Expected sales
Reachable audience × conversion rate.
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Online course profit calculator.
Use this online course revenue calculator to estimate buyers, refunds, platform fees, payment costs, profit margin, and the audience required to break even—before you spend money on a launch.
- 11
- editable assumptions
- 5
- platform presets
- $0
- and no email required
Interactive forecast
Model the launch before you fund it.
Use one consistent planning period—one month, cohort, or launch window—for audience, revenue, and costs. Every assumption remains editable.
01
Demand and offer
Estimate reachable people, conversion, and price.
02
Platform and costs
Start with a verified preset, then edit any charge.
Adjust payment processing
Estimated profit $1,951 from 20.0 projected sales.
Estimated profit
$1,95168.9% margin after modeled costs- 20.0
- projected sales
- $2,980
- gross revenue
- $880
- refunds, fees, and costs
Break-even estimate
5 salesor about 205 reachable people at a 2% conversion rateCollected after refunds$2,831.00
Platform costs−$292.60
Payment processing−$87.80
Production and advertising−$500.00
Conversion sensitivity
1% conversion$725
2% conversion$1,951
5% conversion$5,627
Planning estimate only. Taxes, currency conversion, chargebacks, financing, creator labor, and costs not entered above are excluded.
Transparent math
Revenue is exciting. Contribution margin keeps the launch alive.
A sales forecast becomes useful only after refunds, variable fees, and fixed launch costs are included. The calculator keeps each layer visible.
Collected revenue
Expected sales × price, less modeled refunds.
Total costs
Platform, processing, production, launch, and advertising costs.
Estimated profit
Collected revenue − all modeled costs.
Profit = collected revenue − platform costs − processing − production − advertising
Preset assumptions
Use a verified starting point, then make it yours.
Presets are convenience inputs—not endorsements. Annual-plan monthly equivalents and platform fees reflect the full pricing audit completed August 17, 2026.
| Preset | Subscription | Platform charge modeled | Research |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gumroad direct | $0 | 10% + $0.50 per sale | Gumroad fee guide |
| Thinkific Basic | $40/month | 0% native-payment assumption | Check gateway fees |
| Teachable Starter | $29/month | 7.5% platform fee | Teachable fee guide |
| Podia Mover | $42/month | 5% platform fee | Podia fee guide |
| LearnWorlds Starter | $24/month | $5 per retained enrollment | LearnWorlds fee guide |
Payment processing is editable and separate. Confirm taxes, currencies, gateway eligibility, refund rules, and final checkout prices with each provider.
Method questions
What the forecast can—and cannot—tell you.
How accurate is an online course profit calculator?
It is a scenario model, not a prediction. The output is only as useful as your audience, conversion, refund, price, and cost assumptions. Test a conservative, expected, and optimistic scenario before committing money.
What conversion rate should I use for an online course?
Use your own measured rate when possible. If you do not have one, model several rates instead of treating a single benchmark as truth. This calculator shows 1%, your selected rate, and 5% side by side.
Does the calculator include platform and payment fees?
Yes. It includes editable subscription, percentage, per-sale, payment-processing, refund, production, and advertising assumptions. Taxes, currency conversion, chargebacks, financing, and creator labor are excluded unless you add them to your costs.
Why are refunded sales removed before fees?
The model assumes fees are ultimately charged on retained sales. Refund and fee treatment varies by platform and payment provider, so adjust the inputs or add the difference to production and launch costs when your provider does not return fees.