A low monthly equivalent can require a large payment today. This calculator shows cash outflow as well as the cost of your own time, so a prepaid promotion and a rolling subscription can be compared on the same basis.
Build your estimate
How the calculation works
The initial subscription and setup payment occur at month zero. A renewal occurs when the initial covered term ends, then at the renewal interval you enter. Each renewal pays for the full next interval. The model counts payments before the end of the planning horizon; a payment due exactly at that end belongs to the following period.
For example, US$120 covering the first 12 months, followed by US$15/month billed annually, produces subscription payments of US$120 at launch, US$180 at month 12 and US$180 at month 24. Over three years that is US$480. With US$120 in other costs each year and no setup fee, cash spending is US$840.
If a renewal buys coverage beyond the horizon, the whole payment still counts: this is a cash model, not amortized accounting. Conversely, a 48-month initial term still requires its full upfront payment even when you inspect only three years.
Annual extras are spread evenly for each modeled year. Their exact payment dates are not included in the “due initially” figure. Owner time equals setup hours plus monthly maintenance hours multiplied by the number of months, all valued at your chosen hourly rate.
What to add separately
Use tax-inclusive quotes if you want tax included. This estimate does not infer local taxes, inflation, exchange rates, refund eligibility, transaction fees, borrowing costs or price increases. Add a separate contingency for uncertain work. Do not include the same cost in both the website subscription and annual extras.
The calculator runs in your browser. Inputs are not sent to us or saved between visits. Download the CSV if you want to keep the result, and use the vendor scorecard to consider the non-price trade-offs.