How-to guide

How to Calculate Gross Margin

The percentage of revenue remaining after subtracting the direct cost of goods sold.

Gross Margin — in plain English

Gross margin answers: after paying for the products you sell, what percentage of the sale price is left? If you buy a product for £6 and sell it for £10, your gross margin is 40%. That 40% needs to cover your rent, staff, marketing, and everything else.

Formula
Gross Margin % = ((Revenue − COGS) ÷ Revenue) × 100

Why Gross Margin matters for your business

Gross margin is the foundation of your business model. If your gross margin is 15%, you have very little room to absorb operating costs. If it's 60%, you have breathing room. Gross margin varies enormously by industry — knowing yours tells you whether your pricing model is sustainable.

How AskBiz calculates Gross Margin from your data

Upload any sales file with cost and selling price columns. Ask "What is my gross margin?" AskBiz calculates overall gross margin and breaks it down by product, category, and time period. It flags products dragging down your average and suggests pricing or sourcing improvements.

1
Upload your data

Export a CSV or Excel file from your POS, accounting software, or spreadsheet and upload it to AskBiz.

2
Ask about Gross Margin

Type your question in plain English. Try: "What is my gross margin?" or "How to Calculate Gross Margin"

3
Get your answer instantly

AskBiz returns the calculation with a chart, KPI breakdown, and specific recommendations — in seconds.

Real-world example

An ecommerce seller finds their overall gross margin is 28%. AskBiz breaks this down: their own-brand products average 52% margin while resale products average only 11%. AskBiz recommends shifting the product mix toward own-brand to improve overall margin.

Ask AskBiz about your Gross Margin

Upload your CSV or Excel file and ask "How to Calculate Gross Margin" — get the answer with a chart and recommendations in under 60 seconds.

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Frequently asked questions about Gross Margin

Is gross margin the same as gross profit?

No. Gross profit is a money amount (e.g. £12,000). Gross margin is a percentage (e.g. 40%). Gross profit ÷ Revenue = Gross margin. Both are useful — gross profit for absolute size, margin for comparing products or businesses.