Pop-up shop profit.

Worked example

A 3-day pop-up expects $1,600 a day, so $4,800 of sales. At a 50% margin gross profit is $2,400; 3% card fees take $144 and the host's 10% share $480. Event costs are a $600 space fee, $720 for 36 staff hours at $20, and $300 of other costs, $1,620 in total. Net profit is $156, a 3.25% margin and $4.33 per staff hour. Break-even sales are $4,378.38, or $1,459.46 a day, so the example clears break-even by less than one day's sales.

How it works

Gross profit = sales x gross margin. The host share and card fees come off sales, so each dollar of sales contributes (margin - fees - host share) toward the event costs. Break-even sales = event costs / that contribution.

Event costs are the space fee, labour (hours x hourly cost) and other costs. Put your own time in at a wage you would accept, otherwise a pop-up that "makes money" can pay you nothing for the hours. Unsold stock is not a loss in this model because it stays an asset, but it ties up cash and may need a markdown later.

Sales per day is the input everything depends on, so run the tool at a cautious figure and a good one. If you have no history, test the break-even number against how many customers you could realistically serve.

Sources and basis (checked 2026-10-08): Arithmetic on your inputs only. Profit and break-even are straight arithmetic on the sales, margin and cost figures you enter. No expected sales level is assumed.

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FAQ

How much do I need to sell at a pop-up to break even?

Divide the total event costs by the share of each sales dollar left after cost of goods, fees and any host share. The calculator shows this in total and per day.

Should I count my own time?

Yes. Enter a labour cost for your hours so the result shows what the event pays after you pay yourself, not just before.

Is a host share common?

Some venues charge a flat space fee, some take a share of sales, some both. Enter whichever applies; set the unused one to 0.