Last reviewed: 2026-11-11

Margin vs markup (and marketplace fees)

Direct answer: Margin = profit ÷ list price (or ÷ seller net when marketplace fees apply). Markup = profit ÷ cost. A 40% margin is not a 40% markup. When a marketplace takes a fee, raise the list price so margin still lands on what you keep after fees.

Estimates only. Real fee schedules and tax treatment will differ.

Margin ≠ markup

Same cost, different sell prices:

Cost €10 → 40% markup → sell €14 (profit €4 = 40% of cost).
Cost €10 → 40% margin → sell €16.67 (profit €6.67 = 40% of list).

Our print-cost tools use target margin on seller net: seller net = after-scrap cost ÷ (1 − margin %).

Marketplace fees

With a take-rate, keep margin on what you receive, then reverse-solve list price:

Seller net = after scrap ÷ (1 − margin %)
List price = seller net ÷ (1 − fee %)

Worked numbers (same job as how print cost is estimated): after scrap €6.64 → seller net ≈ €11.07 at 40% margin → list ≈ €12.30 at 10% fee. Profit stays ≈ €4.43; only the list price rises so the fee does not eat your margin.

Try the tools

/tools/price-after-fees — reverse-solve list from net
/tools/print-cost — full print cost + fee presets
/guides/how-print-cost-is-estimated — formulas and full worked example

Estimates only. Platform fee schedules change; treat presets as ballpark all-in percentages.