Contractor Break-Even Calculator
Find how many jobs and how much monthly revenue you need to cover your fixed and variable costs — the point where the business stops losing money.
Rent, insurance, salaries, software — costs that don't change with job volume.
Materials and other costs tied to each job.
Jobs needed per month to break even
20
Break-even revenue / mo
$10,000
Profit per job
$300
60% contribution margin
How this calculator works
- Contribution per job = average job price − variable cost per job.
- Break-even jobs = monthly fixed costs ÷ contribution per job.
- Break-even revenue = break-even jobs × average job price.
Worked example
With $6,000 monthly fixed costs, a $500 average job, and $200 variable cost, each job contributes $300. You need 20 jobs — $10,000 in revenue — to break even.
Assumptions & limitations
- Fixed costs don't change with job volume (rent, insurance, salaries, software).
- Variable costs scale per job (materials and similar).
- If price is at or below variable cost, there's no break-even point — each job loses money.
Disclaimer
Educational estimate only. Real businesses have mixed job types; use this as a directional planning tool.Calculator FAQ
What counts as a fixed vs. variable cost?
Fixed costs stay roughly the same regardless of how many jobs you do (rent, insurance, salaries). Variable costs rise with each job (materials, disposal fees).
What if my jobs vary a lot in price?
Use a realistic average, or run the calculator separately for distinct job types. The result is a directional target, not an exact forecast.