Operating Cost Calculator
Add up your monthly overheads (rent, utilities, staffing) and see the revenue you need to break even.
Exclusive to Plus
True Cost of Employment Calculator
Work out what a hire really costs you. Add employer National Insurance, pension, holiday pay and overheads on top of the wage, and see the true figure per hour, month and year before you commit.
Employment Cost Breakdown
For: "£12.50/hour, 37.5 hours/week, 28 holiday days"
Gross Annual Wage
£24,375
Holiday Cost (28 days)
£1,400
Employer NI (15%)
£2,906
Pension Contribution (3%)
£563
Other Overheads (5%)
£1,219
True Annual Cost
£30,463
True hourly cost
£15.62
25% more than base wage
Underestimating What a Hire Really Costs?
A lot of florists look at the hourly wage and stop there. The real cost adds employer National Insurance, pension, holiday pay and overheads on top, and that gap can throw your budget out by thousands a year.
Statutory Costs Stack Up
UK National Insurance thresholds, Irish PRSI rates, pension qualifying earnings and employer's allowance all change the figure, and they shift with the country and the wage you pay.
UK and Ireland Differ
Employment costs work differently in each country. The UK has employer's allowance and the apprenticeship levy. Ireland uses its own PRSI rates, so the same wage lands at a different total.
Hourly to Annual Trips People Up
Turning an hourly wage into a true annual cost means folding in holiday pay, weekly hours and overhead percentages. Do it on the back of an envelope and the maths slips easily.
How the Employment Cost Calculator Works
It pulls together every cost of a hire: the statutory bits you have to pay, the benefits, and the overheads that hide in plain sight. So you see the whole figure, not half of it.
1
Step 1
Enter Employee Details
Pick your country (UK, Ireland or other) and put in the hourly wage, hours per week and holiday days. It applies the right country-specific rates for the kind of contract you're costing.
- UK, Ireland, and custom country support
- Hourly wage input system
- Flexible working hours (0-168/week)
- Holiday days configuration
Employee Information
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
£12.50/hour
37.5 hours
28 days (UK statutory minimum)
2
Step 2
Automatic Cost Calculations
It applies the current 2025/26 UK rates, Irish PRSI, and your own rates for other countries. Employer's allowance, the apprenticeship levy and pension qualifying earnings are all worked out for you.
- Current 2025/26 UK rates (15% NI)
- Irish PRSI automatic rate selection
- Employer's allowance calculations
- Pension qualifying earnings (£6,500-£50,270)
Statutory Costs
Employer NI
15%
Above £5,000 threshold (2025/26)
Pension Contribution
3%
On qualifying earnings (£6,500-£50,270)
Holiday Cost
Daily rate × days
Based on working pattern
2025/26 UK rates with thresholds applied
3
Step 3
Full Cost Breakdown and Net Pay
See the breakdown: gross wage, statutory costs, overheads and your true hourly rate. For UK staff, you also get an estimate of their take-home pay after income tax, NI and pension.
- True cost per hour/week/month/year
- Complete statutory cost breakdown
- UK employee net pay estimation
- Income tax and NI calculations
Complete Cost Analysis
£30,463
True Annual Cost
25% more than gross wage
£2,539
Monthly Cost
£15.62
True Hourly Rate
Gross Annual Wage
£24,375
Statutory Costs
£4,869
Other Overheads
£1,219
Employee Net Pay (UK)
£19,847/year
After tax, NI & pension
Complete employer and employee breakdown
What the Calculator Covers
Everything you need to see the true cost of a hire before you take someone on, in plain numbers you can act on.
Multi-Country Support
Built-in support for UK (2025/26 rates), Ireland (PRSI calculations), and custom rates for other countries with automatic currency symbols.
Hourly Wage Calculations
Input hourly wages and working hours to automatically calculate annual costs, holiday pay, and true hourly employment cost.
Current 2025/26 UK Rates
Uses latest UK rates including 15% employer NI, £5,000 secondary threshold, and pension qualifying earnings (£6,500-£50,270).
UK Employer's Allowance
Optional employer's allowance calculation (up to £10,500 for 2025/26) to reduce National Insurance liability for eligible employers.
Employee Net Pay Estimation
For UK employees, calculates estimated take-home pay after income tax, National Insurance, and pension contributions using 2025/26 rates.
Complete Cost Breakdown
Shows true cost per hour, week, month, and year with detailed breakdown of gross wage, statutory costs, and overhead percentages.
Once you have the real hourly figure, feed it into your Operating Cost Calculator so your prices cover the wages you actually pay.
Frequently Asked Questions
Employer NI, workplace pension contributions, holiday pay, sick pay and hidden admin time are all factored in.
Yes. Run side-by-side scenarios for different contract types to see the true annual cost of each.
Yes. NI thresholds and pension minimums reflect current HMRC rates so your figures are accurate.
Yes. Download a summary to share with your accountant or bring to budgeting meetings.
Absolutely. Model short-term contracts for Valentine's or Christmas and see the real cost before you commit.
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Staff Holiday Planner
Plan holiday allowances, blackout peak trading weeks, and approve requests so your team stays covered during Valentine's and Mother's Day.
Hire Knowing the Real Numbers
See the true cost of a hire before you take someone on, so the figure on the contract matches what lands in your accounts.
Requires Florist Toolbox Plus subscription