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What is ROI (Return on Investment)?

A simple guide explaining what ROI (Return on Investment) is, how it’s calculated, and how it helps you evaluate the profitability and efficiency of your sourcing decisions.

ROI (Return on Investment) is a key metric that helps you understand how much profit you’re making compared to how much you spent on an item.

In simple terms, ROI tells you:
👉 “Was this item worth the money I invested?”


📊 How ROI Works

ROI measures the return you get from your investment using this formula:

ROI=ProfitCost×100ROI = \frac{Profit}{Cost} \times 100ROI=CostProfit​×100

  • Profit = Selling Price – Total Costs

  • Cost = Your buy cost (and sometimes additional expenses)


💡 Simple Example

Item

Amount

Buy Cost

$10

Selling Price

$25

Fees & Expenses

$5

Profit

$10

👉 ROI = ($10 ÷ $10) × 100 = 100% ROI

This means you doubled your money on that item.


📈 Why ROI is Important

ROI helps you:

  • Compare different products quickly

  • Decide what items are worth sourcing

  • Avoid low-profit or risky items

  • Scale your business more efficiently

👉 The higher the ROI, the better your return on each dollar spent.


⚖️ ROI vs Profit (Important!)

  • Profit = How much money you made

  • ROI = How efficient your investment was

Example:

  • Item A: $5 profit on $5 cost → 100% ROI

  • Item B: $20 profit on $50 cost → 40% ROI

👉 Even though Item B has higher profit, Item A is more efficient.


⚠️ Things to Keep in Mind

  • Always include fees and expenses when calculating profit

  • High ROI doesn’t always mean high total profit

  • Balance ROI with sales volume and demand


💼 How It Helps in AccelerList

In AccelerList, ROI is automatically calculated when you:

  • Enter your buy cost

  • Track your expenses

👉 This helps you instantly see which items are worth buying and selling.


✅ Summary

ROI (Return on Investment) shows how much profit you make compared to what you spent. It’s one of the most important metrics for resellers to make smart sourcing and pricing decisions.

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