Mobile shopkeepers earn: In today’s era, smartphones have become a necessity for everyone. But have you ever wondered how much profit shopkeepers make on a phone worth Rs 10,000, 20,000, or 50,000 that you buy? You will be surprised to know this truth.
Profit according to brand
Managers of many big mobile stores, including Reliance, say that shopkeepers get the highest profit on Samsung smartphones, which is about 11–14%. At the same time, Chinese brands like Vivo and Oppo give an 8–10% margin.
Shopkeepers get only 3–4% profit on OnePlus, Redmi, and Motorola phones.
Profit is the lowest on Apple iPhone, about 4–5%.
This is the reason why as soon as the salesman reaches the shop, he first shows Samsung, Vivo, and Oppo phones to the customers.
How much profit at what price?
With the increase in the price of the phone, the shopkeeper’s income also increases, but the margin remains almost the same.
On selling a phone worth ₹10,000, the shopkeeper earns around ₹1,000–1,300 rupees.
On selling a phone worth ₹20,000, the profit reaches ₹1,500–2,500 rupees.
On selling a phone worth ₹30,000, the profit is around ₹2,500–3,500 rupees.
On selling a phone worth ₹40,000, the profit is ₹3,500–4,500 rupees.
On selling a phone worth ₹50,000, the profit is ₹5,000–6,000 rupees.
The price of an iPhone may be up to ₹1 lakh, but the shopkeeper’s profit on it is only ₹4,000–5,000.
Best-selling brands in the first quarter of 2025
According to research data like IDC and Counterpoint, the best-selling smartphone brands in India in Q1 2025 are:
Vivo – 22%
Samsung – 16%
Xiaomi – 12%
Oppo – 12%
Realme – 11%
What do customers look for?
Women first pay attention to the camera and design when buying a phone.
Men give priority to battery and performance.
The younger generation focuses more on processor, RAM, and storage.
Effect of festivals and online sales
Shopkeepers’ real earnings are during festivals. The highest sales of mobiles are on Diwali, Dussehra, Eid, 26 January, and 15 August. However, when e-commerce companies like Flipkart and Amazon hold sales, shopkeepers are forced to reduce prices, which reduces their profits by about 50%.
Accessories also generate revenue
Mobile retailers not only earn a lot by selling phones, but also by selling covers, tempered glass, chargers, and other accessories. Often the margin of these products is up to 30–40%.