How much profit do you make on each print you sell?
Enter your selling price, materials, postage and platform fees to see profit per print, margin, break-even price and the price needed for a target margin. All figures are in pounds sterling.
How the tool works
Profit per print is the price you receive, after VAT if it is included, minus percentage fees and fixed costs. The tool takes the platform fee and the payment processing fee as percentages of the price the customer pays, then subtracts the fixed fee per order, the listing fee, paper, ink, packaging, postage and any frame or mount. The fee figures filled in (6.5 percent, 4 percent, 20p and 15p) are example figures only, not any platform’s current rates. Check your platform’s current fees and change them.
Break-even price is C / (k – f), where C is the fixed cost per print, f is the two percentage fees added together as a decimal, and k is 1 divided by 1 plus the VAT rate if the price includes VAT, or 1 if not. The price for a target margin m is C / (k x (1 – m) – f). With no VAT this is C / (1 – f – m). Prices are rounded up to the next penny, and margin is profit divided by sales after VAT. If you add hours and an hourly rate, a second column shows the figures after paying yourself for your time.
Ink cost per print is hard to know exactly, so treat it as an estimate and check it against a few real prints. VAT registration is only required above the HMRC turnover threshold, so check with HMRC or an accountant before charging or reclaiming VAT. This tool gives an estimate and is not tax or accounting advice.
Questions
How do I work out the price for a 50 percent margin?
Set the target margin to 50. The tool divides your fixed costs by (1 minus the fee percentages minus 0.5), so the percentage fees are covered as well as the fixed costs.
Should I include my own time?
If you want to know whether selling prints pays for the hours you spend, enter hours per print and an hourly rate. The labour column shows profit and break-even price once your time is counted.
What if the customer pays for postage?
Choose the customer pays shipping option. Postage is then left out of your costs. The tool does not add any shipping income or fees on it, so check how your platform treats shipping charges.
More photography tools: Print price estimator, Print size calculator, Frame and mount size helper, Paper size guide, Photo licensing fee calculator