Cheese Break-Even & Pricing Calculator

Find out what one pound of your cheese really costs to make, the price you need for the margin you want, and what each sales channel leaves you.

What the numbers leave out

Profit per pound is only part of the decision. Wholesale moves volume with little of your time and pays on predictable terms. Direct channels keep the full price and the customer relationship, but are seasonal and labor-heavy. Aged hard cheeses ship far better than fresh or bloomy ones. And if you sell less than you make, your monthly costs are spread over fewer pounds, so your real cost per pound rises.

Where the typical ranges come from

What distributors and wholesale buyers pay (35% and 60% of retail): Journal of Dairy Science, 2015, listed by Oregon State University. Specialty-food distributor and retailer margins: CPG Scout.
Card fees: Stripe online 2.9% + $0.30; Square in person 2.6% + $0.15. Market fees: Oklahoma State University Extension. Cold-pack shipping: Ellsworth Creamery and Cured & Cultivated.
How to use these numbers: How to Price Your Artisanal Cheese So It Actually Turns a Profit. Nahitra marketplace rates: Seller Terms.

Estimates for planning only, not financial advice. Typical ranges checked November 2026.