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Break-even appointments

Work out how many appointments you need to cover monthly costs and pay yourself.

Start with your own numbers. The figures below are examples, not industry averages. Amounts are in AUD. Use one consistent tax basis; these tools do not add or calculate GST or income tax.
An average appointment

Use a typical completed appointment, or a weighted average of your services. Include preparation and clean-up in the time.

Unit: $.
Materials, variable staff costs and travel. Exclude your pay and monthly bills below. Unit: $.
Use your effective rate on the price entered. This is an example, not an IdleHours fee. Unit: %.
Unit: $.
Unit: min.
Your month

Enter monthly amounts. Put salaried staff in overheads or appointment costs, never both. Your own pay goes in its separate field.

Unit: $.
Unit: $.
Unit: $.
Exclude leave, admin and other time unavailable for appointments. Unit: hrs.

Your inputs are not sent to IdleHours or saved. Refreshing or leaving this calculator clears your changes.

What’s in this result

The result includes your monthly pay and extra surplus target. Set the extra surplus to zero to find the point that just covers your costs and pay.

Capacity assumes every available appointment is completed at the average price. Allow for unfilled gaps, no-shows and a changing mix of services.

Show the calculation

Contribution per appointment = price − payment fees − variable costs. Appointments needed = (monthly overheads + your monthly pay + surplus target) ÷ contribution, rounded up. Capacity = available hours ÷ total appointment time, rounded down.

For more on setting prices, see business.gov.au’s pricing guide.