Collect the matching inputs.
Include product cost, payment fees, pick-and-pack, shipping subsidies and expected returns where relevant. State whether acquisition spend is included to avoid double counting.
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Profitability · CM per orderContribution margin per order.
Contribution margin per order.
Make each order contribute more.
Contribution margin per order is the money left per completed order after the variable costs included in your definition. It contributes toward fixed costs and profit.
Start with your numbers.
CM per order calculator
01 / The definitionWhat is
What is
contribution margin per order?
Contribution margin per order is the money left per completed order after the variable costs included in your definition. It contributes toward fixed costs and profit.
Higher AOV can hide lower contribution when discounts or delivery costs grow faster than revenue. Contribution is not net company profit.
02 / The measurementA clear formula.
A clear formula.
A useful comparison.
CM per order =Net revenue minus agreed variable costs ÷ Completed orders
Read the result in context.
Compare order cohorts by country, basket weight, discount and customer type. Use a cost model that reflects actual fulfilment economics.
Document the comparison.
Keep the reporting dates, population, exclusions and calculation with every result. Show underlying counts as well as the average or rate, so a small sample does not look more conclusive than it is.
Illustrative example
From inputs to insight.
- Net revenue minus agreed variable costs
- 12,000
- Completed orders
- 400
- CM per order
- €30.00
€30 contribution per order. For example, €32,000 net revenue less €20,000 variable costs across 400 orders.
Try your numbers ↑03 / Industry benchmarksContext first.
Context first.
Targets second.
Compare order cohorts by country, basket weight, discount and customer type. Use a cost model that reflects actual fulfilment economics.
We have not verified a public industry benchmark that matches the exact definition used on this page. A precise-looking generic range would hide important differences between businesses.
Build your own benchmark
Start with a comparable baseline.
01
Match the population.
Choose the category, channel or customer cohort you can compare consistently.
02
Let the data mature.
Use complete periods and allow the purchase, attribution or returns window in your definition to close.
03
Test a specific opportunity.
Set a target from your economics and observed variation. Keep conversion and contribution in view.
04 / Clerk customer evidenceReal stories.
Real stories.
Clear measurement limits.
We have not verified a published Clerk customer case with a quantified contribution margin per order result matching this page’s definition.
What would count as useful evidence?
A case reporting net revenue minus agreed variable costs and completed orders, with the time window and comparison method. General revenue growth or a related engagement metric does not establish this result.
Customer stories describe individual implementations. They are not industry benchmarks, guarantees or standardized causal tests.
05 / Put it into practice
Make each order contribute more.
Test useful add-ons and pack sizes, then check whether additional revenue exceeds the associated discount, product and shipping costs.
06 / Common questionsA little more
A little more
clarity.
How do I calculate contribution margin per order?
Net revenue minus agreed variable costs ÷ Completed orders. €30 contribution per order. For example, €32,000 net revenue less €20,000 variable costs across 400 orders.
What should I check before comparing results?
Higher AOV can hide lower contribution when discounts or delivery costs grow faster than revenue. Contribution is not net company profit.
What is a good contribution margin per order?
Compare order cohorts by country, basket weight, discount and customer type. Use a cost model that reflects actual fulfilment economics.
Does a higher attributed result prove incremental growth?
No. Attribution connects an interaction with an outcome under a reporting rule. To estimate what a change added, compare randomly assigned treatment and control groups using the same eligible population and a predefined measurement window.
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Connect the numbers.
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