Gross margin: Definition, Formula & Why It Matters

Also called: Gross profit margin

Gross margin is the percentage of a sale left after the cost of the item itself, before fees and operating expenses. It measures the raw spread on your gear and is a quick gauge of whether a product is worth selling at all.

Gross margin formula

Gross margin = (gross sale − COGS) ÷ gross sale × 100

Example

Selling a $300-cost item for $640 gives a gross margin of (640 − 300) ÷ 640 = 53.1%.

Why it matters for Reverb sellers

Gross margin shows the ceiling on your profitability. If the gross margin is thin, no amount of fee optimization will make the item a good earner, because the spread was never there to begin with.

How Verbstack helps

Verbstack reports gross and net margin on every listing so you can spot weak products before they pile up.

Try it yourself with the Reverb Profit Margin Calculator.

Track this on every order, automatically.

  • Real fees, margins, and profit on every Reverb sale
  • COGS and inventory tracked for you, no spreadsheet
  • Full history and a live monthly P&L
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See this number on every order.

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