$7,000 needed / $22.00 contribution
- Required sales
- $12,727.27
- Contribution per unit
- $22.00
- Fixed costs
- $5,000.00
- Target profit
- $2,000.00
This does not check whether that many units can actually be produced, sold, shipped, or supported.
Profit Goal Calculator
Use this free profit goal calculator to estimate the unit sales and sales revenue needed to cover fixed costs and reach a target profit.
Formula steps Estimate limits shown Examples included Private history
Formula steps
- Add target profit to fixed costs.
- Subtract variable cost per unit from price per unit.
- Divide the total money goal by contribution margin per unit.
- Multiply required units by price per unit for required sales.
How to use the profit goal calculator
- Enter the requested dollar amounts, rates, terms, tax settings, or contribution details.
- Use rates as percentages, such as 6.5 for 6.5%, and check whether a field asks for a monthly or annual amount.
- Press the calculate button to see the answer, supporting metrics, and formula steps.
- Use the result as a planning estimate only, then copy it if the assumptions look right.
Common uses
Set a sales target for a product, event, or service package.
Compare how price or variable cost changes the number of units needed.
Plan a target profit after covering fixed costs.
Use after a break-even check when zero profit is not enough.
Examples
Units needed for the profit goal
Event sales target
Service sales goal
Frequently asked questions
Plain-language answers about when to use the estimate, what your numbers mean, what is left out, and how privacy works.
When should I use the Profit Goal Calculator?
Use it for early planning and side-by-side comparisons, especially for tasks like these: Set a sales target for a product, event, or service package. Compare how price or variable cost changes the number of units needed. Treat the answer as a planning estimate, not a final quote.
What do the main Profit Goal Calculator inputs mean?
Fixed costs means costs to cover before profit, such as setup, rent, platform fees, or equipment for the planning period. Target profit means extra money you want left after fixed and variable costs are covered. Price and variable cost per unit means the sale price and per-sale cost used to calculate contribution margin.
What is the Profit Goal Calculator doing with my numbers?
In plain language: The calculator adds fixed costs and target profit, then divides by contribution margin per unit, which is price per unit minus variable cost per unit. If the result seems too high or too low, first check whether each field expects a monthly amount, annual amount, dollar value, or percent.
How should I read the Profit Goal Calculator answer?
Read the main answer first, then use the supporting lines to see why the answer moved. For finance calculators, the extra lines often explain interest, tax, fees, principal, payment timing, or totals paid over time. Those pieces matter because two results can look close at first but cost very different amounts later.
What does this estimate leave out?
This does not include capacity limits, production delays, refunds, taxes, discounts, mixed product sales, marketing spend changes, or accounting advice. Real finance decisions can also depend on fees, timing, local rules, credit details, and provider-specific terms.
What should I double-check before copying the result?
Check the rate, time period, compounding or payment frequency, and whether the value is before tax or after tax. A common mistake is mixing monthly and yearly numbers, which can make a finance answer look believable even when it is off by a lot.
How is this different from break-even?
Break-even aims for zero profit after costs. Profit goal adds your target profit on top of fixed costs, so the required units and sales are higher.
What if I sell more than one product?
This simple version works best for one product or one average bundle. If you sell many products with different prices and costs, use a weighted average contribution margin or calculate each product separately.
Does the site save my finance inputs?
No. The calculator runs in your browser tab. Recent answers stay only on the page while you use it, and they are not sent to a server.