A five-step working checklist
- 01
Clarify the complete scope
List outputs, review cycles and exclusions before calculating hours.
- 02
Count direct and indirect delivery time
Include research, revisions, communication, coordination and quality assurance.
- 03
Estimate real expenses
Include paid tools, suppliers, travel and other costs attributable to the work.
- 04
Apply contingency and target margin
Stress-test the estimate against extra delivery hours and realistic customer expectations.
- 05
Confirm acceptance and change control
Use a written approval process for scope changes, milestones and payment terms.
Download your free starter CSV
Open in Excel, Google Sheets or another spreadsheet editor. The file contains headers and one clearly illustrative example. No data is uploaded.
Open free pricing calculatorReplace the example row before using your own information.
What your output should show
After entering your own information, another reviewer should understand the owner, source, status and next action without relying on undocumented explanations. Use appropriate access controls for confidential material.
Frequently asked questions
Are gross margin and markup the same?
No. Gross margin measures gross profit divided by the selling price. Markup measures gross profit divided by cost.
Are transaction fees included in the free calculator?
No. Payment processing, taxes and other financing costs require separate review.
Is the existing $179 executive bundle a pricing tool?
No. The bundle contains three existing professional document systems for stakeholder, ESG and board-reporting work.