Break-Even Calculator

Find out how many customers or units a month you need to cover your fixed costs.

Your result

Estimates for educational purposes, not financial or legal advice.

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How it works

Each unit you sell contributes its price minus its variable cost. Divide your fixed monthly costs by that contribution margin and you get the number of units needed to break even.

Formula

  • Contribution margin = Price − Variable cost
  • Break-even units = Fixed costs ÷ Contribution margin
  • Break-even revenue = Break-even units × Price

Frequently asked questions

Do investors care about break-even at seed stage?

They care less about the date and more about unit economics. A healthy contribution margin shows that growth will eventually pay for itself.

What if my variable cost is higher than my price?

Then every sale loses money and you can never break even by selling more. Fix pricing or cost per unit first.

What counts as a fixed cost?

Costs that do not change with volume in the short term: salaries, rent, software subscriptions. Payment fees, hosting per customer and shipping are usually variable.

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