GoOnlinePOS.com
Pricing Calculator
Work out the right selling price for your product - by target margin, by target markup, or straight from a batch or recipe cost. No signup, nothing leaves this browser.
Your current calculation is saved automatically in this browser as you type. Click "Save" to add it to your Saved Calculations list so you can find it again later - nothing is uploaded anywhere.
Why pricing your product correctly matters
Getting the price wrong is one of the quietest ways a small business loses money. Underpricing doesn't look like a problem - sales still happen, the till still rings - but every sale is worth less than it should be, and that gap adds up fast once you're selling in volume. Overpricing is the opposite mistake: it loses the sale before a customer ever gets to ask a question, and you never even find out you were too expensive.
Most small sellers set a price by guessing, copying a competitor, or going with what "feels right" - without ever actually adding up what the product costs to make. That means a sale can look successful and still be losing money once materials, time, and packaging are accounted for. This calculator exists to close that gap: put in your real costs, decide what you want to earn, and see the actual number - not a guess.
Markup vs. margin - the mix-up that costs sellers money
These two terms get used interchangeably in everyday conversation, but they are not the same percentage, and mixing them up is probably the single most common pricing mistake small sellers make.
- Markup is profit calculated as a percentage of your cost.
- Margin is profit calculated as a percentage of your selling price.
A 50% markup gives a price of $15 (profit $5, which works out to a 33% margin).
A 50% margin gives a price of $20 (profit $10, which works out to a 100% markup).
Same "50%," two very different prices - and the gap only gets bigger as the percentage climbs.
If you mean "I want 50% margin" but type "50%" into a calculator that assumes markup, you'll undercharge without ever realizing it. This calculator always shows both figures side by side, whichever one you calculate from, so you can see exactly what you're actually getting either way.
How to use this calculator
- If you don't already know your cost per unit - for example, you buy ingredients in bulk for a batch - check "I don't know my cost per unit yet" and fill in the batch/recipe details: total cost, how many units it makes, and any labor or packaging cost. Click "Use This Cost Below" to carry the result into the main calculator.
- Enter (or confirm) your Cost Per Unit and pick your currency.
- Choose whether you know your target Margin or your target Markup, and enter the percentage.
- Your suggested Selling Price, Profit Per Unit, and both Margin and Markup appear instantly, so you can see exactly what you're getting either way.
- Click "Save" to keep this calculation in your Saved Calculations list for later.
Pricing Calculator FAQ
- What's the difference between markup and margin?
- Markup is profit as a percentage of your cost; margin is profit as a percentage of your selling price. They describe the same profit in two different ways, and they're never the same number except at 0%. See the example above for exactly how far apart they can be.
- How do I price a homemade or handmade product?
- Add up all of your real costs first - materials, your own time at a fair rate, packaging, and a fair share of anything like a market stall fee or delivery cost - then apply your target margin or markup on top of that total. Pricing off materials alone is the most common way handmade sellers end up working for less than they think.
- Should I count my own labor as a cost?
- Yes. Unpaid labor isn't free - it's time you could have spent elsewhere. If you don't pay yourself in the price, you're effectively working for nothing once the materials are covered. Use the batch/recipe calculator's "Labor Cost" field to fold it in.
- What margin or markup should I aim for?
- This varies widely by industry, product, and market, so treat any number you see online as a reference point, not a rule - this tool doesn't provide business advice. What matters is that the number you choose actually covers your real costs and leaves you with a profit you're comfortable with.
- Does this work for services, not just physical products?
- Yes - "Cost Per Unit" can just as easily mean the cost to deliver one unit of a service (your time and materials for one haircut, one consultation, one session). The math is identical either way.
- Is there a limit on how many calculations I can do?
- No. Every calculation happens locally in your browser, with no server calls and no usage cap. The only practical limit is your browser's own storage space if you save a very large number to your Saved Calculations list.
- Does this store my data anywhere?
- No. Everything - your costs, percentages, and saved calculations - is stored only in this browser's local storage. Nothing is uploaded anywhere, and clearing your browser data removes it.