Lee Monarc Accounting & Advisory
A decision worth doing the numbers on

Can I afford
this hire?

A salary is only the beginning. See the cost of your next hire, the sales needed to cover it, and how much room you have if sales fall short.

01   Enter your figures02   Test the downside03   Plan your next move
Your assumptions

Start with the role.

Example figures are filled in to get you started. Replace them with your own. All amounts are AUD, excluding GST.

01 What will the hire cost?

Exclude super. For part-time roles, use the actual annual salary you will pay.

12% starting assumption. Confirm the earnings base, applicable rate and caps for this hire.

Recruitment, equipment, onboarding and initial training. Count each cost once.

Software, workspace and other extra monthly costs, excluding salary and super.

Your allowance for insurance, applicable payroll tax, extra leave cover/loading and other costs not entered above.

02 What could they bring in?

The share of extra sales left after direct costs, before this hire. Use margin, not markup.

Additional monthly sales attributable to this hire, excluding GST. Not total business revenue.

Not a sales role?

Use extra sales the hire could enable by freeing up your team’s capacity. If the benefit is efficiency, risk reduction or service quality instead, this sales-based model won’t capture its full value. Use it to understand the cost, then discuss a broader case with us.

Your hiring snapshotPlanning estimate

Look beyond
the salary.

Estimated recurring monthly cost$8,075

Salary + super assumption + your other ongoing costs.

First-year total$101,900including $5,000 setup
Monthly average in year one$8,492setup spread over 12 months
The sales target to keep in view$16,984

Extra sales per month at 50% gross margin to cover the first-year average cost.

SalarySuperOtherSetup
See the cost breakdown +
Base salary / month
$6,667
Super assumption / month
$800
Other costs / month
$608
Setup allowance / month in year one
$417
First month, if setup is paid upfront
$13,075

Monthly averages smooth out timing. Your actual cash payments may be uneven.

Pressure-test the plan

What if sales
don’t go to plan?

Choose how far below your extra-sales target to test.

Your expected sales

$20,000 / month

Contribution after direct costs $10,000

After average hire cost$1,508 surplusper month · before tax and existing overheads
If sales are 25% lower

$15,000 / month

Contribution after direct costs $7,500

After average hire cost$992 gapper month · before tax and existing overheads

Your sales target covers the estimated hire cost, but the downside scenario leaves a gap. Consider the buffer you would need.

Keep the numbers. Start a conversation.

A clearer picture.
A more considered hire.

Save your assumptions and results, then bring them to a hire-readiness conversation with Vivienne. We’ll help you look at the decision in the context of your business.

No email required. Your figures are calculated in your browser and aren’t submitted by this tool.

How we calculate this estimate +

One simple first-year model

Recurring monthly cost = (salary + salary × super rate + other annual costs) ÷ 12 + other monthly costs.

First-year average = recurring monthly cost + one-off setup ÷ 12.

Extra sales to cover the hire = first-year monthly average ÷ (gross margin ÷ 100). Zero margin has no finite break-even when costs are greater than zero. Figures round to whole dollars; sales targets round up.

Monthly surplus or gap = extra sales × gross margin − first-year monthly average. The downside reduces your expected extra sales by your selected percentage.

Before you rely on the result

  • Figures are illustrative until you replace them. The annual base salary excludes super and is assumed to be the super earnings base. The editable 12% starting rate reflects official guidance checked on 23 October 2026; confirm the applicable earnings, eligibility, caps and arrangements.
  • Enter applicable payroll tax, workers compensation, FBT, overtime, allowances, recruitment, training, equipment and extra leave costs in your estimates. They are not assessed automatically. Annual paid leave is normally already included in annual salary; don’t add the same salary twice.
  • Use gross margin before this hire and extra sales only. Direct costs included in your margin should not also be entered as hiring costs.
  • Assumes steady costs and extra sales for 12 months. Setup is spread across the first year for comparison; it may be paid upfront. No ramp-up, payment delays, GST, income tax, tax deductions, existing overheads or cash reserves are modelled.
  • A positive contribution does not establish affordability. This is a planning estimate, not a cash-flow forecast, employment-cost quote or personal financial, tax or legal advice. Entitlements and costs vary by role, award, arrangement and location.

Official guidance

business.gov.au — Guide to hiring employees ↗
ATO — Payday Super and the 12% rate ↗

Planning estimate only. Check your employment obligations and actual costs before committing to a hire.