Training-product break-even
Find how many learners a training product must enrol before it has paid back what it cost to build.
For RTOs, course creators, learning designers
How to use this calculator
Start with the worked example below. Replace the figures in Your numbers with your own inputs, then select Recalculate. Read the assumptions and limitations before using the estimate in your planning. Save report downloads the last calculated results and inputs.
Learners to break even
11 people
Rounded up. A part-learner does not enrol.
- Contribution per learner
- $730.00
- What each enrolment leaves over after its own variable cost.
- Exact break-even point
- 10.96 people
- Before rounding up.
- Cohorts to break even
- 1
- Break-even learners divided by your cohort size, rounded up.
- Revenue at break-even
- $10,450.00
- What those enrolments bring in.
This is an estimate to support your professional judgement, not a determination. Our tools draft. You validate.
Saves the last calculated inputs, results and assumptions to your device. Recalculate after changing inputs.
Your numbers
One-off cost to build the product: design, writing, media, validation.
What one learner pays to enrol.
What each additional enrolment costs you: delivery share, materials, assessment, support.
Typical cohort size, used to convert learners into cohorts.
How this is worked out
Contribution per learner = price − variable cost. Break-even learners = development cost ÷ contribution, rounded up. Cohorts = break-even learners ÷ cohort size, rounded up.
What it assumes
- The price and the variable cost stay the same across every enrolment.
- Development cost is spent once and not repeated per cohort.
- Every enrolled learner pays.
What it does NOT account for
- Does not account for GST.
- Does not model marketing spend, which behaves like development cost when it is one-off and like variable cost when it is per enrolment.
- Does not model refunds, withdrawals or discounts.
- Does not discount future revenue. A learner enrolling in two years counts the same as one enrolling today.
What to do next
- Compare the break-even number with enrolments you can evidence, not enrolments you hope for.
- If break-even needs more than two or three cohorts, revisit the price or the build cost before starting.
- Decide where marketing spend belongs in this model and re-run it.
Sources
- Break-even model: Fixed cost ÷ contribution margin (reviewed 2026-08-26)