What to Charge per Hour

Your minimum billable rate from the income you want, your overhead, taxes and the hours you can actually bill.

Take-home you want$/yrBusiness overheadTruck, insurance, tools, phone, software$/yrTaxes (SE + income)%Billable hours per weekNot hours worked — hours you can invoiceWorking weeks per yearProfit on top%

Enter the income you want and your billable hours.

Assumptions

Most one-person outfits bill 25–35 hours of a 50-hour week. Estimating, driving, paperwork and callbacks are not billable.

Planning numbers. Confirm quantities with your supplier, spec and local conditions before ordering.

Running a crew?HardHatOps — toolbox talks, time clock, sign-off records, daily duties. The field side.

Bidding and running jobs?IAOIntel — takeoffs, estimates, daily logs, spec intelligence. The office side.