sheet, release more products only after the money from the first batch is returned, and have two adults count the money.

How many sales does each fundraiser need to raise $1,000?

Using published figures, a catalog item with about $8.80 profit needs about 114 sales; a $2 candy bar at its 40% tier needs about 1,250 sales; and a $1 bar needs about 2,223 to 3,334 sales. Higher-priced items need far fewer sales, but each catalog sale takes two steps.

Can candy bars melt, and how should they be stored?

Yes. Chocolate is sensitive to heat, and issues have been reported with products left in a hot car. Store bars in a cool place, and do not leave them in a car. Big Fundraising Ideas may hold a shipment when temperatures reach 76 degrees to protect the chocolate.

Can a school run both a catalog fundraiser and a candy bar sale?

Yes, but plan them carefully. Running them at the same time can compete for the same supporters, so many schools separate them by a few weeks or use a candy bar sale at events and a catalog sale for the main campaign.

Need more info? Reach out today for a FREE consultation with an expert. Contact Big Fundraising Ideas or call (866) 980-9930, Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST.

Author Bio

Clay Boggess has been designing fundraising programs for schools and various nonprofit organizations throughout the US since 1999. He’s helped administrators, teachers, and outside support entities such as PTAs and PTOs raise millions of dollars. Clay is an owner and partner at Big Fundraising Ideas.