What this calculator does
Courses, ebooks, templates and presets cost little to deliver, but each sale still loses money to platform and card fees, refunds, affiliate commissions and ads. This calculator shows what you keep from each sale, your profit after the one-time cost of making the product, how many sales cover that cost and the price that reaches the profit you want at the number of sales you expect.
How it is worked out
You keep per sale = price × (1 − platform fee − card fee − refunds − share of sales made by affiliates × their commission) − fixed fee per sale − ad cost per sale. Profit = sales × what you keep − one-time costs. Example: a $99 course with a 5% platform fee, 2.9% + $0.30 for cards, 5% refunds, 20% of sales through affiliates at 30% commission and $10 of ads per sale leaves about $69.99 per sale. 150 sales make about $8,498 after $2,000 of one-time costs; 29 sales cover those costs, and a price of about $111 would reach $10,000.
Choosing a price
- Start from the result you promise and what similar products cost, then check here that the price leaves enough after costs.
- Fees, refunds and ads take a bigger share of a cheap product, so a very low price can need many more sales.
- If your platform charges a monthly plan instead of a share of sales, add the plan for the months you sell to the one-time costs.
Rules to know
The FTC warns sellers of money-making courses and coaching that claims about what buyers will earn must not be false or unsupported, and must not make unusual results look typical. Affiliates who promote your product must disclose their commission. Sales are business income, and your costs are business expenses.
Frequently asked questions
How do I price an online course?
Work out what you keep per sale after all costs, then check how many sales you need at different prices to reach your goal. The calculator does both at once.
Should I use affiliates?
Affiliates can bring sales you would not make alone, but each of those sales leaves you less. Enter the share of sales they make and their commission to see the effect.
What refund rate should I expect?
It depends on the product and your refund policy. Use your own numbers once you have them.
Can I use real student results in my ads?
Only in a way that is truthful and not misleading: do not present unusual results as typical. Check the FTC guidance on earnings claims before you advertise.