Shoot Break-Even Calculator
free tool · no sign-up"Break even" means you've made back what you spent — sale #1 after that is profit. Use this before you book any shoot you're paying for out of pocket: a clip-store video, an OnlyFans PPV, a custom.
- Total shoot cost — add up every dollar this shoot will cost you (location, collab rates, travel, outfits, editing).
- Sale price — what one buyer pays for the finished video.
- Platform — where you'll sell it, so we subtract their cut automatically.
The big pink number is your answer: how many copies you need to sell before the shoot has paid for itself. If that number feels impossible, the shoot costs too much or the price is too low.
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A $500 shoot that needs 90 sales to break even is a different decision than one that needs 20. Run it before you spend it.
Business & Money guides → budgeting shoots, collab splits, and content ROI.
What should I count as a cost?
Everything you would not have spent otherwise: travel, studio or location fees, other performers' rates, wardrobe, props, editing time if you value your hours, and the platform's cut on the sales side.
Should I count my own time?
If you want an honest answer, yes. A shoot that breaks even on cash but eats two days has still cost you something. Put an hourly figure on your time and treat it as a cost.
What if a shoot never breaks even?
That is useful information, not a failure — some content earns its keep as promotion rather than direct sales. The point is knowing which is which before you commit the money.
Estimates only. Platform cuts and fees change — confirm against your platform's current terms. Not tax or legal advice.