Break-even calculator
Break-even is the number that tells you whether this is a business or a hobby. It answers two things: how many jobs a month keep the lights on, and how many weeks until the money you spent to start is back in your pocket.
Sets the default job price for your market.
Adjusts the job price for local rates.
Insurance, software, phone, storage, loan payments.
As a share of the job price.
Jobs per month to break even in Austin
4 jobs
- That's per week
- 0.9 jobs
- Typical job price hereAustin, TX standard tier
- $238 per job
- Money left per job after materials18% materials & fuel
- $195
- Jobs to repay startup costsIgnoring overhead — pure payback
- 11 jobs
- Startup money back inAssumes 6 jobs/month (1.5× break-even)
- 5.1 months
- Revenue at break-even
- $952/mo
- Revenue at 1.5× break-even
- $1,428/mo
All figures are modelled estimates based on public data and typical operator ranges — not a guarantee of what you will earn or spend.
Get these numbers in a full free planHow this is calculated
- · Job price is the standard tier for pressure washing service in Austin, scaled by local income.
- · Break-even covers fixed costs only — it does not pay you a wage yet.
- · Payback assumes you hold 1.5× break-even volume every month.
Inputs come from our published dataset. Read the methodology or use the free API.
The tool that does this for you
Running the math once is easy; keeping it accurate on every job is the hard part. This is what we'd set up first.
Separates pressure washing service income from personal spending from job one, so quarterly taxes aren't a scramble.
Set up QuickBooksContracts, proposals, invoices and expense tracking in one place.
Free invoicing + bookkeeping so you can prove income at tax time.
Questions people ask
How long should break-even take?
For a lean service start, most operators cover fixed monthly costs within 4–8 weeks of active quoting. If you're past three months with no break-even month, the problem is usually lead volume or pricing, not effort.
Should I count my own pay in break-even?
No. Break-even is the point where the business stops losing money. Paying yourself is the next target — use the hourly rate calculator for that number.
Pressure-test this with an AI
Copy this prompt into ChatGPT or Gemini to stress-test the numbers on this page against your own situation — then come back and build the real plan.
Using LaunchLoop's break-even calculator (launchloopio.com/tools/break-even-calculator), work out a pressure washing service in Austin, TX: See how many jobs cover your costs — and when your startup money comes back.