Kill Fee Calculator
Estimate a fair kill fee when a project is cancelled — covering work done plus a percentage of the remaining fee.
How it works
Earned = fee × complete% · Cancellation = (fee − earned) × kill% · Kill fee = earned + cancellation · Balance = kill fee − deposit
A kill fee compensates you when a client cancels a project midway. A fair structure pays you fully for the work already completed, then adds a percentage of the remaining fee to cover the reserved time and lost opportunity you can no longer bill elsewhere. Netting off any deposit already paid tells you whether to invoice a balance or refund the difference. Spell the percentage out in the contract so cancellation is a calculation, not an argument.
Worked example
On a $10,000 project that is 40% done, you have earned $4,000. A 25% kill fee on the remaining $6,000 adds $1,500, for $5,500 owed. With a $3,000 deposit already paid, you invoice the $2,500 balance.
Frequently asked questions
What is a kill fee?
A fee owed when a client cancels a commissioned project before completion. It compensates you for work delivered and for the time you had reserved and can no longer sell, and is normally agreed in the contract up front.
What percentage is fair?
Common structures pay 100% of completed work plus 20–50% of the remaining fee, or a flat 25–50% of the whole fee. The right number reflects how much of your calendar the project locked up and how hard that time is to rebook.
Do I refund the deposit if the kill fee is smaller?
If the deposit exceeds the kill fee owed, yes — you refund the difference. This calculator nets the deposit against the kill fee and shows whether to invoice a balance or issue a refund.
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Educational estimate, not financial advice.