Use the delivery and revenue definition matching your cost period. Bookings can cancel and do not automatically produce cash.
Try this with your own numbersFormula and worked example
Break-even sales = ceiling(fixed costs / (price − variable cost))
| Input | Example |
|---|---|
| Monthly fixed costs | 8,000 |
| Average price per maintenance visit | 500 |
| Variable cost per maintenance visit | 300 |
| Calculated result | 40 sales per month |
Choose reliable inputs
Separate parts, technician time and bay availability for each repair order. For this fleet maintenance calculation, use repair orders, parts invoices and technician time logs and a consistent definition of one maintenance visit.
- Parts: include the portion belonging to this maintenance visit or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
- Technician hours: include the portion belonging to this maintenance visit or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
- Scheduling overhead: include the portion belonging to this maintenance visit or reporting period, and record where the value came from.
Use the same currency for every money input. Do not mix weekly costs with monthly revenue, or count the same expense in both an itemised cost and allocated overhead.
Should I count booked jobs or completed paid sales?
Use the delivery and revenue definition matching your cost period. Bookings can cancel and do not automatically produce cash.
Assumes stable average price and variable cost; multiple service mixes need separate analysis.
What if this input changes?
If monthly fixed costs rises by 10%, this example changes by 4 sales per month. This shows the effect of one change; it does not predict what will happen.
Open the calculator, save your baseline, then change the input supported by the least reliable estimate in your records. Compare both scenarios before committing to a price or capacity promise.