● understand the diff erence between percentage margin and percentage mark-up
● solve problems involving both concepts
Margin and mark-up refer to the profi t (the diff erence between the cost and selling price) as a percentage of either the selling price or the cost price, respectively. As they both deal with the same numbers, it is easy to become confused.
Profi t = selling price – cost price
Margin and mark-up are more commonly expressed as a percentage. If the seller/supplier makes a profi t, the percentage will be positive. However, if they make a loss, the percentage will be negative.
Margin is calculated as a percentage of the selling price.
Percentage profi t margin = profi t where selling price = cost price + profi t
_________ selling price × 100
Mark-up is calculated as a percentage of the cost price.
Percentage profi t mark-up = profi t
_______ cost price × 100
Worked example 1 A golf store pays its wholesaler €40 for a certain club, and then sells it to a golfer for €75. Find: (i) the cost price
(ii) the profi t
Solution (i)
(ii) (iii) the percentage mark-up
(iv) the percentage margin
Worked example 2
An electronics shop buys refurbished mobile phones for €65 and sells them for €89. Calculate, to the nearest percent: (i) the mark-up for the phones
(ii) the percentage profi t margin.
The shop also sells eBooks. The cost of the eBook is €60, and the shop sells them with a percentage profi t margin of 25%.