The problem
You've been guessing at your hourly rate for years. Sometimes it's $75. Sometimes $85. Sometimes you just charge what feels right. There's no baseline, so there's nothing to compare your jobs against.
Without a target rate, you can't know if a job was good or bad. It was just… a job.
Why we built it
Business setup is where DIRT gets its calibration. Your target hourly rate, trade category, and overhead inputs become the benchmark for every job's Worth It Score, every EHR comparison, and every recommendation. Set it right once.
How it works
- 1
On first open (or in Settings → Business), set your trade, target hourly rate, and business name.
- 2
Add overhead inputs if you know them: monthly fixed costs, vehicle costs, insurance.
- 3
DIRT uses this to calculate your effective hourly rate vs. target on every job.
What changes for your business
Before
No target rate. Jobs are just jobs. No benchmark to compare against.
After
Target rate set. Every job measured against it. Green means you hit it. Red means you didn't.
Common questions
Do I have to enter my hourly rate when I set up DIRT?
Yes, and it's worth doing right. Your target hourly rate is the benchmark DIRT compares every job against. Without it, there's no green/red signal on whether a job paid you what you need.
What happens if I skip setting a target rate?
DIRT still logs your jobs, but the profit scoring — the Worth It Score and EHR comparison — needs a target rate to mean anything. You'll see numbers without context for whether they're good or bad.
Can I change my target rate later if my business grows?
Yes. Settings → Business. Update it any time. Future jobs are measured against the new rate. Past jobs keep their original calculations.
What does DIRT ask for during initial setup?
Your trade, business name, and target hourly rate — required. Optional: monthly fixed overhead costs, vehicle costs, and insurance. The overhead inputs make the profit math more accurate.
Why does DIRT ask for overhead costs?
Because they're real costs that belong in the job margin calculation. If you have $1,200 a month in fixed overhead, that needs to be spread across your jobs. Without it, every job looks more profitable than it is.
How long does the initial setup take?
Under two minutes for the basics — trade, rate, name. Add overhead numbers when you have them handy. You can log your first job before setup is fully complete.
Start free
Try it free.
Every DIRT plan includes this feature — Solo included. No credit card, no trial that expires. Set up in minutes and use it on your next job from the truck.