Understanding Profit Margin
Profit margin shows what percentage of each dollar in revenue is actual profit. It's a key indicator of business health.
Margin vs Markup
These are often confused but measure profit differently:
- Margin: Profit ÷ Revenue (what percentage of price is profit)
- Markup: Profit ÷ Cost (how much you add to cost)
Example
If you sell an item for $100 that costs $60:
- Profit: $40
- Margin: $40 ÷ $100 = 40%
- Markup: $40 ÷ $60 = 66.67%
Improving Profit Margins
- Raise prices: If you provide value, customers will pay more
- Reduce COGS: Negotiate with suppliers, buy in bulk
- Cut overhead: Reduce rent, utilities, unnecessary expenses
- Increase volume: Spread fixed costs over more units