Business Math Cluster

Business Math Guides — Profit, Margin, Break-Even & CAGR

Master the essential business math formulas: calculate profit and margin, find your break-even point, set prices with markup, track growth with CAGR, and evaluate investments with payback period.

10

Guides

6

Calculators

4

FAQs

Business Math Guides & Formulas

5 min read

How to Calculate Profit

Gross profit, net profit, and profit margin formulas with step-by-step examples for any business.

gross profitnet profitmargin
4 min read

How to Calculate Gross Profit

Gross profit formula, gross margin benchmarks by industry, and how to improve your gross profit.

gross profitCOGSgross margin
5 min read

How to Calculate Net Income

Net income formula, income statement walkthrough, and the difference between gross and net profit.

net incomeincome statementEBITDA
5 min read

Profit Margin Explained

Gross, operating, and net profit margin: what each means, how to calculate them, and industry benchmarks.

profit marginoperating marginbenchmarks
4 min read

Profit vs Revenue: Key Differences

Why revenue and profit are not the same, and why a high-revenue business can still lose money.

revenueprofitdifference
5 min read

Break-Even Calculation Guide

How to calculate your break-even point in units and dollars, with fixed costs, variable costs, and contribution margin.

break-evenfixed costscontribution margin
4 min read

How to Calculate Markup

Markup vs margin: the key difference, formulas, and how to set prices that protect your profit.

markupmarginpricing
4 min read

How to Calculate Commission

Commission formulas for flat rate, tiered, and split commission structures with real examples.

commissionsalestiered
5 min read

How to Calculate CAGR

Compound Annual Growth Rate formula, step-by-step calculation, and benchmarks by asset class.

CAGRgrowth rateinvesting
5 min read

How to Calculate Payback Period

Simple and discounted payback period formulas for evaluating investment and project returns.

payback periodinvestmentdiscounted

Business Calculators

Business Math Formulas Cheat Sheet

Gross Profit

Revenue − COGS

Net Profit

Revenue − All Expenses

Profit Margin

(Profit ÷ Revenue) × 100

Markup

(Profit ÷ Cost) × 100

Break-Even Units

Fixed Costs ÷ (Price − Variable Cost)

ROI

(Gain − Cost) ÷ Cost × 100

CAGR

(End ÷ Start)^(1/Years) − 1

Commission

Sale Amount × Commission Rate

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between gross profit and net profit?

Gross profit = Revenue − Cost of Goods Sold (COGS). Net profit = Revenue − All Expenses (COGS + operating expenses + taxes + interest). Net profit is always lower than gross profit.

What is a good profit margin for a small business?

It varies by industry. Retail: 2–5%, restaurants: 3–9%, SaaS: 60–80%, consulting: 20–40%, e-commerce: 10–20%. Compare to your industry average, not a universal benchmark.

How do I calculate break-even point?

Break-even units = Fixed Costs ÷ (Selling Price − Variable Cost per Unit). For example: $10,000 fixed costs, $50 price, $30 variable cost → break-even = $10,000 ÷ $20 = 500 units.

What is CAGR and how is it calculated?

CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) = (End Value ÷ Start Value)^(1/Years) − 1. For example: $10,000 growing to $16,105 in 5 years → CAGR = (16,105/10,000)^(1/5) − 1 = 10%.

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