Market Day Breakdown
See how many sales you need to cover booth, travel, staff, and supplies at a market or fair day — and your projected profit.
- Free calculator
- Instant estimate
- No signup needed
- Beginner friendly
Enter every amount in the same currency. This selector only changes the symbol shown — it does not convert exchange rates.
Projected profit / loss
$267.12
High Profit PotentialBreak-even sales needed
15
$270.00
Sales surplus vs break-even
+25
ROI on fixed costs
166.9%
Total fixed cost
$160.00
Net profit per average sale
$10.68
Projected revenue
$720.00
Projected variable cost
$292.88
Short example
A $160.00 fixed-cost market day with $18.00 average sale, $6.00 product cost, and ~$0.82 in fees needs about 15 sales to break even. 40 expected sales project ≈ $276.00 profit.
All calculations are estimates based on average platform fees. Real profits may vary depending on category, ads, and shipping.
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Break-Even Planning Worksheet
Calculate break-even points, profit cushions, and sales targets across any selling platform.
How to use this calculator
- Enter your numbers in each field above — the calculator updates instantly as you type, so there's nothing to submit.
- Use your real figures when you have them, or sensible estimates while you're planning. If a field doesn't apply, leave it at zero.
- Compare the results, then change one input at a time to see how each lever (price, cost, fees, volume) moves the outcome.
Formula
Break-even sales = Fixed costs ÷ (Avg sale − Product cost − Packaging − Per-sale fees)
Worked example
$160 fixed costs, $18 avg sale, $6 product cost, $0.50 packaging, ~$0.82 fees.
- Net per sale = 18 − 6 − 0.50 − 0.82 = $10.68
- Break-even = 160 ÷ 10.68 ≈ 15 sales
- At 40 sales, profit ≈ $267
Answer: ~15 sales to break even, ~$267 profit at 40 sales
How it works
Markets are unforgiving because most of the cost is fixed. Selling nothing still costs you the booth. Knowing the break-even number frames the whole day.
How to interpret your results
- Dollar values are shown per sale, per order, or per item unless a result is explicitly labelled monthly, weekly, or daily.
- Percentages (margin, ROI, conversion rate) are easier to compare across products and price points than raw dollars — use them when you benchmark.
- A positive result means you're ahead after the costs and fees you entered. A negative result means the current numbers don't work — change a lever (raise price, cut a cost, lower ad spend) and recalculate.
- Treat the output as a planning estimate, not a guarantee. Fees, taxes, and conversion rates shift over time — re-run the numbers whenever a key input changes.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting travel and fuel in fixed costs.
- Averaging sale price too high — big sales are the exception, not the rule.
- Ignoring card processing fees on in-person sales.
Related Guides
Go deeper with plain-English guides on the same topic.
What Is a Good Profit Margin?
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FAQ
- Should I count my own time?
- For a break-even sanity check, no. For deciding if the market is worth doing again, absolutely — value your day.
- What if I sell wholesale-priced items and retail-priced items?
- Use a blended average or run the calc twice.
Why trust this calculator?
This tool uses standard mathematical formulas and commonly accepted calculation methods, shown openly in the Formula section above so you can verify the math yourself. Results are estimates based on the information you enter and do not account for every individual circumstance. For important financial, tax, legal, medical, or business decisions, please double-check with a qualified professional before acting on the numbers.
Keep going
One calculator rarely tells the full story. Pair this one with a related tool below to pressure-test your numbers from a different angle, or browse Selling & Business Calculators for more in the same category.
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