Markup vs margin
Why a 25% markup is not a 25% margin, with a fictional A$765 example and the two formulas.
Quote template Australia · markup vs margin · break-even calculator
A tradie quote template for Australian sole traders
Work out a break-even hourly rate, check markup versus margin, and price a job before you send the quote. The Aussie Sole Trader Quote & Break-Even Pack is a downloadable spreadsheet for one-person service businesses. It is a planning tool, not a promise of work or income.
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The idea in one minute
Start with the income you want to recover, add overheads, then divide by realistic billable hours. Cost each job using that recovery rate and actual direct costs. Apply your target margin once. This is planning, not a guarantee of work or income.
02
Inside the paid pack
A no-macro Excel workbook and a Quick Start guide, delivered by email after payment. The paid files are not available as public downloads on this site.
Setup for the income you want to recover, an optional provision, and overheads.
A transparent rate builder: annual recovery divided by the hours you can bill.
A quote calculator that costs the job, then applies your target margin once.
An opt-in 10% GST line, off by default. The switch does not decide GST registration.
A client-ready printable quote that hides your costs.
A 50-row manual quote log, plus a fictional worked example in Australian dollars.
No macros or external connections. Keep an untouched master. Only export the Client Quote sheet to a customer — never send the whole workbook. Recheck formulas and print layout in your own copy of Excel or Google Sheets. General planning only; not tax, legal, or financial advice.
03
A fictional sample quote
These figures are a worked example only. They are not a typical result or an income claim.
| 6 hours × A$77.50 cost rate | A$465.00 |
| Materials | A$240.00 |
| Other direct costs | A$60.00 |
| Job cost | A$765.00 |
| Subtotal at 25% true margin | A$1,020.00 |
| Planning surplus | A$255.00 |
| Equivalent markup | 33.33% |
| GST 10% (optional, shown on for this sample) | A$102.00 |
| Total | A$1,122.00 |
In the pack, GST starts off. Turning it on in the sample adds A$102, for a total of A$1,122. That switch does not decide whether you are registered for GST.
Free markup and margin calculator
Same fictional cost, two different questions. A 25% margin on A$765 is A$1,020. A 25% markup on A$765 is A$956.25, which is a 20% margin. GST stays out of this sample tool.
Result, before GST
Enter your figures and choose Calculate to see a result.
04
Free quoting guides
Plain-English notes for Australian sole traders. They are general information, not tax, legal, or financial advice.
How to quote a job in Australia
Scope the work, cost the job, then show a clear GST-inclusive or exclusive total. A quote is not a tax invoice.
Sole trader hourly rate and break-even
Divide a planned year of drawings and overheads by the hours you can actually invoice.
GST on quotes basics
The ATO’s A$75,000 GST turnover threshold, 10% versus one-eleventh, and tax invoice basics.
Checkout
The Aussie Sole Trader Quote & Break-Even Pack is A$29 one-time. Pay securely with Stripe. After payment, a download link is emailed to the address you use at checkout. The paid workbook and Quick Start guide are not stored as public files on this site.
The link expires in 7 days and can be used a limited number of times. Keep an untouched master copy.
Buy now – A$29Common questions
What is the Aussie Sole Trader Quote & Break-Even Pack?
It is a no-macro Excel workbook and a Quick Start PDF for Australian sole traders and other one-person service businesses. You set up a recovery rate, cost a job, apply a target margin once, and print a client quote that hides your workings. It is a planning tool. It does not guarantee work, income, or a particular result, and it is not tax, legal, or financial advice.
How do I get the files after I pay?
Pay A$29 one-time through Stripe using the Buy now button. A download link is emailed to the address you use at checkout. The link expires in 7 days and can be used a limited number of times. The paid workbook is not stored as a public file on this website.
What is the difference between markup and margin?
Markup adds a percentage on top of cost. True margin is the share of the selling price left after cost. A 25% markup on a fictional A$765 job cost is A$956.25. A 25% true margin on the same cost is A$1,020. They are not the same price. There is a free calculator on this page and a longer explanation in the markup vs margin guide.
Does this tell me whether I should register for GST?
No. The workbook has an optional 10% GST line that starts off. That switch does not decide registration and does not file a BAS. The ATO sets the rules, including a A$75,000 GST turnover threshold for most businesses. See the GST on quotes guide and the ATO, or speak with a registered tax agent or BAS agent.
Can I try something before I buy?
Yes. Download the free preview PDF and use the markup vs margin calculator in your browser. Neither one asks for your contact details. The calculator is not sent, saved, or emailed.
What if the file is faulty?
If a file you purchase is faulty or not as described, you can ask for a refund. Email [email protected] or use the support details on your receipt. This does not limit any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law.
Policies
Terms
Aussie Sole Trader sells one digital product: the Aussie Sole Trader Quote & Break-Even Pack, priced at A$29 one-time. The pack is a no-macro Excel workbook and a Quick Start PDF for Australian sole traders and other one-person service businesses.
It is a general planning tool. It is not tax, legal, or financial advice, and it does not guarantee work, income, or a particular result. You should recheck formulas and print layout in your own spreadsheet app, keep an untouched master, and only send a client the Client Quote sheet — never the full workbook.
Buying through the Stripe checkout on this page is an offer you can accept online. Australian Consumer Law rights are not excluded.
Refund policy
This is a digital product. If a file you purchase is faulty or not as described, you can ask for a refund. Email [email protected] or use the support details on your receipt. This does not limit any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law.
Privacy
This is a static website. The free markup and margin calculator runs only in your browser and is not sent, saved, or emailed. Downloading the free preview PDF does not require you to leave a name or contact details. This page does not use advertising or analytics cookies.
Payments are processed by Stripe. Any personal information collected to fulfil an order is used only to take payment, deliver the files, and handle support or refunds. We do not sell personal information.