What is Gross Merchandise Value?
Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) is the total value of goods sold through a platform before deducting fees, returns, or cancellations. It measures transaction volume and is commonly used by marketplaces and ecommerce platforms.
GMV is different from revenue. A marketplace with $100M GMV and 10% take rate has $10M in actual revenue.
Why GMV Matters
GMV indicates platform scale and growth. Fast GMV growth shows increasing adoption and transaction volume. Investors use GMV to evaluate marketplace traction before the business scales to profitability.
However, GMV can be misleading. High GMV with low take rate means limited revenue. GMV inflated by discounts or promotions doesn't reflect sustainable business.
GMV vs Revenue
Always understand the relationship between GMV and revenue. A marketplace showing impressive GMV might have thin margins. Track both GMV growth and take rate stability to understand true business performance.
How to Calculate GMV Step by Step
Step 1: Total the value of all goods sold through your platform. Include the full transaction price, before any fees, commissions, or deductions.
- Product sales: $380,000
- Shipping charged to customers: $28,000
- GMV = $408,000
Step 2: Calculate your take rate (revenue as a % of GMV).
- Platform commission (15%): $57,000
- Payment processing revenue: $4,000
- Actual revenue: $61,000
- Take Rate = $61K ÷ $408K = 15.0%
Step 3: Subtract returns and cancellations for Net GMV.
- Returns: $24,000
- Cancellations: $8,000
- Net GMV = $408K - $24K - $8K = $376,000
Step 4: Track GMV growth alongside take rate. Growing GMV with stable take rate = healthy. Growing GMV with declining take rate = red flag (you're subsidizing growth).
Common mistakes founders make:
- Reporting GMV as revenue (GMV is what customers pay; revenue is what you keep)
- Not subtracting returns and cancellations
- Inflating GMV with promotional credits or discounts (include only actual customer spend)
- Comparing GMV across marketplaces with different take rates
Formula
GMV = Total Sales Price × Number of Items Sold
Platform Revenue = GMV × Take Rate
GMV includes returns and cancellations in gross figure
Example
Marketplace monthly performance:
- Total transaction value: $5,000,000
- Platform take rate: 15%
- Platform revenue: $750,000
GMV = $5,000,000 (total value of goods sold)
Revenue = $750,000 (what the platform keeps)
GMV shows scale; revenue shows what you actually earn.