GENERAL CONTRACTORS
Markup vs. margin
True job cost, break-even and labor-hour capacity.
CONTRACTOR PLANNING
Six connected decisions
Start with pricing, then check labor cost, job profit, labor-hour capacity, break-even and overhead recovery. Each calculator works on its own.
CONTRACTOR GUIDE
Markup and margin are not the same percentage
Build true job cost, convert a target margin into price and check the labor-hour ceiling.
OWNER-OPERATOR PLANNING
Cost every mile, then test the load
Use all miles, keep deadhead visible and avoid adding fuel twice. The examples are fictional and are not rate recommendations.
FREE GUIDE
How deadhead changes a load
See why loaded-mile rate can look healthy while revenue per total mile and trip profit fall.
COST PER MILE GUIDE
Allocate fixed cost across every mile
Connect monthly cost per mile with one-load break-even and revenue per total mile.
HOME-SERVICE PRICING
One pricing engine, trade-specific costs
These calculators share a transparent target-margin method, but each trade keeps its own labor, materials, reserves and operational inputs.
PRACTICAL PRICING LIBRARY
One specific guide for every published vertical
Each guide uses a distinct cost model, a fictional worked example, FAQs and a direct link to the relevant free calculator.
OWNER-OPERATORS
True cost per mile
Variable cost, fixed cost and one-load break-even.
LANDSCAPING
Crew and equipment cost
Person-hours, plants, disposal and mobilization.
CLEANING
Labor, travel and supplies
Cleaner-hours and visible recurring discounts.
PEST CONTROL
Visit and callback cost
Technician time, product, route travel and revisit reserve.
PAINTING
Prep, coverage and waste
Separate prep hours, paint gallons, sundries and access.
ELECTRICAL
Labor mix and permits
Electrician/helper hours, materials and inspection fees.
HVAC
Equipment and warranty reserve
Technician/helper labor, startup, travel and equipment risk.
ELECTRICAL LABOR RATE
Hourly rate calculator
Burdened pay, billable hours, overhead recovery and target margin.
HVAC MARKUP VS. MARGIN
Price from full installed cost
Labor, equipment, warranty reserve, markup and margin in one example.
CLEANING PRICE PER JOB
Crew price per visit
Cleaner-hours, supplies, travel, reserve and selling price.
OWNER-OPERATOR BREAK-EVEN
Break-even RPM calculator
All-mile cost, deadhead and the loaded-mile rate needed to break even.
Follow Serman Tools
Choose the public RSS feed with no email, or subscribe on Gumroad. The Gumroad option opens the Serman Tools profile and Gumroad collects the address under its own terms; this site does not keep a separate email list.
TRANSPARENT METHOD
What every result means
Inputs stay visible
Labor, materials, fixed costs and reserves remain separate so omissions and double counting are easier to spot.
Costs come before margin
Target-margin prices divide entered cost by one minus the margin. Markup and margin are not treated as the same number.
Errors stay visible
Zero denominators and impossible assumptions show an explanation instead of a plausible-looking zero.
Examples are fictional
Default values only demonstrate the calculation. Replace every rate, burden, cost and reserve with your own verified inputs.
CONTRACTOR SYSTEM
Contractor Profit Toolkit
Keep the six contractor calculations in one downloadable workbook with scenario analysis and a dashboard.
Published at $59. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. No financial result is promised.
View the Contractor Profit ToolkitOWNER-OPERATOR SYSTEM
Owner Operator Profit Workbook
Add monthly projections, maintenance-reserve tracking and a downloadable scenario workbook to the free tools.
Published at $49. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. No rate or profit is promised.
View the Owner Operator WorkbookMULTI-JOB CONTRACTOR SYSTEM
Contractor Business Toolkit
Add a 30-job log, monthly summary, forecast and scenario analysis to the contractor pricing model.
Published at $99. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. No financial result is promised.
View the Contractor Business ToolkitHOME-SERVICE PRICING SYSTEM
Home Service Pricing Workbook
Use six trade-specific quote models, a quote log, scenario comparison and dashboard in one downloadable workbook.
Published at $69. Includes a 30-day money-back guarantee. No price or profit is promised.
View the Home Service Pricing Workbook