Free tool

Cafe GP calculator

See the gross profit (GP) on any drink, bake or sandwich. Put in what goes into it and what you charge, and it shows what each one costs you, the GP you make and the price you'd need to hit your target.

ItemMenu price (£)VAT in the price

Ingredients and packaging

What	Pack price (£)	Pack size	Used per item	Cost
				£0.40
				£0.12
				£0.09

Use the same unit for pack size and amount used: grams with grams, ml with ml, or items with items. Enter supplier prices without VAT if you're VAT registered.

Flat white makes

78.7%

gross profit, or £2.23 on each one sold

Cost to make: £0.60
Price without VAT: £2.83
Gross profit: £2.23 · 78.7%

Target GP%

Charge £2.45 to make 70% on Flat white.

What is GP?

Gross profit is what's left from a sale after paying for what went into it: the coffee, milk, cake or bread, and the cup or bag it goes out in. It's usually shown as a percentage of the price, so you can compare a £3.40 flat white with a £7.50 toastie.

GP % = (price without VAT − cost to make) ÷ price without VAT

It leaves out wages, rent and energy, which are paid from your gross profit. That's why GP needs to be high: a cafe usually needs around 65 to 75% across the menu to cover those and still make money.

Why take VAT out first?

If you're VAT registered, a sixth of a £3.60 latte (60p) is VAT and goes to HMRC. Your GP is worked out on the £3.00 you keep. Hot drinks and anything eaten in carry 20% VAT. Most cold takeaway food carries none.

Typical targets

Coffee and tea: 75 to 85%
Cakes and bakes bought in: 60 to 70%
Food made on site: 65 to 70%

These are rules of thumb, not law. Read more in our guide to working out GP on a flat white.

Want this for your whole menu, every week?

Quokka keeps every recipe's GP up to date as supplier prices change, and tells you when one slips. Join the waitlist for early access.