How the calculator works
"Price minus costs" hides your own pay. This takes your hours out too — what's left is what the business earned.
Your time = hours × your hourly rate
Real profit = price − costs − your time
Real margin = real profit ÷ price
You earned = (price − costs) ÷ hours
Price to hit your margin = (costs + your time) ÷ (1 − target margin)
Why count your own hours?
A kitchen job paid $8,000 and cost $4,700. $3,300 left — 41%. Looks great.
But it took 60 hours. At $45 an hour, that's $2,700 of your time. The business made $600 — 7.5%.
The job was fine. The price wasn't. For 30%, quote about $10,600.
How to use the result
- Red: it cost you money. Raise the price, or find where the hours went.
- Amber: it paid, but under your target. Quote higher next time.
- Green: it paid properly. Find more like it.
Try your last three jobs. The pattern shows which work pays — and which just keeps you busy.
Questions
Should I include GST/HST in the price?
No. Use amounts before tax — the GST/HST you collect isn't yours.
What hourly rate should I use for my own time?
What you'd pay someone to do your part — or what you want to earn per hour.
What about overhead — my truck, tools, insurance, phone?
Add this job's share under "everything else", or raise your hourly rate to cover it.
What's a good margin to aim for?
It depends on your trade. We start at 30% after your time — set your own.
Does the calculator save my numbers?
No. It all runs in your browser. The numbers sit in the page link, so you can share a result.