Freelance kill-fee calculator
A project cancellation does not automatically mean either “keep the whole deposit” or “refund everything.” A clearer starting point is to separate completed work from the cancellation charge already agreed for the uncompleted portion.
A simple planning method
Start with the agreed project fee. Multiply it by the percentage of work completed to estimate earned delivery value. Apply the contractual kill-fee percentage to the remaining uncompleted value, then compare the resulting total with the deposit already paid.
Example: on a $5,000 project that is 35% complete with a 20% kill fee on the remaining work, completed work is $1,750 and the cancellation charge is $650. Total earned is $2,400. If the client already paid a $2,000 deposit, the planning estimate leaves $400 due.
What the calculator does not decide
Whether a deposit is legally non-refundable, when intellectual property transfers, what counts as completed work and whether a cancellation clause is enforceable depend on the agreement and jurisdiction. Use the tool to model terms you already have, not to invent legal rights after cancellation.
Prevent the dispute before the project starts
Put the cancellation trigger, calculation basis, deposit treatment and ownership of work-in-progress in writing. The best time to explain a kill fee is before a client has a reason to use it.
Open the free kill-fee calculator
Free to use. No signup. Calculations run in your browser.