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Margin versus markup calculator from Profits Plus

Is it Margin or Markup? Many times you are asked, "What is your markup on that item?" Perhaps this phrase is used because when you lower the price, you take a 'markdown'. This calculator demonstrates the difference in a margin and a markup. To determine your margin, enter information in one of two ways.

You can enter the cost and desired selling price to determine the margin. Or you can enter the cost and desired margin to determine the selling price.

The answer you get for desired selling price is your Gross Margin.While you can use the calculator below to do the math for you. The gross margin states that the cost of the item is a percentage of the selling price of the item. As an example; the item costs $5.00 and is selling for $10,00. The gross margin is 50% because the cost of the item is 50% of what you are selling it for.

 
Cost of Item: $
Desired Selling Price: $
Desired Gross Margin: (%) %

This is where you calculate the markup of an item. Markup shows the relationship between the cost of the selling price. As in the margin example you can enter the cost and desired markup for an item to get the selling price of an item. Or, you can enter the cost and the selling price of an item to determine the markup. Using the same cost, $5.00, and selling price, $10.00 as above, the markup would be 100% because you are marking up the cost of the product by 100%.

Notice that when you enter the cost in both of these examples and the desired margin or markup, the selling price is going to be different. If you are calculating the markup, the selling price will be lower.

Cost of Item: $  
Desired Markup: (%) %
Desired Selling Price: $
      

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SEPTEMBER 2026
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Small Business

AdvisoriES


Our September advisory is titled, "What do you sell?" My favorite example of someone getting it wrong has an email that starts with, "Sallysellsinsurance@."

 

Yes, that may be the product that Sally sells, but what she is really selling is peace of mind in knowing that if something happens, you are not going to pay the entire cost of the loss.

 

This is but one example. Our September advisory - What do you sell?

Small Business

NewS

Top Story

Yes, selling does include translating features into benefits. But it does not stop there. What if the benefit is not relevant to the customer? Then, there might not be a sale. This is where advantage comes into consideration, and that is our top story of the month.

Article of the Month

When you think about a customer who makes a point to talk to you and your staff, have you ever thought about getting them to talk about your business with their friends? The September Article of the Month shares an idea.


Book of the Month

The Art of the Exit is our suggested book of the month. The author, Jackb Orosz, discusses ways of getting out of your business whether it is retiring or just time to move onto something else.

All this plus the Internet Tool for Your Business and a staff incentive idea for your business.
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BOOK US

With over 25 years of frontline experience Tom Shay is America's leading Small Business Management Expert. He's a "Must Have" for your next event.

Small Business

Advisories

Our September advisory is titled, "What do you sell?" My favorite example of someone getting it wrong has an email that starts with, "Sallysellsinsurance@."

 

Yes, that may be the product that Sally sells, but what she is really selling is peace of mind in knowing that if something happens, you are not going to pay the entire cost of the loss.

 

This is but one example. Our September advisory - What do you sell?

Small Business

News

 

Top Story

Yes, selling does include translating features into benefits. But it does not stop there. What if the benefit is not relevant to the customer? Then, there might not be a sale. This is where advantage comes into consideration, and that is our top story of the month.


Article of the Month

When you think about a customer who makes a point to talk to you and your staff, have you ever thought about getting them to talk about your business with their friends? The September Article of the Month shares an idea.


Book of the Month

The Art of the Exit is our suggested book of the month. The author, Jackb Orosz, discusses ways of getting out of your business whether it is retiring or just time to move onto something else.

 

All this plus the Internet Tool for Your Business and a staff incentive idea for your business.