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Estimate profit per drop for the 9x12 method, community card operators, and shared mailer businesses. Adjust the numbers below for your format, spot pricing, and mailing size. Illustrative only — actual results vary by market, sell-through rate, and costs.
Updated April 2026 · Maintained by the SpotDrops team
6x11 community card (self-service): 16 spots × $200 mailed to 2,500 homes generates $3,200 in revenue and about $1,835 profit per drop (57% margin) after printing ($426), EDDM postage ($618), the 7% SpotDrops platform fee ($224), and Stripe processing ($98).
9x12 postcard (the format used in the 9x12 method): 16 spots × $500 mailed to 5,000 homes generates $8,000 in revenue and about $5,001 profit per drop (63% margin) after printing ($967), postage ($1,235), the 7% platform fee ($560), and Stripe processing ($237).
Adjust the inputs below to run your own numbers.
Card format
Fulfillment
4x4 grid per side typical
Homes reached via EDDM
Projected Revenue
$3,200
16 spots x $200
Platform Fees
SpotDrops Fee
7% · $14 avg per spot
Stripe Processing
2.9% + $0.30
Production Costs
Printing and mailing are handled outside the app
Printing
2,500 pcs at bulk rate ($0.1704/pc)
Mailing
2,500 pcs x $0.247
Total costs
−$1,365.1Estimated Profit Per Drop
$1,835
Each advertiser reaches 2,500 homes for $200 — that's $0.08 per mailbox. Use that number when pitching local businesses.
Both are shared direct mail models — a small business sponsors one spot on a card alongside 11–15 other local businesses. The operator coordinates design, printing, and USPS EDDM mailing, then keeps the revenue difference between spot sales and production costs. The two formats differ in size, price point, and who they're built for.
The 9x12 postcard — the format used in the 9x12 method and similar postcard systems — has been around for years. 16 spots, ~5,000 homes per drop, spot prices typically $300–$500. Higher revenue per drop and higher margin, but higher upfront print and postage costs and a steeper sell to small businesses.
The community card method — sometimes called the 9x12 side hustle, the 6x11 method, or simply community cards — is the newer, lower-barrier version. 16 spots, ~2,500 homes per drop, spot prices typically $150–$250. Easier for operators getting their feet wet and easier for small local businesses to say yes to. Typical profit margins sit around 50–60%.
Both run on the same basic economics: spot sales minus printing, postage, platform fees, and payment processing. For a deeper side-by-side look at pricing, training, and software differences, see our 9x12 method comparison, or read how SpotDrops supports operators.
1 drop/mo
$1,835
/month
2 drops/mo
$3,670
/month
4 drops/mo
$7,340
/month
Illustrative projections at full sell-through. Actual results depend on market demand, pricing, and sell-through rate.
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Estimated Profit / Drop
$1,835
57% margin