Course launch break-even calculator
Production cost + ad spend + price point → number of sales you need to break even on a course launch.
Last verified · 2026-10-23 · by Moe Ameen
Published 2026-05-19 · Updated
Short answer
The course launch break-even calculator tells you how many sales cover your ad spend and production cost after platform fees: (ad spend + production cost) ÷ (course price × (1 − fee %)). It also projects sales from your email list and paid clicks using conversion rates you enter. The default rates are editable placeholders, not published benchmarks, so swap in numbers from your own past launches.
Key takeaways
- Break-even units = (ad spend + production cost) ÷ (price × (1 − platform fee %)).
- Projected sales = list size × email conversion rate, plus (ad spend ÷ CPC) × ad conversion rate.
- The default conversion rates and CPC are placeholders. Replace them with your own launch data.
- Stripe's standard US card fee is 2.9% + 30¢ per charge. Course platforms may charge their own fees on top.
Model your launch math before you press record. How many units do you need to break even on ad spend + production? Will email-only get you there?
What does this look like in Kompozy?
A real five-slide carousel generated in the Kompozy workspace, the kind of post creators use to promote a launch. It shows the format and wasn't made for a specific course.
Who is this for, and who should skip it?
Best for:
- Creators planning a paid course launch through an email list, paid ads or both
- Anyone setting a price and ad budget who wants a sales target before recording
Not ideal for:
- Anyone looking for industry conversion benchmarks; this tool doesn't supply them
- Subscription or cohort programs, where lifetime value matters more than launch sales
Frequently asked questions
Where do the default conversion rates come from?
They are starting values so the calculator shows a result when the page loads. They are not industry benchmarks. Replace them with conversion rates from your own past launches or a small test campaign.
How is break-even calculated?
Break-even units are your ad spend plus production cost, divided by the course price after platform fees. It ignores the email and ad projections, so it tells you how many sales you need no matter where they come from.
What should I enter for platform fees?
Add your payment processor and course platform fees together as one percentage. Stripe's standard US card rate is 2.9% plus 30 cents per successful charge, and course platforms can add their own fees.
What does ROAS mean in this calculator?
ROAS here is total gross revenue divided by ad spend. Email sales are included in that revenue, so the number will read higher than ROAS from ads alone.
What is missing from this calculator?
Lifetime value. It models a single launch, so revenue from later courses, upsells or coaching sold to the same buyers isn't counted.
How do we know this?
We read the calculator's formulas in its source code and checked the Stripe card fee against stripe.com/pricing on 2026-10-23. The conversion-rate and CPC defaults are placeholders, and this page no longer presents them as benchmarks.
Sources
- Stripe — Pricing (read 2026-10-23)
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