Calculator inputs
Example data table
These sample cases show how different fee settings can change take-home pay.
| Scenario | Gross Amount | Platform Fee | Processor Fee | Tax % | Expenses | Estimated Net |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Small fixed project | $800.00 | 10% | 2.9% + $0.30 | 5% | $40.00 | $622.12 |
| Retainer month | $2,500.00 | 12% | 3.0% + $0.30 | 8% | $120.00 | $1,897.67 |
| Tiered marketplace job | $6,000.00 | 20/10/5 tiers | 2.5% + $1.00 | 10% | $250.00 | $4,620.90 |
Formula used
Adjusted Invoice
Adjusted Invoice = Gross Project Amount + Reimbursements - Discount
Simple Platform Fee
Platform Fee = (Adjusted Invoice × Platform Fee %) + Platform Fixed Fee
Tiered Platform Fee
Platform Fee = Sum of slab charges + Platform Fixed Fee
Payment Processor Fee
Processor Fee = (Adjusted Invoice × Processor Fee %) + Processor Fixed Fee
Tax Withholding
Tax Withholding = Tax % × max(Adjusted Invoice - Platform Fee - Processor Fee, 0)
Net Payout
Net Payout = Adjusted Invoice - Platform Fee - Processor Fee - Tax Withholding - Business Expenses
Effective Hourly Rate
Effective Hourly Rate = Net Payout ÷ Hours Worked
How to use this calculator
- Enter your gross project amount.
- Add reimbursements and any client discount.
- Enter hours worked for hourly earnings analysis.
- Choose a simple or tiered platform fee model.
- Fill in processor charges and tax withholding.
- Add business expenses that reduce your take-home pay.
- Optionally enter a target net income goal.
- Click Calculate Fees to view totals, chart, and export options.
FAQs
1. What does this calculator measure?
It estimates how much you actually keep after platform fees, payment processing charges, tax withholding, discounts, and business expenses.
2. Can I use it for hourly and fixed-price jobs?
Yes. Fixed projects use the invoice amount directly, while hourly projects benefit from the effective hourly rate and target quote outputs.
3. Why include reimbursements separately?
Reimbursements help you see whether pass-through costs improve cash flow or simply cover expenses without increasing true earnings.
4. When should I use tiered platform fees?
Use tiered mode when a marketplace charges different percentages across billing slabs instead of one flat rate for the entire invoice.
5. Does the tax field replace accounting advice?
No. It is a planning estimate only. Real tax treatment depends on your country, deductions, filing status, and contract structure.
6. What is the target net feature for?
It reverse-calculates the invoice total you may need so your final payout reaches a specific income goal after deductions.
7. Why does my effective hourly rate look low?
The calculator subtracts every entered deduction first. That often reveals hidden costs and underpriced projects more clearly.
8. Can I export the results?
Yes. After calculation, use the CSV or PDF buttons to save a clean payout summary for proposals, reviews, or budgeting.