Pricing math

Profit Margin Calculator for Small Business

Use this calculator before you quote, discount, or reorder inventory. It shows the difference between markup and margin so you can see whether a sale is actually worth doing.

Calculate with Margin
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Start with the calculation you need

Profit margin calculator

Check gross profit, margin, and markup before you quote or discount.

Try a scenario

Load common starting numbers, then edit any field to match your own business.

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Gross profit

$3,800.00

This is the money left before overhead and taxes.

Profit margin

38%

Markup

61.29%

Formula used

Gross profit
$10,000.00 - $6,200.00 = $3,800.00
Profit margin
$3,800.00 / $10,000.00 x 100 = 38%Revenue must be above zero for the margin percentage to be meaningful.
Markup
$3,800.00 / $6,200.00 x 100 = 61.29%Cost must be above zero for markup to be meaningful.

Assumptions used

Cost basis
Cost includes only the expenses you enter, so add direct labor, materials, fees, or overhead when they should affect margin.
Margin formula
Profit margin is gross profit divided by revenue; markup is gross profit divided by cost.

Margin is profit divided by revenue. Markup is profit divided by cost.

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Questions people usually check before using this result

Is a higher margin always better?

Usually, but not by itself. A high-margin offer with low demand can still produce less profit than a lower-margin offer that sells faster.

Does this include overhead?

Only if you include overhead in the cost field. For clearer decisions, include direct costs first, then test overhead separately.

What profit margin means

Profit margin is profit divided by revenue. If you sell a job for $1,000 and it costs $650 to deliver, the profit is $350 and the margin is 35%.

When to use markup instead

Markup starts from cost, not revenue. It is useful for setting a price from a known cost base, but it should be checked against margin before you commit.

Use the number responsibly

What to verify before you act on the result.

BizCalcKit is designed for planning and comparison. Treat the result as a working estimate, then confirm the details that depend on your location, client, platform, or tax situation.

Good use cases

  • Testing whether a product, service, or discounted job leaves enough gross profit.
  • Comparing margin and markup before you commit to a price.
  • Modeling a quick pricing scenario before building a quote or reorder plan.

Check before sending

  • Which costs are direct delivery costs and which costs are overhead.
  • Whether payment fees, returns, shipping, labor, or sales tax should be included for this decision.
  • Whether a lower-margin offer still creates enough total profit at realistic sales volume.

Quick workflow

  1. 1.Enter the expected sale amount or quote amount as revenue.
  2. 2.Enter the direct cost of delivering the sale, then add overhead only if it belongs in this decision.
  3. 3.Compare gross profit, profit margin, and markup so you do not confuse price-from-cost math with margin.
  4. 4.Run a second scenario with a discount, fee, or cost increase before committing to the price.

Questions to check before you decide

Is a higher margin always better?

Usually, but not by itself. A high-margin offer with low demand can still produce less profit than a lower-margin offer that sells faster.

Does this include overhead?

Only if you include overhead in the cost field. For clearer decisions, include direct costs first, then test overhead separately.