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Crafter.Margin
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Craft Business Break-even Calculator

Written by Maya Reeves. Reviewed 2026-04-21.

Break-even is the first number every shop owner should know and the last one most actually calculate. The math is simple: fixed costs divided by contribution margin equals the number of sales that covers your overhead. Everything after that is profit.

Drop in your monthly fixed costs, your average variable cost per unit, and your average selling price. The calculator tells you how many units you need to sell per month to cover fixed costs, and how much profit hitting your goal produces.

Step 1 of 3: Costs

Presets

Costs and price

Your fixed monthly costs, plus your average variable cost and selling price per unit.

$

Rent, subscriptions, insurance. Whatever you pay even with zero sales.

$

Materials, labor, packaging per sale.

$

After fees? No. Sticker price.

Quick answer

A side hustle with $250 fixed costs, $6 variable, and $22 selling price breaks even at 16 units per month. A growing shop with $600 fixed, $8 variable, and $26 price breaks even at 34 units. An established shop with $1,500 fixed, $10 variable, and $32 price breaks even at 69 units.

How to use this calculator

  1. Monthly fixed costs. Rent, subscriptions, insurance. What you pay even at zero sales.
  2. Variable cost per unit. Materials + labor + packaging + shipping label per sale.
  3. Average selling price. Sticker price, not post-fee net.
  4. Monthly sales goal. How many units you want to sell to see profit projection.
  5. Read break-even. Units and revenue required to cover fixed costs each month.

Three real scenarios

Side hustle from a spare room

Seller works from a home studio. Fixed costs are $50 Adobe, $50 business insurance, $150 storage unit. Variable cost $6 per tumbler. Selling price $22. Contribution margin $16. Break-even at 16 tumblers a month. Goal 50 tumblers means $544 profit.

Growing shop in a shared studio

Rent $300, subscriptions $80, insurance $220. Fixed $600. Variable $8, price $26. Contribution margin $18. Break-even 34 units. Goal 120 units = $1,548 profit. A reasonable place for a full-time shop.

Established shop with lease and health insurance

Studio lease $800, subs $100, health insurance $500, insurance and misc $100. Fixed $1,500. Variable $10, price $32. Margin $22. Break-even 69 units. Goal 250 = $3,982 profit.

What goes into the price

Two inputs on the cost side (fixed and variable), one on the revenue side (selling price). Contribution margin is price minus variable. Break-even units is fixed cost divided by contribution margin. Profit at goal is (goal units - break-even units) times contribution margin.

Reference: scenarios

Break-even units at common shop sizes, reviewed 2026-04-21.
ShopFixedMargin/unitBreak-even
Side hustle$250$1616 units/mo
Growing$600$1834 units/mo
Established$1,500$2269 units/mo
Full-time with employee$3,200$20160 units/mo

What to do if your number looks off

  • Break-even higher than realistic sales. Cut fixed costs or raise price. Both, often.
  • Variable equal to price. You cannot break even at any volume. Fix pricing first.
  • Over 200 units to break even. Fixed costs are padded or price is too low.
  • Profit at goal is negative. Your goal is below break-even. Aim higher.

FAQs

Sources

  1. Small business accounting fundamentals, sba.gov financial management resources, reviewed 2026-04-21.
  2. Etsy seller cost benchmarks, Crafter Margin quarterly survey.
  3. Break-even analysis methodology, standard managerial accounting.

Is this right for you?

Price the product right

Use a sublimation or HTV calculator to build a defensible per-unit price.

Sublimation pricing

Set your hourly rate

Labor is the biggest chunk of variable cost. Set it honestly.

Hourly rate

Cover your startup too

Include hardware depreciation in fixed costs.

Startup cost

Three real scenarios

See the same calculator pre-filled with seller inputs we actually use.

Side hustle

$250 fixed, $22 price.

Margin
$16/unit
Goal
50
Recommended16 units

$544 profit at goal.

Growing

$600 fixed, $26 price.

Margin
$18/unit
Goal
120
Recommended34 units

$1,548 profit at goal.

Established

$1,500 fixed, $32 price.

Margin
$22/unit
Goal
250
Recommended69 units

$3,982 profit at goal.

Read next

calculator

Hourly Rate

Set your labor rate honestly.

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cross calculator

Etsy Profit

Per-sale net after fees.

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guide

Understanding break-even

When to cut costs vs raise price.

Open

reference

Startup cost calculator

Build fixed cost budget.

Open

Want to see how we calculate this? Read our methodology.