What it helps you decide
Estimate loaded role cost, funding revenue, and expected profit impact.
Hiring decision
Turn a proposed hire into a monthly revenue threshold.
Estimate loaded employment cost, contribution revenue needed to fund the role, expected net impact, and owner hours recovered.
Start with the example
The values already filled in are a working example—not a recommendation.
- 1Choose the closest starting point.
- 2Replace the example with your real details.
- 3Read the live result and its important limits.
Your numbers
Role cost and expected benefit
Use the filled example first. Then replace each field with a measured value or your best current estimate.
Step 1Answer one question at a time. Your example values stay available.
Important limit
Employment cost and risk extend beyond wages.
Confirm payroll taxes, workers compensation, insurance, benefits, paid time off, overtime, equipment, supervision, training, recruiting, compliance, scheduling, severance, and jurisdiction-specific employment rules with qualified professionals.
Want to keep working with these numbers?
Monthly Business P&L Spreadsheet
Classify transactions into revenue, cost of goods, and operating expenses with monthly margins and totals.
About this free pricing, tax & e-commerce tool
How to use the Can I Afford to Hire?
Estimate loaded role cost, funding revenue, and expected profit impact. The calculator runs privately in your browser and is designed to make the assumptions behind the answer visible.
What to have ready
Gather current product cost, paid and owner labor, packaging, selling fees, shipping or fulfillment costs, and the price or margin you want to test.
Key inputs: Current monthly revenue; Contribution margin available to fund labor; Hourly wage; Paid hours per week; Payroll tax / benefit burden.
How to use the result
Use the result to compare scenarios and find the cost or assumption driving the decision. Recheck the plan with taxes, overhead, returns, and channel terms that apply to you.
Ready for the connected version?
Turn the calculation into a repeatable workflow.
Batch Scale connects recipes, materials, costs, inventory, production, sales, and your storefront in one workspace.