Contractor Overhead & Markup Calculator

Calculate your true overhead costs and profitable markup percentages — 100% free

📊 Overhead Calculator
💰 Markup Calculator
📈 Break-Even Analyzer

📊 Monthly Overhead Calculator

Enter your monthly business expenses to calculate your overhead cost per billable hour.

💡 Common Overhead Expenses Include:

  • Office rent, utilities, insurance
  • Vehicle payments, fuel, maintenance
  • Tool payments, equipment depreciation
  • Admin salaries, accounting fees
  • Marketing, licensing, bonding

📈 Your Overhead Results

Enter your monthly expenses to see your overhead cost per hour.

💰 Markup & Margin Calculator

Calculate the markup percentage needed to achieve your desired profit margin.

⚠️ Markup vs Margin - Know the Difference!

Markup is added to costs. Margin is profit as % of selling price. A 25% margin requires a 33% markup!

💡 Markup Results

Enter your desired margin and costs to see required markup percentage.

📈 Break-Even & Pricing Analyzer

Analyze your break-even point and optimal pricing for profitability.

🎯 Trade-Specific Pricing Examples:

HVAC: System replacement - $6,000 materials + $8 hrs labor + $360 overhead = $6,360 break-even
Plumbing: Pipe repair - $200 materials + $4 hrs labor + $180 overhead = $380 break-even
Electrical: Panel upgrade - $800 materials + $6 hrs labor + $270 overhead = $1,070 break-even

📊 Pricing Analysis

Enter your job costs and target margin to see break-even analysis.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between markup and profit margin?
Markup is the percentage added to your costs to determine selling price. Profit margin is profit as a percentage of the selling price. A 25% margin requires approximately a 33% markup. Always use margin for profitability planning.
What overhead costs should contractors include?
Include all business expenses not directly tied to specific jobs: office rent, vehicle payments, tool payments, insurance, licensing, marketing, administrative salaries, and your non-billable time for estimates and callbacks.
How many billable hours per month should I estimate?
Most contractors bill 120-160 hours monthly (30-40 hours/week). Factor in drive time, estimates, callbacks, weather delays, and equipment issues. Don't overestimate or your overhead rate will be too low.
What's a reasonable profit margin for contractors?
Industry standards range from 15-30% profit margin. Emergency services can command 30-40%. Consider your market competition, expertise level, and business goals when setting margins.
How do I calculate overhead hours for a specific job?
Estimate time for the initial consultation, creating estimates, driving to/from job sites, permit applications, material pickup, and potential callbacks. This typically ranges from 10-25% of direct labor hours.