Keywords · Finance · Updated 2026-07-21

What is Gross Margin?

Short answer: Revenue minus the direct cost of delivering a product or service, expressed as a percentage of revenue.

Definition

Revenue minus the direct cost of delivering a product or service, expressed as a percentage of revenue.

Why it matters for growth

Gross margin shows how much revenue is left to cover sales, marketing, and overhead after the direct cost of serving each customer.

Example

A SaaS company with $100,000 in revenue and $20,000 in hosting and support costs reports an 80% gross margin.

FAQ

What is Gross Margin?
Revenue minus the direct cost of delivering a product or service, expressed as a percentage of revenue.
Why does Gross Margin matter for growth?
Gross margin shows how much revenue is left to cover sales, marketing, and overhead after the direct cost of serving each customer.
What is an example of Gross Margin?
A SaaS company with $100,000 in revenue and $20,000 in hosting and support costs reports an 80% gross margin.
What is Gross Margin? Definition and growth use · Cofounderbase