Profit Margin vs Markup โ Understanding the Difference
Margin and markup both describe profitability, but they're calculated differently and are often confused. Margin is profit as a percentage of selling price. Markup is profit as a percentage of cost. A product that costs $60 and sells for $100 has a 40% margin (40 รท 100) but a 66.7% markup (40 รท 60).
Typical Profit Margins by Industry
- Software/SaaS โ 60โ80% gross margin
- Retail โ 20โ50% gross margin
- Restaurants โ 3โ9% net margin (thin!)
- Healthcare โ 5โ20% net margin
- Manufacturing โ 5โ20% gross margin
- E-commerce โ 10โ30% gross margin
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good profit margin?
It depends heavily on industry. A 10% net margin is considered good for most businesses. Software companies often achieve 20โ30%+ net margins. Grocery stores operate on under 3% net margins. Compare your margin against industry benchmarks rather than a universal number.
What is the difference between gross and net margin?
Gross margin subtracts only the direct cost of goods sold (COGS) from revenue. Net margin subtracts all expenses โ COGS, operating expenses, taxes, and interest. Gross margin tells you production efficiency; net margin tells you overall business profitability.