upgrade

➕pre-algebra review

Markup

Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025

Definition

Markup is a term used to describe the addition of a percentage or fixed amount to the base cost or price of a product or service. It is a crucial concept in the context of understanding percent, solving general applications of percent, and addressing sales tax, commission, and discount applications.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

  1. Markup is the amount added to the base cost or price of a product or service to determine the selling price.
  2. Markup is often expressed as a percentage of the base cost, allowing businesses to set prices that generate a desired profit margin.
  3. The markup percentage is calculated by dividing the profit (the difference between the selling price and the base cost) by the base cost.
  4. Markup is an essential concept in sales tax, commission, and discount applications, as it affects the final price paid by the customer.
  5. Understanding markup is crucial for businesses to price their products or services competitively while ensuring profitability.

Review Questions

  • Explain how markup is used to determine the selling price of a product or service.
    • Markup is the amount added to the base cost or wholesale price of a product or service to determine the final selling price. Businesses typically calculate the desired profit margin and then apply a markup percentage to the base cost to arrive at the selling price. For example, if a product costs $10 to produce and the business wants a 50% profit margin, they would apply a 100% markup to the base cost, resulting in a selling price of $20.
  • Describe the relationship between markup and profit margin.
    • Markup and profit margin are closely related concepts. Profit margin is the percentage of the selling price that represents the business's profit, while markup is the amount added to the base cost to achieve the desired profit margin. The higher the markup, the higher the profit margin will be. Businesses must carefully consider their target profit margin when determining the appropriate markup to apply to their products or services.
  • Analyze how markup affects the final price paid by the customer in the context of sales tax, commission, and discount applications.
    • Markup is a crucial factor in determining the final price paid by the customer, especially when considering sales tax, commissions, and discounts. The selling price, which includes the markup, is the base amount upon which sales tax is calculated. Similarly, commissions are often calculated as a percentage of the selling price, which is influenced by the markup. Discounts, on the other hand, are typically applied to the selling price, which means that the higher the markup, the more the customer will save when a discount is applied. Understanding the impact of markup on these applications is essential for businesses to price their products or services effectively and provide transparent pricing to customers.