Calculator · Freelance Rates
Fixed Project Price Calculator
Build a fixed project quote from delivery costs, a chosen cost contingency and a target margin, keeping the reserve separate from planned profit.
Formula and cost boundary
Quote = (hours × internal cost rate + direct costs) × (1 + contingency) ÷ (1 − target margin)
Enter an internal cost rate, not a client billing rate that already includes profit. Contingency is a share of base delivery cost; margin is a share of the final quote. The contingency remains a cost reserve until delivery is complete. The quote rounds upward to cents. Base delivery cost must be positive because zero cost cannot determine a unique positive quote from a margin target. Changes in scope, collection and capacity need a separate project plan.
Worked example: Cost reserve then margin
The following inputs are hypothetical values for checking the calculation. They are not recommended prices, wages, margins or platform charges. Keep the units and period shown in each label when replacing them with your own records.
| Input | Example value |
|---|---|
| Estimated delivery hours | 40 hours |
| Internal cost per hour | $50/hour |
| Other direct project costs | $500 |
| Contingency on base delivery cost | 20% |
| Target margin on quoted revenue | 25% |
| Result | Calculated value |
|---|---|
| Quote rounded up to cents | $4,000 |
| Delivery budget including contingency | $3,000 |
| Planned profit if full budget is spent | $1,000 |
Using the result
Save the input set alongside the source date of each quote or cost record. Review the cost boundary before comparing this result with another report: a contribution measure may exclude overhead, and a cash measure follows payment dates. Display rounding does not change the underlying assumptions. Recalculate when an input changes; the tool does not predict future sales or collections.
Are any rates supplied automatically?
No. Numeric fields are your inputs. Example values demonstrate arithmetic only. Check your contracts and records for the amounts that apply to your business.
Why might a result be unavailable or negative?
A missing denominator or inconsistent inputs can make the calculation undefined. Those combinations are rejected or labeled explicitly. A valid negative result remains visible because it may identify a loss or cash shortfall.
Method reference: OpenStax: Operating Budgets. Checked October 22, 2026. Capacity, sales and delivery-cost budgets; no market rate assumptions.
Related calculators & guides
- Hourly vs Project Pricing: Which to Choose
- Build a Scope Budget for a Fixed-Fee Project
- Contingency vs Profit Margin in Project Quotes
- Price Revision Rounds Without Hiding the Work
- Price a Change Order from Incremental Work
- Include Subcontractors in Project Quotes
- Calculate Project Profit Margin with Clear Costs
- Estimate to Complete a Fixed-Fee Project
- Project Deposits and Milestone Cash Timing
- Build Service Package Tiers from Delivery Costs
- Review Project Pricing After Delivery
- Project Remaining Budget Calculator
- Project Contingency and Margin Reference
- Fixed Project Quote Worked Example
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