Profit by SKU

Usage guide

How to Use the Break-even ROAS by SKU Sheet

A step-by-step walkthrough for the Excel workbook. Learn where to download it, which cells to edit, how to read the decision labels, and what to avoid.

1. Start here

The Break-even ROAS by SKU Sheet is an Excel workbook that helps you decide which Shopify products to scale, watch, pause, or fix after accounting for variable costs and ad spend. It is a SKU-level contribution model, not full-store accounting software.

Before you open the file, have these numbers ready for at least one product: list price, typical discount percentage, included tax or VAT rate, product cost, shipping cost, packaging cost, payment processing fees, estimated refund rate, and your current or target cost per acquisition.

2. Download after payment

After you complete payment through Creem, the download is available immediately on the order confirmation page. Creem also sends a receipt email. Open that email and click Download File to get the Excel workbook.

If you cannot find the email, check your spam or promotions folder and search for "Payment receipt" from Creem. If the download link does not work, contact us through the feedback form linked at the bottom of this page and include your order email.

3. Fill the yellow input cells

The workbook uses yellow cells to mark the fields you should edit. Start with the Fee Settings tab to set your store-wide defaults for payment processing, shipping estimate, packaging estimate, and refund reserve. Then open the SKU Profit Tracker tab and enter each product:

  • SKU or product name — your internal identifier.
  • List price — the regular selling price before discounts.
  • Discount % — average discount or coupon impact for this product.
  • Included tax/VAT % — if your list price includes tax, enter the rate here.
  • Product cost — your landed cost per unit.
  • Shipping cost — what you pay to ship one unit.
  • Packaging cost — box, filler, tape, or insert cost per unit.
  • Payment fee % and fixed fee — override the store default if this SKU uses a different rate.
  • Refund rate % — expected return or refund rate for this product.
  • CPA — your current or target cost per acquisition for this SKU.

Do not edit the white formula cells. They calculate net selling price, contribution margin, break-even ROAS, and max CPA automatically. If you accidentally overwrite a formula, download a fresh copy from your Creem receipt.

4. Read the SKU decision labels

Each SKU row shows a decision label based on the numbers you entered:

Scale
The SKU contribution margin can support the current or target CPA. This product has room to grow with more ad spend.
Watch
The SKU is close to break-even. Monitor performance before increasing spend. Small changes in CPA, refunds, or discounting can push it into unprofitable territory.
Pause
Ad economics are not working at the current CPA. The contribution after ads is negative or too thin. Pause or reduce ad spend until the numbers improve.
Fix
Unit economics need work before advertising. The contribution before ads is already zero or negative. Look at price, product cost, shipping, discount rate, or refund rate before buying traffic.

5. Common mistakes

  • Using list price instead of discounted selling price. If you regularly run 20% off, enter that discount so the net selling price reflects what you actually collect.
  • Forgetting refund reserve. Even a 2–3% refund rate changes break-even ROAS. Include a realistic estimate.
  • Treating ROAS as profit. A 3× ROAS with thin margins can still lose money after product cost, shipping, fees, and refunds.
  • Ignoring shipping, packaging, and payment fees. These costs add up quickly. Enter them even if they feel small.
  • Treating SKU contribution as full-store net profit. This sheet does not include rent, payroll, software subscriptions, income tax, or other fixed overhead.
  • Editing formula cells instead of input cells. Only edit yellow cells. If a formula breaks, download a fresh copy.

6. What this sheet does not cover

  • Multi-SKU carts or bundled orders.
  • Repeat purchases, lifetime value, or subscription revenue.
  • Inventory carrying costs, warehousing, or freight.
  • Fixed overhead: rent, payroll, software, insurance, income tax.
  • Marketplace fees beyond the payment fee fields.
  • Currency conversion or multi-currency selling.
  • Full P&L or bookkeeping reports.

For most Shopify sellers, the sheet covers the variable costs that matter for ad decisions. If your business has significant fixed costs per SKU or complex multi-currency needs, use this sheet as a starting point, not a replacement for an accountant.

7. Send feedback

Found a bug? Want Google Sheets support? Need a feature? Use the feedback form to tell us what would make the sheet more useful for your store.