ClearFeeMath field note · 6 min
How much should you charge to keep $100?
If you need to take home exactly $100, charging $100 is almost never enough. The right customer price depends on the percentage fee, fixed charge, monthly cost, and number of transactions.
Start with the net amount
Traditional calculators move from price to payout. Reverse pricing starts with the amount you need to keep and works backward. For a fee expressed as a percentage plus a fixed charge, the customer price is your target plus the fixed charge, divided by one minus the percentage rate.
Why fixed fees matter
A fixed 30-cent charge is almost invisible on a $1,000 project but significant on a $3 download. Low-priced products need either a higher margin, bundles, or fewer transactions to protect the same take-home rate.
Include costs the platform does not show
Your platform statement is not your profit. Advertising, refunds, software, contractors, taxes, and currency conversion sit outside the headline fee. Use the calculated customer price as a floor, then add the margin your business needs.
Common questions
What price usually leaves $100 after a 2.9% + $0.30 fee?
Approximately $103.30, before taxes, refunds, currency conversion, or other business costs.
Should I pass processing fees to the customer?
That depends on local rules, platform terms, and customer expectations. Many sellers incorporate fees into the listed price instead of adding a separate surcharge.