Shop & Seller Pricing

Print Shop Break-Even Calculator

Find how many units you must sell to cover fixed costs at your price and unit cost.

New here? Jump to how it works · FAQ

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Rent share, loan, software, insurance for the month.
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Find how many units you must sell to cover fixed monthly costs at a given contribution margin. Use this before you promise volume discounts that look busy but never pay the rent.

How it works / formula

Calculation steps

  1. Contribution per unit = sell price − variable cost per unit.
  2. Break-even units = fixed costs ÷ contribution.
  3. If contribution is zero or negative, no volume saves the job — raise price or cut variable cost first.

Worked example

Example (illustrative)

  • $1,200 fixed, $4.50 cost, $12 price → $7.50 contribution → 160 units to break even.

Assumptions & limitations

This calculator provides an estimate for planning and quoting. Actual results vary with supplier pricing, ink coverage, waste, labour rates, equipment and marketplace fee changes. Always verify critical numbers before production. See the disclaimer.

What to include in fixed costs

Include Example
Equipment payment Press / cutter loan
Software RIP, design, accounting
Space Portion of rent/utilities

Frequently asked questions

Does this include owner salary?

Add a salary target into fixed costs if you want break-even to include paying yourself.

What counts as fixed cost?

Rent, base salaries, software, insurance and similar costs that do not move with one extra shirt.

What is variable cost?

Garments, film, ink, shipping labels, payment fees — anything that scales with units.

Can I use this for one SKU only?

Yes for a rough SKU model. For the whole shop, use blended contribution or run it per product line.

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Disclaimer · Last updated Oct 8, 2026