Size Run
Free size curve template for apparel buyers
Turn last season's units by size into a buy plan. Free.
A sale price is revenue. Profit is what remains after the item cost, the platform fee, shipping and small extras. This guide shows the arithmetic with example numbers and a routine you can reuse.
Revenue vs profit
Profit = sale price − purchase price − platform fee − shipping you paid − other costs
Track the platform too. Fee rules differ between platforms, and so does your result.
How fees usually work
Rules vary by platform and change over time. Common building blocks:
- a percentage of the item price
- a percentage of item plus shipping
- a fixed amount per order
- a lower or flat fee below a price threshold
Check each platform's own fee page for the current rules. The rules below are examples only.
Worked examples (invented numbers)
All figures are made up. The fee rules are example rules and not any platform's actual fees.
Sale 1: jacket, example fee rule A (10% + 0.70 per order)
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | 60.00 |
| Purchase price | -20.00 |
| Fee | -6.70 |
| Shipping label paid | -5.00 |
| Packaging | -1.00 |
| Profit | 27.30 |
Margin on sale price: 45.5%. Return on the 21 invested: 130%.
Sale 2: same jacket, example fee rule B (15%, no fixed fee)
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | 60.00 |
| Purchase price | -20.00 |
| Fee | -9.00 |
| Shipping label paid | -5.00 |
| Packaging | -1.00 |
| Profit | 25.00 |
Same item and price, 2.30 less kept.
Sale 3: small item, example fee rule A
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sale price | 25.00 |
| Purchase price | -18.00 |
| Fee (10% + 0.70) | -3.20 |
| Shipping label paid | -5.00 |
| Packaging | -1.00 |
| Profit | -2.20 |
A sale that looked fine in the order list lost money.
Why this matters when you scale
With five sales a month, a rough memory may be enough. With fifty, small gaps repeat many times, and a few cents per order or one unprofitable category can quietly eat the margin of your best items. A short log shows these patterns early, while you can still change what you buy.
What to take from it
- Fixed costs hit cheap items hardest. Shipping and per-order fees take a bigger bite from a 25 sale than a 60 sale.
- Percentage fees hit expensive items hardest in absolute terms.
- Platform choice changes profit. Compare per platform, not only per sale.
- Revenue hides losses. Only a profit column shows them.
A simple routine
- Log each sale the same day.
- Record buy price, sale price, platform, shipping and other costs.
- Enter the current fee rule from the platform's fee page.
- Review profit and margin per sale.
- Review profit per platform monthly.
- Use the result to guide buying and listing choices.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting packaging and small costs
- Using an old fee rule
- Comparing revenue instead of profit
- Ignoring unsold stock at cost
- Not recording the platform
Not tax advice
This is a planning aid for your own decisions and not tax advice. For tax questions, ask a qualified adviser.
Ready-made version
The Reseller Profit Tracker is an Excel and Google Sheets file built around this routine. It calculates fee, net profit, margin and ROI per sale, shows profit by platform and month, and has editable fee rules with check dates.
See the Reseller Profit Tracker ($9) Reseller Profit Tracker on Etsy Whatnot tracker on Etsy eBay tracker on Etsy International eBay tracker on Etsy
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate profit per resale?
Sale price minus purchase price, platform fee, the shipping you paid and other costs such as packaging.
Do all platforms charge the same fees?
No. Rules differ by platform and change over time, so check each platform's current fee page.
Are the example numbers real fees?
No. The figures and fee rules in the examples are invented to show the arithmetic.
Why track the platform for each sale?
Fees differ by platform, so the same item can leave you with a different profit depending on where it sold.
Is this tax advice?
No. It is a planning aid. For tax questions, ask a qualified adviser.
