Profit on phone cases and accessories: a worked example

How this kind of product earns or loses money online, with example figures you can replace by your own.

How this product sells

Accessories are cheap, light and sold in huge numbers. The profit per unit is small, so a fixed fee or a shipping charge per order can wipe out the margin, and every model of phone is a separate piece of stock.

What to watch

Fixed fees that matter when the price is low, one-model-fits-one-phone stock that does not sell, copycat competitors and price wars, counterfeit and brand-name rules, and a high advertising cost relative to a small profit.

A worked example with made-up numbers

The cost, price and every fee below are made up to show the working in Indian rupee; they are not the fees of any marketplace and the GST rate is an example. Replace each with your own.

What changes the answer

• If returns double to 14%, the expected profit per order placed becomes ₹7.81.
• If the advertising cost per order doubles, the profit per delivered unit becomes -₹9.53.
• If you cut the price by 10 percent, the profit per delivered unit becomes ₹2.33 (margin 1.2%).

A tip for this product

Check the fixed fee and shipping first. If they are more than a third of the price, move to bundles (two cases or a case and a screen guard) so the fixed fee is shared by more profit.

Try your own figures

Common questions

Keep going

• Profit calculatorGeneral version
• Other productsSeven more examples
• ReturnsWhat returns cost

Fee percentages, GST rates and other figures in the examples on this site are made up to show the working. They are not the fees or rates of any marketplace or country: type the numbers from your own seller account and from the tax authority. Checked 14 November 2026.