E-commerce / DTC
What Is Your True Margin After Returns? Calculate Real E-commerce Profit
What percentage of your orders are returned, refunded, or charged back — and what does the real margin look like after returns processing, restocking, credit-card disputes, and the cost of goods that come back unsellable?
Why This Matters
E-commerce margins are thinner than most founders realize once you account for returns, shipping, ad spend, and platform fees. If your customer acquisition cost exceeds first-order margin, you need repeat purchases to break even — and many DTC brands never get there. This diagnostic separates vanity metrics from real unit economics.