What this calculator includes
- Free, private calculations without signup.
- Exact decimal arithmetic with validated inputs and transparent assumptions.
- Editable inputs, reset example and global currency labels; no exchange-rate conversion.
- Compare two jobs by occupied-hour earnings and the extra surcharge needed.
How to use this calculator
- Enter both candidate jobs with the same cost and time definitions.
- Allocate each driving leg once; enter total journey distance and time.
- Include helper wages separately, but leave your own target earnings outside expenses.
- Compare hourly earnings and the additional surcharge needed to reach your target.
Formula and calculation boundaries
Occupied hours = (service + setup + allocated travel minutes) ÷ 60. Costs = distance × vehicle cost per unit + direct costs + allocated overhead.
Owner earnings = (base price + existing surcharge) × (1 − fee rate) − entered costs. Hourly earnings = owner earnings ÷ occupied hours.
Required total charge = (entered costs + occupied hours × target hourly earnings) ÷ (1 − fee rate). Additional surcharge = maximum of zero and required total minus current total, rounded upward to cents. Compare hourly returns using unrounded values.
Checked example
Job A charges $220 and occupies 3.25 hours with $54 costs; at 3% fees it earns $49.05/hour. Job B charges $180 and occupies 2.58 hours with $36 costs, earning $53.65/hour. The nearby job earns $4.61 more per occupied hour despite its lower ticket.
These are hypothetical inputs, not market benchmarks. Change the inputs to use your own records.
Avoid double counting
Assumes one owner’s occupied time. Not scheduling software and does not predict bookings, traffic or route order. Taxes, unpaid admin time not entered, and new equipment finance are excluded. Use all costs once. Lower ticket jobs may produce higher hourly earnings but fewer total earnings; both metrics are shown.
Assumptions and limits
Assumes one owner’s occupied time. Not scheduling software and does not predict bookings, traffic or route order. Taxes, unpaid admin time not entered, and new equipment finance are excluded. Use all costs once. Lower ticket jobs may produce higher hourly earnings but fewer total earnings; both metrics are shown.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use kilometers?
Yes. Use kilometers and vehicle cost per kilometer for both jobs. Distance is total allocated travel, not automatically doubled.
Why not use fuel cost alone?
Vehicle cost may include wear, maintenance and insurance allocations. Do not also include the same vehicle costs in overhead.
Is owner hourly earnings net profit?
No. It includes compensation for the owner’s time and is before personal tax and unentered costs.
Does the suggested extra surcharge include fees?
Yes. It grosses up the target charge for the entered percentage payment fee, then subtracts what you already charge.
Method references
Check the full monthly business target
Check whether your contribution can fund overhead, owner pay and your profit target, then compare the required sales with your available working capacity.
Build my full break-even plan →Explore Pro plan comparisonsPublished by MyBreakeven. Method and examples checked . Business calculation methodology · Report a calculation issue.