Free Tool — Traction Stream

Most painters guess their rate.
This tells you the real number.

If you picked your hourly rate by looking at what others charge — or by going with what felt about right — there is a good chance you are undercharging. Not by a little. Often by a lot.

This free calculator works out the rate you must charge to cover every business cost, pay yourself properly, and not slowly drain your future. No spreadsheet. No accountant. Works on any phone or computer. Takes about ten minutes.

What the calculator works out

• What you actually need to take home each year

• What it costs to run your business — all of it, including the costs most painters forget

• How many hours you can realistically charge for in a year

• Your break-even rate — the floor below which you are losing money

• Your recommended charge-out rate with a buffer for the bad weeks

Fill in your own numbers. The calculator updates as you go. By the end you will have a rate that is built on what your life and your business actually cost — not on what the bloke down the road charges.

Free. No download required. Works on any device.