What does this channel contribution planner calculate?

It subtracts the variable costs you enter from one unit of net realized revenue to show contribution per unit and contribution margin percentage.

Does it calculate actual accounting margin or recommend a channel?

No. It uses only browser-local assumptions entered by the operator and does not determine a complete P&L, actual accounting result, contract outcome, pricing decision, or channel viability.

Free CPG Planning Tool

Channel Contribution Margin Planner

Model what remains from one unit sold through one channel after the variable revenue and cost assumptions you enter. Use it for internal planning—not as a complete P&L, contract interpretation, price recommendation, or channel decision.

Model contribution for one operator-defined channel

Enter assumptions from your own channel records. Results update only in this browser.

Per-unit inputs

Net Realized Revenue per UnitRevenue retained by the brand for one unit after any deductions you have already reflected.

COGS per UnitYour entered product-cost assumption for one unit.

Variable Channel Fee Rate Rate-based fee applied to the net realized revenue you entered.

Trade or Promotion per Unit

Fulfillment and Logistics per Unit

Payment or Other Variable Fees per Unit

Planning results

Rate-based Channel Fee per Unit

—

Your entered fee rate applied to entered net realized revenue.

Total Selected Variable Cost per Unit

—

The entered COGS and other selected variable assumptions.

Contribution per Unit

—

Entered revenue minus the selected variable costs.

Contribution Margin

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Contribution as a share of entered net realized revenue.

Enter a positive net realized revenue and COGS assumption to create a planning view.

Planning assumptions only. This planner uses only values entered in this browser. It does not calculate a complete P&L, accounting margin, tax, contract obligation, retailer or distributor deduction, price recommendation, or channel viability. Costs not entered are not included.

How the contribution view works

Keep the channel’s net realized revenue and selected variable cost assumptions visible so the result can be reviewed and updated when those assumptions change.

Rate-based channel fee = net realized revenue × fee rate
Total selected variable cost = COGS + rate-based fee + trade/promotion + logistics + other variable fees
Contribution = net realized revenue − total selected variable cost
Contribution margin = contribution ÷ net realized revenue × 100

What to use this for

Use it for

Comparing your own per-unit contribution assumptions across one channel at a time or testing how a rate, promotion, or logistics assumption changes the result.

Use another method for

Complete financial statements, fixed-cost allocation, contract interpretation, pricing decisions, taxes, deductions you have not entered, or an actual accounting close.

Common questions

Can a contribution result be negative?: Yes. A negative result simply reflects the assumptions entered. Review the revenue and cost assumptions; the planner does not determine whether a channel is viable.
Can I compare several channels?: Run one view for each channel using that channel’s own assumptions. The planner does not select or recommend a channel.

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Plan connected unit economics with Guidance

Guidance is being rebuilt with CPG design partners around connected operational workflows. This standalone planner is available now for internal planning; the commercial product is not available for live demonstrations today.

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