Resale Profit & Margin Estimator
Run the whole round trip before you commit. Cost basis in, fees and shipping out, and you’ll see the profit, margin, ROI, and break-even price of a flip.
Profit & margin
Profit is what’s left after everyone else is paid
A flip only makes money if the sale price clears your full cost basis and the fees on the way out. Selling platforms take a percentage of the sale plus a flat charge, payment processing adds a slice, and you usually eat the outbound shipping. Net all of that out and the healthy-looking gap between buy and sell price can shrink fast.
The most useful output here is the break-even sale price — the floor below which you lose money. Combined with margin and ROI, it tells you not just whether a deal works, but whether it works well enough to be worth the cash and the shelf space. Decide that before you bid, not after the item is sitting in a box.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between margin and ROI?
Profit margin is your profit as a percentage of the sale price — it answers 'how much of each sale dollar do I keep?' Return on investment is profit as a percentage of your cost basis — it answers 'how hard is my money working?' A $20 profit on a $100 sale is a 20% margin; if that item only cost you $30 all-in, it's a 67% ROI. Resellers watch ROI because it tells them whether to tie up cash in a given flip.
What should I include in my cost basis?
Everything it took to own and prepare the item: the purchase price, the buyer's premium and tax, inbound shipping, and any supplies or refurbishment. Leave a cost out and every downstream number — profit, margin, ROI — flatters the deal.
What is the break-even sale price?
It's the lowest price you can sell at and still walk away even, after the platform takes its percentage and flat fee and you've paid outbound shipping. Selling below it means a loss. Knowing it before you list keeps you from accepting an offer that quietly costs you money.
What's a healthy margin for reselling?
It depends on the category and how fast the item sells, but many resellers aim to buy at around a third of the expected resale price to leave room for fees, shipping, returns, and slow sell-through. This tool lets you test any target against real fee numbers rather than a rule of thumb.
Estimates only, and not financial advice. Selling-platform fees vary by category and change over time — verify the current rates before you rely on a figure.