Gemsmakers · Antique Dealer Tools

Antique Inventory Carrying Cost Calculator

Estimate the cost of holding an unsold antique and see how storage, insurance, maintenance, financing, and overhead reduce profit.

Planning calculator · User-entered estimates · Results are not an appraisal or professional advice.

Calculator

Enter the details you know. Optional advanced fields are kept separate so the main calculation stays easy to use.

Purchase cost or current capital tied up in the antique.
Shelf, warehouse, booth, or self-storage allocation.
Monthly portion of insurance attributable to the item.
Cleaning, climate control, packing, or routine preservation.
Other recurring cost assigned to this item.
Interest rate applied to capital tied up; use zero if none.
Months the item is expected to remain unsold.
Advanced options and comparisons
Expected sale amount before selling fees.
Commission/payment fees as a share of sale price.

How to use this calculator

  1. Enter invested capital and recurring monthly costs.
  2. Set the holding period and annual financing rate.
  3. Open Advanced resale settings to estimate how carrying costs affect the final profit.

How the estimate works

Carrying cost is the ongoing expense of keeping capital tied up in stock. It may include storage, insurance, financing, maintenance, and allocated overhead.

Financing interest is modeled as simple monthly interest on the entered capital. Compounding, changing balances, and tax treatment are not included.

Frequently asked questions

Why does holding time affect profit?
Storage, insurance, maintenance, and financing can continue even when the item is not selling.
Does this assume the antique loses value?
No. It holds the expected sale price fixed; it simply subtracts the modeled costs of time.
How should I estimate overhead?
Use a reasonable allocation of costs such as rent, utilities, storage, and insurance, applied consistently across inventory.
Is the financing formula exact?
It is a simple-interest estimate based on the entered capital and annual rate. Actual loan terms may differ.
Can I use this for an item I own personally?
Yes, for planning, but some dealer costs may not apply to personal collection items.