FieldHive calculator
Trade Business Break-Even Calculator
Work out how much you need to bring in — and how many hours you need to bill — just to cover your wage and overheads, then to reach the profit you actually want.
Start Free
See how FieldHive works
No email address required · Not financial or tax advice
What you have to cover
Your own wage or drawings for the year, plus the overheads that keep the business running.
Profit and how you bill
The profit you want on top of break-even, and how you turn work into revenue.
A practical guide, not tax or accounting advice. Figures exclude VAT.
Was this calculator useful?
We keep our trade calculators free to use — no sign-up, no email form and no pop-ups. If it helped, an honest review helps us improve these tools and helps other trade businesses find them.
Reviews are optional. Please only review based on your genuine experience.
Break-even
The number every trade should know
Break-even is the income you need just to cover your wage and your overheads. Earn less and the business runs at a loss; earn more and you finally start making money.
Most trades are busy but have no idea what they actually need to bring in each month to stand still. That is how a full diary can still leave nothing in the bank.
This calculator turns your wage and overheads into a clear target — per year, per month and per week — and shows how many chargeable hours it takes to get there.
What you see
A clear target to aim at
Enter a few figures and the calculator shows what break-even really means for you.
Annual break-even revenue
Monthly break-even target
Weekly revenue target
Chargeable hours to break even
Revenue and hours for your profit target
Worked example
From costs to a monthly target
A solo trade wanting a 35,000 wage, with 12,000 of overheads, billing at 55 an hour.
Wage plus overheads
47,000
Break-even a month
3,917
Break-even a week
904
At 55 an hour, hours needed
855 hrs
To add 5,000 profit
52,000
Hours for that
945 hrs
Lower it
Three ways to bring break-even down
If the number looks scary, there are only really three levers — and most trades can move all of them a little.
Charge a higher rate, so each hour does more. Trim overheads, so there is less to cover. Or bill more of your working hours, so fewer are wasted. Small moves on each add up fast.
Beyond break-even
Break-even is the floor, not the goal
Hitting break-even just means the business survives. The point of running it is the profit above that line.
This calculator shows the extra revenue and hours needed to reach a target profit on top of break-even, so you are aiming at a number worth working for — not just staying afloat.
Stay connected
See the target and the takings together
This calculator sets the target. FieldHive tracks the quotes, jobs and invoices, so you can see how the real takings compare to what you need.
That makes it easier to know, month by month, whether you are ahead of break-even or behind it — one connected record from enquiry to final payment.
Enquiry
Quote
Job
Invoice
Payment
Start Free
See how FieldHive works
Who it is for
Who is this calculator for?
Sole traders setting a monthly target
New businesses planning year one
Trades checking they charge enough
Small teams tracking against break-even
It is a practical planning guide, not tax, accounting or financial advice, and it works in figures excluding VAT.
Related tools
Build the numbers behind break-even
Use these alongside your break-even target.
FAQ
Trade business break-even questions
Common questions about working out your break-even point.
Get started
Know the number you have to hit
Turn your wage and overheads into a clear monthly target, then track it against real takings with FieldHive.
Start Free
See how FieldHive works
