Unit economics and profit per order calculator

What the unit economics and profit per order calculator does

Growing sales does not help if each order loses money. Enter your average order value and the cost of goods, delivery, payment fees and marketing for each order, and the calculator shows the profit on one order, the number of orders needed each month to cover your fixed costs and the monthly profit at different volumes, so you can price and grow with confidence.

Who it is for

Online sellers, restaurants, delivery businesses and subscription businesses who sell in orders and want to know if each one pays.

How to use the workbook

1. Enter your average order value and the costs of one order.
2. Enter your fixed costs for the month.
3. Read the profit per order and the break-even number of orders.
4. Change the order volumes in the table to see the monthly profit.
5. Save a copy under a new name for each month or year, so earlier records stay as they were.

What is inside

• Profit on a single order
• Break-even orders per month
• Monthly profit at different volumes
• All inputs in labelled cells
• Chart of monthly profit by volume

The workbook has these sheets: Instructions, Volumes, By volume. The main table has the columns Orders per month; Revenue; Variable costs; Contribution; Fixed costs; Monthly profit. Yellow cells are for you to fill in and grey cells calculate by themselves, so leave the grey cells alone. The example rows show how it works; type over them with your own entries.

Tips for getting it right

• Use real averages from your last three months.
• Include every cost that rises with each order.
• Check the margin after discounts and refunds.
• Test what happens if costs rise by ten percent.

Why keep this record

Running a business on memory works until it grows. Writing the numbers down turns opinions into facts you can compare month to month, and shows early which products, customers or costs deserve attention. Even a simple workbook, used every week, usually beats a sophisticated one that is opened once a year.

Questions people ask

Do I need to know Excel formulas? No. Type into the yellow cells and the rest is worked out for you. The formulas are visible if you want to see how a figure is reached.

Can I add rows or change the layout? You can add your own columns to the right and your own notes. If you insert rows inside a table, copy the grey formula cells down so the new rows calculate too.

Will it work on my phone or in Google Sheets? Yes for viewing and typing, but dropdown lists and the charts look best in desktop Excel or LibreOffice.

Keeping it safe and up to date

A plan is only as good as the numbers you put in. Start with honest estimates, update the workbook as real figures arrive, and compare the two so your next estimate is better. Save a dated copy each month so you can see how your thinking changed.

Read how to build a cash flow forecast for the wider picture. Free calculators that go with it: Vat calculator. See more business templates or ask us for a custom one.

The workbook works in Microsoft Excel, LibreOffice and Google Sheets. It is a tool to help you work out and record figures, not tax, legal or accounting advice, and it is not affiliated with the Kenya Revenue Authority. If something does not work as described, contact us and we will put it right.

Related guides, calculators and templates

• Free calculator: VAT Calculator
• Guide: How to set up an M-Pesa till or Paybill for your business and account for it
• Guide: How KRA uses data matching and what it means for you
• Guide: How to protect your business from fraud and theft
• Another template: Customer order and delivery tracker
• Another template: Inventory and stock tracker (up to 2,000 items)
• Another template: Pricing and markup calculator

Need something different? Request a custom template, browse all guides or see every Excel template.