Bad Client Cost Calculator
Enter your contract value, actual hours, extra communication time, and payment delays to see the true cost of a difficult client — and whether you should fire them.
Fire This Client?
No
You earned 85.7% of your target rate — within acceptable range, though scope discipline could improve profitability.
Client Engagement Details
What the client agreed to pay you
What you want to earn per hour
Original scope
True deliverable hours
Hours in emails, calls, Slack beyond what's normal
Days past due date
Per month (standard: 1.5%)
True Cost Breakdown
Hourly Rate Reality
Money Lost
Scope creep cost
10 uncompensated hrs
Comm overhead cost
5 extra comm hrs
Late payment fee
30 days at 1.5%/mo
If You Keep Them
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