Description
Calculate what you should be charging — not what you think
Many earthmoving operators underquote without realising it. This Hourly Rate Calculator Spreadsheet turns your real business costs into a clear, realistic hourly rate using a proven framework.
Built directly from the Hourly Rate Checklist, this calculator removes guesswork and shows you exactly how your costs, wage, profit, and billable hours affect what you need to charge.
This is a practical pricing tool, not a generic template.
What this calculator does
✔ Converts your real costs into an hourly rate
✔ Accounts for realistic billable hours (not 40 hrs × 52 weeks)
✔ Separates wage from profit
✔ Shows the impact of downtime and utilisation
✔ Helps you avoid underquoting and cashflow stress
What’s included
- Fillable Excel spreadsheet (AUD)
- Clearly labelled input fields
- Automatic calculations
- Suggested rounded charge-out rate
- Example assumptions to guide setup
- Instructions tab explaining how to use it
How it works
- Enter your annual fixed costs (finance, insurance, registration, software)
- Enter your annual variable costs (fuel, servicing, repairs)
- Set your operator wage
- Choose a profit target
- Estimate realistic billable hours
- The spreadsheet calculates your required hourly rate automatically
Who this is for
- Owner-operators
- Small earthmoving businesses
- Contractors reviewing pricing
- Anyone unsure if their rates are actually profitable
Important notes
- This calculator is designed for earthmoving businesses
- Rates vary by machine, location, and job type
- This tool provides pricing guidance only and is not financial advice
Already have the checklist?
This calculator is built directly from the Hourly Rate Checklist and is designed to be used alongside it.
Download the free checklist first, then use this calculator to apply real numbers.
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