Cafe Break-Even Calculator
Covers per day to break even.
Enter your values
ⓘ Live results
Results
- Covers per day to break even
- 93
- Monthly covers needed
- 2,397
- Monthly break-even revenue
- $22,769.84
- Contribution per head
- $6.30
Quick answer
Break-even covers equal fixed costs divided by contribution per customer.
Covers = fixed costs ÷ (spend − variable cost)
How to use the Cafe Break-Even Calculator
- 1Enter rent, wages and other fixed costs.
- 2Enter average spend and variable cost per customer.
- 3Enter trading days per month.
Worked example
Using the values the calculator loads with:
Inputs
- Monthly rent3200 $
- Monthly wages9800 $
- Other fixed costs2100 $
- Average spend per head9.5 $
- Variable cost per head3.2 $
- Trading days per month26
Results
- Covers per day to break even93
- Monthly covers needed2,397
- Monthly break-even revenue$22,769.84
- Contribution per head$6.30
Frequently asked questions
Should owner wages count?
Yes — include a market salary or you will flatter the numbers.
What if covers look impossible?
Raise average spend before chasing more footfall.
About this calculator
- Built and reviewed by James Whitfield · How we build and test calculators
- Report an error
Results are estimates for general information. For medical, legal, structural or financial decisions, confirm with a qualified professional.