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Break-even
How much do you need before you make a dollar?
Loaded with GST and wages, the real break-even is almost always higher than owners think. See the weekly revenue, the number of clients, and the per-day target you have to clear before any profit.
The numbers you enter
$
$
All employed staff.
$
Power, software, insurance, marketing — anything that doesn't change with bookings.
$
Your average client spend.
$
Product/colour + card fees per service.
Registered once turnover passes $75k.
What the numbers mean
Break-even — before a dollar of profit
$3,730/week
You need about $3,730 a week — roughly 44 services, or 9 a trading day — just to cover costs. Everything above that is profit; everything below is going backwards.
Services / trading day
9
to break even
Break-even / month
$16,150
~44 services/wk
Contribution / service
$65.27
84.5% of net price
Rent vs break-even
9.7%
healthy is 8–15%
How this is worked out
Contribution margin = net price (ex GST if registered) minus variable cost. Break-even services = fixed costs ÷ contribution margin. Benchmarks (illustrative): total team wages 45% or under (pure service payroll 30–35%), rent 8–15%, product 5–10%, target net profit 15–25% before owner drawings and tax.
A working tool, not financial advice. It uses the figures and assumptions you enter — check them against your own numbers and your accountant before any pricing, wage or financial decision. Award and tax figures change (often each 1 July); verify current rates at fairwork.gov.au and ato.gov.au. Shear Profit gives no tax or financial advice.
Want this across your whole business — properly? Run your free Profit Snapshot and we'll show you exactly where the money's going. Matt Grumley, in your corner.
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