Accountants Project Cost (Daily) Calculator Examples
Explore worked examples of daily accounting charge-out rates for different cost bases, billable-day assumptions and profit margins.
These examples show how staffing cost, overhead allocation, available billable days and target margin interact. They are illustrative estimates, not recommended rates for a particular practice or engagement.
How to Read Your Results
Daily delivery cost is the amount each billable day must cover before profit.
Target daily rate is higher than daily cost because it includes the chosen profit margin.
Annual revenue assumes every planned billable day is invoiced at the target rate.
Estimated annual profit is revenue less the annual pay, employment costs and overheads entered.
Compare scenarios using the same cost scope so that the results remain meaningful.
Assumptions & Important Notes
- All examples use profit margin, not markup on cost.
- Billable days are assumed to be fully invoiced at the calculated daily rate.
- Figures exclude taxes, financing, exceptional costs and unentered direct project expenses.
- Costs and rates are rounded for presentation where appropriate.
Related Examples
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a realistic number of billable days for a daily-rate example?
It depends on the practice and role. The useful figure is the number of days expected to be invoiced after allowing for all non-billable commitments.
Should a sole practitioner include an owner draw in these examples?
For pricing purposes, an owner can include an annual amount representing the cost or income requirement assigned to delivering client work.
Can a higher margin offset low billable days?
A higher margin increases the rate, but it does not create capacity. Both the billable-day estimate and the margin should be reviewed together.
Why might a calculated rate differ from a client quote?
A quote may also reflect scope, specialist value, urgency, competition, risk, direct expenses and commercial terms not included in the base calculation.
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