Know the minimum volume
The scenario breaks even at 559 whole units. It needs 894 units to match baseline profit, compared with 950 units planned.
Test the decision.
See the trade-offs.
A compact planning tool that shows how changes in price, sales volume, discounts and costs affect monthly operating profit—and explains the difference.
Independent portfolio example · fictional monthly assumptions · USD · no client outcomes.
THE BUSINESS QUESTION
Would a higher price still improve profit if fewer units sold?
MY APPROACH
Model the unit economics, compare two sets of assumptions, and reconcile five contributions to the profit change.
THE DELIVERABLE
A browser-only planner with editable inputs, break-even and target-volume calculations, and a downloadable summary.
WORKED EXAMPLE
Less revenue. More operating profit.
A 5% higher list price and 5% lower volume, with the discount and costs unchanged. These are supplied assumptions, not a forecast of demand.
BASELINE PROFIT / MONTH$15,000.001,000 units · $100 list price
SCENARIO PROFIT / MONTH$17,512.50950 units · $105 list price
MODELED PROFIT CHANGE+$2,512.50Before interest and tax
Both plans use a 5% discount, $55 variable cost per unit and $25,000 monthly fixed costs. Net revenue falls from $95,000.00 to $94,762.50, while higher contribution per unit more than offsets the lost volume.
| Assumption changed | Effect on monthly profit |
|---|---|
| Sales volume | -$2,000.00 |
| List price | +$4,512.50 |
| Discount | $0.00 |
| Variable cost | $0.00 |
| Fixed costs | $0.00 |
| Total change | +$2,512.50 |
Sequential order: volume, list price, discount, variable cost, then fixed costs. Individual contributions depend on that order; the total does not.
Expose the assumptions
Price changes do not automatically produce a demand estimate. Visitors supply the expected volume response and can test several possibilities.
Carry the evidence forward
The text download includes both input sets, outputs, the driver breakdown, formulas and limitations. Inputs stay in the browser.
CALCULATIONS AND CHECKS
A model you can inspect.
Transparent formulas
Contribution per unit equals discounted selling price less variable cost. Operating profit equals units times contribution, less fixed costs. Break-even rounds up to whole units.
Tested edge cases
Checks cover simultaneous assumption changes, zero revenue, negative contribution, invalid inputs, and the minimum units needed to break even or match baseline profit.
Read the model checks ↗Visible limits
The model assumes one product or stable product mix and constant unit costs within capacity. It excludes demand forecasting, capacity changes, tax, interest, inventory timing and cash flow.
CONNECTED SALES PROJECTS
From results to a decision.
Choose the question you need to answer next.
EXCEL DASHBOARD
See what happened
Read sales performance, margin pressure and the gap to plan.
Explore the project →SQL INVESTIGATIONTrace the drivers
Follow the same source records through queries and reconciled results.
Explore the project →PROFIT SCENARIO PLANNER · CURRENT PROJECTTest a possible next step
Explore how new price, volume and cost assumptions could change profit.
Project overview →Excel and SQL share a fictional annual dataset and report gross profit. The planner uses a separate monthly example and includes fixed costs to calculate operating profit. It does not import or forecast the dashboard results.
APPLY THIS TO YOUR TEAM
Need to test a business decision?
Discuss a scenario model with clear assumptions, useful comparisons and checks that your team can follow.