{
  "schemaVersion": 1,
  "slug": "break-even-hours-calculator",
  "category": "productivity",
  "kind": "implementation",
  "independentValidation": false,
  "implementationHash": "a98ec62958313e3adb9879e2472d4afa44377679428990c0ff1a27618d088a29",
  "provenance": "Generated from the calculation contract used by the published page. Publication is not external validation.",
  "sourceFiles": [
    "data/calculators/break-even-hours-calculator.json",
    "src/engine.js"
  ],
  "runtimeSource": "/sources/engine.txt",
  "runtimeHash": "5c888d8898afbdee36267bb9977829e1e2ac568f6677c8ee87469c139864645c",
  "scope": "The compute function records implemented equations, constants, lookup tables and custom rules. Inputs record defaults and allowed values; outputs record precision and units. Defaults are examples, not recommendations. General background references are not evidence for this specific algorithm.",
  "publishedFormula": {
    "formula": "H = F/(R_h − C_h); T = H × 60",
    "vars": [
      [
        "H_BE",
        "Break-even hours per month"
      ],
      [
        "FC",
        "Monthly fixed costs"
      ],
      [
        "r",
        "Hourly billing rate"
      ],
      [
        "v",
        "Variable cost per hour"
      ],
      [
        "P",
        "Target monthly profit"
      ],
      [
        "H_t",
        "Hours needed for target profit"
      ]
    ],
    "note": "A finite break-even time exists only when hourly contribution R_h − C_h is positive. If it is zero or negative, the target cannot be reached."
  },
  "externalEvidence": {
    "reviewedAt": "2026-10-12",
    "sources": [
      {
        "name": "US Small Business Administration — Break-even analysis",
        "url": "https://www.sba.gov/business-guide/plan-your-business/calculate-your-startup-costs"
      }
    ],
    "referenceRole": "definition",
    "implementationHash": "a98ec62958313e3adb9879e2472d4afa44377679428990c0ff1a27618d088a29",
    "basis": "H = F/(R_h − C_h); T = H × 60",
    "limitations": "The references explain definitions and methods; any extra preset must be checked against the assumptions on this page."
  },
  "contract": {
    "compute": "const contributionPerHour = hourlyRate-variableCostPerHour;\nif (contributionPerHour <= 0) return { contributionPerHour, breakEvenHours: null, targetHours: null, breakEvenHoursPerWeek: null, feasible: 'No — hourly contribution must be positive', gap: null };\nconst breakEvenHours = monthlyFixedCosts/contributionPerHour;\nconst targetHours = (monthlyFixedCosts+targetProfit)/contributionPerHour;\nreturn { contributionPerHour, breakEvenHours, targetHours, breakEvenHoursPerWeek: breakEvenHours/4.345, feasible: targetHours <= hoursAvailable ? 'Yes — '+targetHours.toFixed(0)+' h fits inside your '+hoursAvailable+' h' : 'No — raise rates, cut costs or add capacity', gap: Math.max(0, targetHours-hoursAvailable) };",
    "inputs": [
      {
        "name": "monthlyFixedCosts",
        "type": "number",
        "default": 4000,
        "min": 0,
        "max": 1000000,
        "step": 100
      },
      {
        "name": "hourlyRate",
        "type": "number",
        "default": 80,
        "min": 1,
        "max": 5000,
        "step": 5,
        "slider": true
      },
      {
        "name": "variableCostPerHour",
        "type": "number",
        "default": 5,
        "min": 0,
        "max": 1000,
        "step": 1,
        "slider": true
      },
      {
        "name": "targetProfit",
        "type": "number",
        "default": 3000,
        "min": 0,
        "max": 1000000,
        "step": 100
      },
      {
        "name": "hoursAvailable",
        "type": "number",
        "default": 160,
        "min": 1,
        "max": 500,
        "step": 1,
        "slider": true
      }
    ],
    "outputs": [
      {
        "name": "contributionPerHour",
        "precision": 2,
        "unit": "$"
      },
      {
        "name": "breakEvenHours",
        "precision": 1,
        "unit": "h",
        "optional": true
      },
      {
        "name": "targetHours",
        "precision": 1,
        "unit": "h",
        "optional": true
      },
      {
        "name": "breakEvenHoursPerWeek",
        "precision": 1,
        "unit": "h",
        "optional": true
      },
      {
        "name": "feasible",
        "precision": 0,
        "unit": "",
        "type": "text"
      },
      {
        "name": "gap",
        "precision": 1,
        "unit": "h",
        "optional": true
      }
    ],
    "interpret": null
  }
}