Ziva · free tools

How much do I need to sell just to break even?

Break even calculator

Use one month's numbers. The same month in every box.

A sale here is whatever you sell one of: a job, an order, a client's monthly retainer. Keep the same unit everywhere.

Your P&L: rent, salaried staff, insurance, software, the phone. If a cost stays about the same in a slow month, it's fixed. Staff hours that rise when sales rise belong with the direct costs below instead.

The bills that arrive whether or not you sell.

The income line of your P&L for the month, or your point-of-sale total.

Total sales for the month, before sales tax.

Your point-of-sale count, or your invoice list. In QuickBooks, the invoice list gives you the count.

Jobs, orders, invoices, whichever is your unit.

The Cost of Goods Sold section of your P&L, plus hourly wages tied to jobs and card processing fees if they sit elsewhere. If you'd sold nothing this month, these would be near zero.

Everything you spent only because you sold: materials, food, card fees, hourly staff on jobs.

What you draw or pay yourself in a month.

Optional. Add it so break-even covers your pay too, not just the bills.