A formula for the lowest price that avoids a loss and the price that hits your profit target after platform fees, shipping and discounts, with two invented worked examples and a pre-campaign check.
Selling every day, money coming in, and nothing left at month end? It happens often, because the selling price never accounted for fees, shipping and discounts. This article gives a pricing formula, a fill-in table and two invented examples you can use before joining a sale campaign.
Key takeaways
- Profit per item = price minus all 6 cost blocks, not just the product cost
- Lowest no-loss price = (cost + fixed fees) / (1 - fee share)
- Before discounting, calculate the largest discount that still leaves a profit
NoteChecked Oct 2026
This article teaches the formula and states no platform's fee rates, because rates and fee names change. Every number in the examples is invented to teach the method. The fee types mentioned were checked in Oct 2026; before calculating for real, open the official fee policy page of your platform.
6 cost blocks people forget
Most people price at product cost plus the profit they want. But several costs are deducted before the money reaches you. This table helps you count them all.
6 cost blocks per item
Scroll the table sideways to see the remaining columns
Block 6 is forgotten most. With no data yet, start with a small allowance per item and adjust after 1-2 months of orders. Tax depends on your business type; ask the Revenue Department or an accountant if unsure.
The lowest no-loss price
Split costs into two kinds. Fixed amounts per item or order: product cost, packing, shipping you cover, per-order fee. And percentages of the selling price: commission and payment fee. One formula handles both.
TipThe core formula
No-loss price = (cost per item + fixed fee per order) / (1 - total percentage fees). For a profit, subtract your target profit share too: divide by (1 - fees - target profit).
Add up cost per item
Add product cost, packing, shipping you cover and a damage allowance into one number.
Group the fees in two
Fixed fees per order in baht; percentage fees added into one figure. Read them from the official page.
Pick your target profit
Set it as a percentage of price, such as 15%, and plug it into the formula.
Round up and check backwards
Round to an easy-to-sell price, then deduct every cost to confirm the profit.
Fill-in table: cost + platform fees + shipping + discount
Copy the box below into Notes or Google Sheets and fill one product at a time. For every fee, open the official page for the latest number.
Price calculator per product
ExampleFilled-in example
Product: 1 box of butter cookies / cost: 130 baht / fixed fee: 2 baht / fees: 10% / target profit: 20% / price = 132 / 0.70, about 189 baht (invented numbers)
Two invented worked examples
Every number is invented. The 10% total fee and 2 baht fixed fee are set to teach, not any platform's real rates.
Two invented products: A cookies, B stickers (baht)
Scroll the table sideways to see the remaining columns
Check product A at 189 baht: fees of 10% are 18.9, plus 2 fixed and 130 cost leaves about 38 baht, around 20% of the price. Product B at 83 baht leaves about 12.7 baht, around 15%.
Before an 11.11 sale: the promo break-even
A discount cuts profit per item faster than expected, because costs do not drop and percentage fees are still charged on the discounted price.
WarningDiscounting below break-even
Product B at 83 baht with 20% off sells at 66.4 baht, below the 69 baht break-even. Each sale loses about 2.2 baht, so more sales means more loss (invented numbers).
Work out two things before joining: the largest discount that keeps an acceptable profit, and how many times more you must sell to earn the same total profit. For product A at 189 baht, accepting a 10% profit allows a discount of about 12% (selling near 165 baht). Profit per item falls from about 38 to about 16.5 baht, so you need about 2.3 times the sales to earn the same total. These are invented numbers.
Check before joining a campaign
Done 0/6
For the month-long prep plan, read 11.11 and 12.12 seller prep checklist.
Where to check the latest fees
Do not use numbers heard in seller groups or old clips. Rates vary by category, shop type and campaign period. Open the official page of the platform you sell on, on the day you calculate.
Fees to look up
Scroll the table sideways to see the remaining columns
The seller help centers of Shopee, Lazada and TikTok Shop each explain their own fees. Search for the fee policy page or check your shop's Seller Center. Note the date you checked, and recalculate whenever a platform announces a change.
Article11.11 and 12.12 Seller Prep: A 30-Day Countdown Checklist for Small ShopsA D-30 to D+3 countdown for small sellers before 11.11 and 12.12, with chat reply templates, countdown captions and a margin check before you discount.If you sell through content on TikTok or Instagram, see TikTok and Instagram, and the overview in starting to sell online through social media.
ArticleNew Online Shop, Zero Sales: How to Win Your First Orders from Social MediaYour product posts get silence because people haven't seen you and don't yet trust you. Here is what to fix before spending on ads, so every selling post works.FAQ
What percentage is the Shopee fee
It depends on category, shop type and period, so this article states no number. Open the fee policy page in Shopee's seller help center and fill the latest rate into the table above.
How do I price an item so I do not lose money
Count all 6 cost blocks, apply price = (cost + fixed fee) / (1 - fees - profit), then check backwards by deducting every cost again.
Should I add shipping to the item price
If you cover shipping for the customer, count it as cost. If the customer pays, do not. Make it clear before they order.
What profit percentage is reasonable
No single number fits every shop. Start from your running costs, then add profit to cover ads, returns and working cash.
Should prices match across platforms and my own shop
Not necessarily, because fees differ. Calculate each channel separately, then decide whether to match.
Summary
A good price is one that leaves a profit after everything is deducted. Run every product through the fill-in table, record the date you checked fees, and calculate the largest discount before joining any campaign.
