Add your labor costs and overhead costs, then multiply by 1 + profit margin to get the total charge-out rate per hour. This ensures you are charging the right amount to cover expenses and generate a profit.
Charge Out Rate Calculator
Enter any 3 values to calculate the missing variable
A Charge Out Rate Calculator helps calculate how much to charge clients by factoring in labor, overhead, and profit margin. This tool is essential for freelancers, contractors, and businesses to ensure profitability.
Formula:
Where:
Variable | Meaning |
---|---|
CR | Charge out rate |
L | Labor costs per hour |
O | Overhead costs (e.g., equipment, rent) |
PM | Profit margin (expressed as a decimal) |
Example Calculation:
Let’s say you have labor costs (L) of $30 per hour, overhead costs (O) of $10 per hour, and you want a profit margin (PM) of 20% (0.20). Using the formula, we can calculate the charge-out rate (CR).
Step | Calculation |
---|---|
Labor costs (L) | $30/hour |
Overhead costs (O) | $10/hour |
Profit margin (PM) | 20% |
Total charge-out rate (CR) |
Answer: The charge-out rate is $48 per hour.
What is a Charge Out Rate Calculator?
A charge out rate calculator helps determine how much a contractor, freelancer, or business should charge per hour or per job. The formula CR = (L + O) × (1 + PM) takes into account labor costs, overhead, and profit margin to ensure that all expenses are covered while also generating a desired level of profit.
This is particularly useful for service-based businesses such as consultants, accountants, or tradespeople like carpenters or electricians.
By using this calculator, you can answer questions like “how do you calculate a charge-out rate?” or “what is the hourly charge-out rate definition?”. It helps ensure you are charging the right amount for your services, whether you’re a freelancer or an independent contractor.
You can also compare charge-out rates in different regions, such as Australia, NZ, or the UK, and across various industries.