Estimate merch profit for your next small show.

How break-even works here

Break-even is the number of units you need to sell before your profit covers your total costs. This simulator adds up your production costs and expected fees, then divides by the average profit per unit across your mix. If you change prices, costs, or fees, the break-even point changes too.

A good target is to break even after 30 to 50 percent of your expected buyers. That way, even a slow night leaves you in the black.

Common mistakes by venue type

• DIY house shows: bringing too many shirts and not enough cheap items. People often buy small things at casual spaces.
• Small clubs: underpricing shirts. A $25 shirt often sells about as well as a $30 shirt if the room is right.
• Theaters and listening rooms: ignoring tote bags and vinyl. These crowds often support recordings and reusable items.
• Festivals: packing only one size run. You lose sales when mediums sell out early and large or small sizes sit untouched.

Stocking rules that help

• Keep at least 40 percent of your stock in low-cost items like stickers or buttons.
• Bring two small, two medium, and one large for every ten shirts.
• Bring one tote bag or vinyl option for every ten attendees if your crowd supports recordings or reusable items.
• Always assume 10 to 20 percent of your stock will not sell at full price.

Payment and fees

Most small sellers use a phone-based card reader. Expect around a 3 percent fee plus a small per-transaction charge. If the venue takes a cut, subtract that before you calculate profit. Cash sales help you avoid fees, but you need change and a safe place to keep the money.

If you are playing a new room, ask the venue before the show whether they take a merch cut, whether they handle sales for you, and whether they want a signed count sheet after the show.

Troubleshooting low-margin lineups

• If profit looks thin, raise your shirt or tote price by $3 to $5 before you add more products.
• If you are stuck with expensive production costs, shift the mix toward stickers, buttons, or digital add-ons.
• If the venue cut is high, negotiate a lower cut on shirts in exchange for a higher cut on cheaper items.
• If you keep getting burned on unsold stock, cut your total stock by 20 percent and watch whether profit per attendee improves.

Using this page before a tour leg

Run one scenario for each city or venue type on your tour. Save each gig in the browser. After the show, open the saved gig and enter your actual attendance, sales, and fees. Comparing estimate against actual helps you plan the next leg with better numbers.

You can also copy the scenario link and send it to your tour manager, promoter, or venue contact. It encodes your attendance, venue type, spend, and mix in the URL so they can open it without logging in.

What to double-check before you print stock

• Your real supplier costs, not just the defaults here.
• Whether the venue has table space for a shirt display.
• If you need a permit or vendor fee for that city or room.
• Whether your card reader is charged and your phone has signal inside the venue.
• If you have enough small bills for cash change.