Markup
Markup is the amount added to the cost of a product or service to determine its selling price, expressed as a percentage of cost. The formula is: (Selling Price − Cost) ÷ Cost × 100. Markup differs from margin—markup is profit as a percentage of cost, while margin is profit as a percentage of sellin
Markup Definition
Markup is the amount added to the cost of a product or service to determine its selling price, expressed as a percentage of cost. The formula is: (Selling Price − Cost) ÷ Cost × 100. Markup differs from margin—markup is profit as a percentage of cost, while margin is profit as a percentage of selling price. Both measure profitability but from different perspectives.
Markup in Practice — Example
A gift shop buys handmade candles for $8 each and sells them for $20. The markup is ($20 − $8) ÷ $8 = 150%. This means the selling price is 150% more than the cost, or 2.5 times the cost. The same transaction has a 60% margin: ($20 − $8) ÷ $20 = 60%. The shop owner uses markup to set prices quickly—"I need a 150% markup to cover overhead and profit."
Why Markup Matters for Your Books
Markup is the simplest way to ensure your pricing covers all costs and generates profit. If your overhead and desired profit equal 120% of your direct costs, you need at least a 120% markup to break even. Many retailers and wholesalers use standard markup percentages (2x, 3x, keystone) to price products consistently.
Understanding markup also helps with product mix decisions. A item with a 200% markup contributes more to overhead and profit per dollar of cost than one with a 100% markup—even if the 100% markup item has higher absolute dollar profit.
Markup calculations are also essential for quote development and cost-plus pricing. If you know your costs and required markup percentage, you can quote projects confidently without complex margin calculations.
How Markup Shows Up in QuickBooks
QBO doesn't calculate markup automatically, but you can build it into your pricing. When setting up Products & Services, enter your cost in the "I buy this product/service from a vendor" field and set the sales price to achieve your desired markup. For a 150% markup on a $10 cost item, set the sales price to $25. Create custom fields or use the description field to note markup percentages for future reference. Export your product list to Excel to analyze markup across your entire catalog.
Common Mistakes
FAQ
Q: What's a typical markup for retail businesses?
A: Retail markups vary widely—grocery stores might use 25-30%, clothing retailers 100-300%, and jewelry stores 250-400%. The key is ensuring your markup covers all expenses and generates reasonable profit in your specific market.
Q: How do I convert between markup and margin?
A: Markup to Margin: Markup ÷ (100 + Markup). Margin to Markup: Margin ÷ (100 − Margin). A 150% markup equals 60% margin. A 60% margin requires 150% markup.
Related Terms
> Need help making sense of your books? Ketchup cleans up your QuickBooks in 3–7 business days. Get your price →
Related Terms
A current liability is a debt or obligation your business expects to pay within one year. Accounts payable, credit card balances, payroll taxes due, and the current portion of loans are all current liabilities.
Bill payment in bookkeeping refers to the process of paying a vendor bill that's already been recorded in your accounting system. It's a two-step process: first you enter the bill (creating an accounts payable liability), then you pay it (reducing AP and cash). This separation is key for accrual bas
The break-even point is the sales level at which your total revenue exactly equals your total costs — you're not making a profit, but you're not losing money either.
A cost center is a business unit or department that incurs expenses but doesn't directly generate revenue. Cost centers support revenue-producing activities — think HR, IT, accounting, facilities, or R&D. They're evaluated on their ability to control costs and provide value to the organization, not
Need these terms applied to your books?
Accounting Ketchup catches up your QuickBooks so the glossary becomes your reality. Flat rate.