How the estimate works
The calculator uses the same formula as the iPhone app’s estimate:
- Mileage cost = miles driven × your vehicle cost per mile
- Printing cost = pages printed × your cost per page
- Estimated direct costs = mileage cost + printing cost + other direct costs
- Estimated net = gross quote − estimated direct costs
- Effective hourly rate = estimated net × 60 ÷ (appointment minutes + travel minutes)
Every line is rounded to the cent the same way the app rounds it, so the numbers here match the app for the same inputs.
Two offers, compared
A bigger fee is not always the better job. Both offers below print 300 pages and use the same example costs of $0.65 a mile and $0.07 a page.
| Offer | Direct costs | Est. net | Time | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offer A: $150 signing, far away70 mi, 75 min at the table, 105 min driving | $66.50 | $83.50 | 3 hr | $27.83 |
| Offer B: $100 signing, nearby14 mi, 60 min at the table, 25 min driving | $30.10 | $69.90 | 1 hr 25 min | $49.34 |
The $150 job pays more in total, but after the drive it pays less per hour than the $100 job around the corner. If the far job is the one on offer, the target field in the calculator tells you what it would need to pay to match your usual rate. The guide to effective hourly rate covers how to choose a target.
What the estimate leaves out
This is an operational estimate for deciding what to charge and which jobs to take. It is not tax or accounting profit. It does not include income or self-employment tax, insurance, errors and omissions coverage, commission and bond costs, software, phone, marketing, or time spent on the phone arranging the job. Use a cost per mile that reflects your own vehicle; the calculator does not assume one for you beyond the starting value, which you should replace.