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06-19-2008, 05:29 PM
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#1 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 777
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How many copies to sell to break even ?
I was playing around with Google spreadsheets and decided to rebuild my old unit breakeven model as a number of people here had asked me for it. Google spreadsheets isnt as slick as Excel, so this is a slimmed down version (and the formatting is kind of weak). You can enter a number of variables including price, page rates for art, writing, printing costs, etc, and then the model will tell you how many units you have to sell to breakeven or turn a profit.
Here is a version you can update. Change the defaults in GREEN to see how many units you need to sell for your project to breakeven. (please do NOT save your changes as Google spreadsheets doesn’t currently allow for cell protection) http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...XTdE09kRA&hl=en Here is the original (viewable only) - just copy to your own google work area or export to excel to change... http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...WzusNlYXg&hl=en Last edited by Magilla1973 : 06-20-2008 at 10:08 AM. |
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06-19-2008, 06:59 PM
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#2 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 777
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Thanks for looking - remember that if you save, your numbers will replace the default numbers. Please only change the cells shaded in green !
You can copy a version for yourself within GOOGLE DOCS by going to... FILE --> COPY SPREADSHEET |
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06-20-2008, 10:08 AM
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#3 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Southern California
Posts: 777
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Already broken after one night !
 Remember - only change the cells in green. (unfortunately Google Spreadsheets doesnt allow me to lock individual cells)OK - in case someone breaks it again - here is the backup. This one is viewable only - just FILE - COPY to your own google work area to change (or export to Excel)... http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?...WzusNlYXg&hl=en |
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08-22-2008, 11:17 PM
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#4 |
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bona fide geek
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Shrewsbury, MA
Posts: 149
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I converted that spreadsheet into a web based GWT app.
Check it out at http://www.mohaps.com/breakeven/index.html this is a rough first cut. C and C is welcome, either pm me or mail me at mohaps AT gmail DOT com or use the contact form on my web site at http://www.mohaps.com/?page_id=78 |
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08-23-2008, 11:57 AM
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#5 |
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ex Magilla
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Southern California
Posts: 84
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This is really fantastic Mohaps ! Great job !
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08-23-2008, 01:01 PM
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#6 |
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Robert Tidwell - JUGGALO
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: http://www.comicspace.com/eldi/
Posts: 2,527
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Wow, discouraging. That is a lot more than I had thought it would take to break even.
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08-23-2008, 01:12 PM
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#7 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Long Pond, PA
Posts: 1,460
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What you've proven here is that page-rate comics have to sell at least 5,000 copies for break even.
Triple and quadruple these costs and you're in Dark Horse, Marvel, and DC territory. Sad truth: it would be HARD to produce a graphic novel for book trade publishing at these rates (unless it was based on a brand name property or by a brand name creator). We just got aced out for a series of books BASED on a brand-name property, and our lowest rates (we had five different ranges with qualifying remarks for each) were lower than this. Eventually, whether this industry likes it or not, we will have to shift over to a book trade model, which involves advances against royalties. The good news will be that for THIS to happen, there will have to be proven, successful royalty streams. (Nope, not in the direct market; I'm referring to book trade publishing.) --Lee |
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08-23-2008, 04:51 PM
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#8 |
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Wah Chikka Wah Wah
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Earth
Posts: 9,558
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Actually that seems quite encouraging for me. neat. What are the price per book figures from? What printer is that cheap for a small print run?
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08-23-2008, 05:31 PM
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#9 | |
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Easy Reader
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,314
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Quote:
Good question. To have a printing cost per copy of (USD) $0.3 , with a total printing cost of (USD)$ 1636.5 is a real bargain. To have a total Printing Cost of (USD) $1636.5 per 5455 copies is FANTASTIC!!! |
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08-23-2008, 08:35 PM
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#10 |
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bona fide geek
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Shrewsbury, MA
Posts: 149
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I just used the default value from the excel sheet
the data model is by Stephen Smirl. I think he's the best person to answer this. |
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08-23-2008, 08:40 PM
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#11 | |
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ex Magilla
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Southern California
Posts: 84
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Quote:
The model is designed to allow each user to enter their own information, not to provide guidnce on costs. You will want to get price quotes for each of the cost elements here that reflect your own publishing plan. |
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08-24-2008, 01:41 AM
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#12 | |
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Easy Reader
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,314
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Quote:
It is OK that the modelis designed to allow each user to enter their own information. BUT, 5455 copies divided by $ 1636.5 (total printing cost) is = $ 3,33 per copy, not $ 0,3 as the model is indicating. Also to get $0.3 per copy in POD is none existent. The price of $ 0.3 per copy could be obtained printing in traditional offset, rather than POD. |
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08-24-2008, 10:14 AM
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#13 |
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bona fide geek
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Shrewsbury, MA
Posts: 149
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print price per copy = $0.30
total copies = 5455 total printing price = (print price per copy * total copies) = 1636.5 btw 1/3.33 ~= 0.3 :P (you have switched numerator and denominator) |
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08-24-2008, 11:42 AM
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#14 |
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 1,462
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yeah scibbly, as mohaps said, basically you've dividied back to front, instead of working out the cost per unit you've worked out you can get 3.33 copies per dollar.
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08-24-2008, 01:09 PM
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#15 | |
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Easy Reader
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,314
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Quote:
What I did is the inverse operation for checking it back. As if 240 divided by 8 is = 30; Then, 30 x 8 should be 240 If the total copies = 5455 Divided by the total printing price = (print price per copy * total copies) = 1636.5 It should give us the print price per copy. You have = $0.30. Actually it is $3.33 5455 / 1636.5 = 3.33 Or my calculator is working wrong. But beside this nuisance. To get $0.30 per copy implies to have a high run printing. With a total printing price far beyond these $ 1636.5. But, if paying $1636 you can get a price of $0.30 per copy somewhere, it is very interesting. I did call printers overseas, they don't print for less than $ 3,000. I guess the best is call to Brenner, Quebecor, Lebonfon and Morgan and ask them how many copies and how much we should pay for having a price of $0.30 per copy. We can try other printers as well. I did. Anyone else can do it. Also checking in Kablam and Comicpress if we can have these prices per copy in POD. And then, start working and considering the REAL numbers. And thanks Jimmy, Mohaps and Maguilla/Stephen I like what you are doing. I think this is a good idea, very helpful. I found these inconsistencies or gaps in this system. And was just trying to show this up, if this could be improved someway. As Mohaps did with the initial prospect. |
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