The most common confusion is margin vs markup. Margin is profit as a percentage of selling price. Markup is profit as a percentage of cost. If you want a 30% margin, you need a 42.8% markup - not 30%. This calculator computes gross margin and markup only; it has no expense or tax inputs, so it cannot calculate net margin.
Does this calculator show net margin?
No. It has three modes (Profit Margin, Markup, Revenue Analysis), and none of them take an operating-expense or tax input - only gross profit, gross margin %, and markup % are ever calculated. If you need net margin, you'll need to subtract your operating expenses and taxes from gross profit yourself.
What are the calculator's three modes?
Profit Margin mode: enter cost and a target margin %, and it solves for the selling price you'd need to charge. Markup mode: the same, but for a target markup % instead. Revenue Analysis mode: enter your actual cost and revenue (or selling price), and it calculates gross profit, gross margin %, and markup % directly - no reverse-solving.
Can I copy, download, or export the result?
No. The result is displayed as text on the page only - there's no copy button, download option, or export feature in any mode.
What is the difference between profit margin and markup?
Margin is profit as a percentage of selling price. Markup is profit as a percentage of cost. Example: cost = $60, selling price = $100, profit = $40. Gross margin = $40/$100 = 40%. Markup = $40/$60 = 66.7%. A 50% markup does NOT give a 50% margin - it gives a 33.3% margin. This distinction matters significantly for pricing and financial reporting.
What is a good profit margin for a product business?
It varies significantly by industry. Grocery and food retail typically operates at 2–5% net margin. Software and SaaS: 60–80% gross margin. Physical consumer goods: 30–50% gross margin. Service businesses: 20–40% net margin. What counts as 'good' depends on your cost structure, industry norms, and business model. Gross margin above your industry average means you have pricing power or cost efficiency.
How do I calculate the selling price from a target margin?
Selling Price = Cost ÷ (1 − Target Margin). Example: if your cost is $40 and you want a 35% margin: Selling Price = $40 ÷ (1 − 0.35) = $40 ÷ 0.65 = $61.54. This formula is critical for pricing decisions - many business owners incorrectly add their target margin percentage to the cost, which gives a markup, not a margin. This is exactly what Profit Margin mode calculates for you.
What is gross margin vs net margin?
Gross margin = (Revenue − Cost of Goods Sold) ÷ Revenue. It measures profitability before operating expenses (rent, salaries, marketing). Net margin = Net Profit ÷ Revenue. It measures profitability after all expenses including taxes. A business can have a high gross margin and a low or negative net margin if operating costs are excessive. This is general education - this calculator itself only computes gross margin and markup, since it has no expense or tax inputs to derive net margin from.
How do I increase my profit margin?
The two levers are: increase revenue (raise prices, sell more) or reduce costs (lower COGS, reduce waste). Raising prices has the highest impact per unit if demand is price-inelastic. Reducing COGS through supplier negotiation, volume purchasing, or process efficiency improves margin without customer friction. Cutting operating costs improves net margin but not gross margin.