Who this is for
Retail margins erode in ways the price tags never show. Markdowns turn planned margin into realized margin, shrinkage removes inventory that was already paid for, and seasonality means the year's profit often lives in a few peak months that slow months quietly spend. A margin calculation that ignores these reads like the buying plan, not the business.
Enter the period's revenue at actual selling prices, cost of goods at what the sold inventory cost including freight, and the store's full operating load: rent, staffing, utilities, and systems. The seasonal guidance below covers why monthly margins mislead and what a rolling view fixes.