Why Simple Markup Math Fails in Bangladesh
Most beginner online sellers buy an item for ৳500, sell it for ৳800, and wonder why they have no cash left in their bank account at the end of the month. In Bangladesh, hidden costs — namely Facebook Ad costs (CAC), packaging, courier delivery charges, and Cash on Delivery (COD) returns — quickly eat away at gross margins.
📊 Interactive Tool: Don't do the math by hand! Run your numbers through our free Ecommerce Profit Margin & COD Return Calculator.
The 5 Cost Components of Every Sale
- COGS (Cost of Goods Sold): Direct wholesale cost + inbound shipping from supplier to your hub.
- Packaging & Branding: Custom poly mailers, security tape, thank you cards, and bubble wrap (typically ৳25 – ৳50 per parcel).
- Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC): Paid Facebook/Instagram/TikTok ads needed to generate 1 purchase (typically ৳150 – ৳350 in BD).
- Courier & Return Allowance: If your courier charges ৳130 for outside Dhaka delivery and ৳65 for returns, with a 15% return rate, every successfully delivered order must absorb ~৳30 of return courier penalties.
- Payment / COD Collection Fees: 1.0% – 1.5% courier COD fee or 1.5% – 2.0% bKash merchant gateway fee.
Example Calculation (Ladies Kurti)
- Sourcing Cost: ৳450
- Packaging: ৳35
- Facebook Ad CAC: ৳200
- Courier Return Buffer: ৳40
- Total Floor Cost: ৳725
- Optimal Selling Price: ৳1,250 (Yielding ৳525 / 42% Net Profit Margin)
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