Profit margin is profit divided by revenue. First calculate profit: Profit = Selling Price − Total Costs (product cost, shipping, fees, ads, taxes, refund buffer). Then: Profit Margin % = (Profit ÷ Selling Price) × 100. Use net profit for reality, not vibes.
They look similar but use different denominators. Markup compares profit to cost: Markup % = (Profit ÷ Cost) × 100. Margin compares profit to price: Margin % = (Profit ÷ Price) × 100. Same dollars, different percentages—mix them up and you’ll underprice.
A 30% profit margin means you keep $0.30 profit for every $1.00 in revenue after costs included in the margin. Example: If you sell for $100 and your total costs are $70, profit is $30, and margin is 30%.
Break-even ROAS is the minimum return on ad spend needed to not lose money. It’s basically: Break-even ROAS = Revenue ÷ Ad Spend at zero profit. Practically, it’s often approximated as 1 ÷ contribution margin (margin after variable costs).
Yep. Shopify dropshipping margins should include COGS, shipping/agent fees, Shopify app costs (if per order), payment processing fees, taxes, and ad spend. If you’re using PayPal/Stripe, include their percentage + fixed fee. Add a refund buffer and you’re calculating like an adult.
In ecommerce, profit margin is the percent of each sale you keep after costs. The useful version is net margin, which includes COGS, shipping/fulfillment, payment/platform fees, ad spend, taxes, and refunds. It’s how you know if scaling actually makes you richer.
Use net margin so it matches your bank account: Net Profit = Price − (COGS + shipping + payment fees + platform fees + taxes + ad cost + refund buffer). Then Net Margin % = (Net Profit ÷ Price) × 100. That’s the “good” formula because it includes reality.
A 25% margin means profit is 25% of the selling price. Use Profit = Price × 0.25. So if price is $80, profit target is $20. That means your total costs must be $60. Formula: Cost = Price × (1 − 0.25).
Yes—unless you enjoy surprise losses. Refunds and chargebacks are predictable averages over time, so bake in a buffer (e.g., 2–8% depending on niche). It makes your margin estimates honest, helps pricing decisions, and prevents scaling ads on fake profitability.
Yes, but don’t forget eBay-specific costs: final value fees, promoted listings (ads), payment processing, and returns. Shipping can be tricky if you’re dropshipping from retailers—late delivery and cancellations can spike refunds. Include those risks as a buffer for safer margin planning.
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