Outsourcing cost calculator: in-house vs a flat €9/hour
DON charges €9.00 per hour per specialist, net of VAT, in all 14 disciplines, from video editing, ads and social media to virtual assistance. This calculator compares that price with what employing someone in-house costs.
For business customers only. All prices are net. Terms confirmed in your quote.
Pricing
€9.00per hour per specialist, net
Calculate your DON team
Choose the team, the hours and the duration. For companies across the world, the price is the same €9 an hour. The result updates as you go, and the link keeps your configuration.
How is the price calculated?
The monthly price is hours per day × days per week × 52/12 × €9 × specialists. The calculator has no other factor: every discipline costs the same €9 an hour.
- Monthly price
- = hours per day × days per week × 52 ÷ 12 × €9 × specialists
- Total
- = monthly price × months
- In-house estimate
- = specialists × monthly hours × in-house cost per productive hour
- Estimated difference
- = in-house estimate − DON price, always rounded down
What does “per productive hour” mean? The in-house figure is an employer’s yearly labour cost (gross pay plus statutory employer contributions) divided by the productive hours of a full-time employee in that country, from official statistics.
What does a DON team cost? Example calculations
Every figure comes from the same model as the calculator, with each market’s default benchmark for that kind of role.
| Scenario | DON | In-house estimate (default benchmark) | Estimated difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 video editor, 8 h × 5 days, compared with Germany | €1,560/month net173.3 h/month | €7,140/monthGermany · €41.19/h | €5,579/month (78%) |
| 1 virtual assistant, 8 h × 5 days, compared with Germany | €1,560/month net173.3 h/month | €3,520/monthGermany · €20.31/h | €1,960/month (55%) |
| 1 virtual assistant, 8 h × 5 days, compared with the UK | €1,560/month net173.3 h/month | €3,351/monthUnited Kingdom · €19.33/h | €1,790/month (53%) |
| 1 virtual assistant, 8 h × 5 days, compared with the US | €1,560/month net173.3 h/month | €5,072/monthUnited States · €29.26/h | €3,511/month (69%) |
| 3 specialists, 8 h × 5 days, for 6 months | €4,680/month net173.3 h/month · €28,080 in total | n/a | n/a |
| 1 seat covered 24/7 (coverage confirmed in your quote) | €6,552/month net728 h/month | n/a | n/a |
Where do the in-house figures come from?
Each market has a low and a high reference for two groups of roles, built from official statistics. The calculator compares with the lower group, support roles, and starts at or near its low end, never the midpoint or the top, so the estimated difference stays conservative.
- Support roles: virtual assistance, data entry, call centre, chat support, recruitment and sales reps.
- Creative and marketing roles: video, ads, social media, SEO, web design, email, UGC and automation.
| Market | Support roles | Creative and marketing roles | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Germany | €20.31 to €33.17 | €41.19 to €52.76 | Medium confidence |
| Austria | €24.74 to €38.28 | €38.90 to €54.78 | Medium confidence |
| Switzerland | €35.30 to €53.50 | €53.50 | Medium confidence |
| United Kingdom | €19.33 to €30.27 | €30.27 | Medium confidence |
| Ireland | €18.09 to €36.83 | €43.60 to €52.89 | Medium confidence |
| United States | €27.56 to €32.28 | €46.50 to €64.12 | High confidence |
| Australia | €20.49 to €32.16 | €37.12 to €42.23 | Medium confidence |
| New Zealand | €14.09 to €22.36 | €22.36 to €24.59 | Medium confidence |
| Poland | €8.60 to €15.93 | €15.93 | Medium confidence / Low confidence |
Germany
Support roles: Employee on the 2026 statutory minimum wage (EUR 13.90 gross/h) (€20.31) · Average gross hourly earnings, administrative and support services (EUR 22.70, April 2025) (€33.17)
Creative and marketing roles: Average gross hourly earnings, all sectors (EUR 28.19, April 2025) (€41.19) · Average gross hourly earnings, information and communication (EUR 36.11, April 2025) (€52.76)
Method: Gross hourly pay × 1.2115 statutory employer contributions × 1.206 paid-to-productive hours
Austria
Support roles: Retail collective agreement 2026, group C entry salary (EUR 2,251 × 14; 38.5 h/week assumed) (€24.74) · Median hourly earnings, clerical support workers (EUR 17.21, 2022, indexed to 2025) (€38.28)
Creative and marketing roles: Median hourly earnings, all employees (EUR 17.49, 2022, indexed to 2025) (€38.90) · Median hourly earnings, information and communication (EUR 24.63, 2022, indexed to 2025) (€54.78)
Method: Gross hourly pay (incl. 13th/14th salary) × 1.2957 employer on-costs × 1.213 paid-to-productive hours
Switzerland
Support roles: Lowest-decile full-time wage (CHF 4,635/month, 2024) (€35.30) · Median full-time wage (CHF 7,024/month, 2024) (€53.50)
Creative and marketing roles: Median full-time wage (CHF 7,024/month, 2024); no verified sector figure (€53.50)
Method: Standardised wage / 173.33 h × 1.08 statutory employer contributions × 1.157 paid-to-productive hours; CHF to EUR at 0.9464
United Kingdom
Support roles: Employee on the National Living Wage (GBP 12.71/h from April 2026) (€19.33) · Full-time median hourly earnings (GBP 19.67, April 2025) (€30.27)
Creative and marketing roles: Full-time median hourly earnings (GBP 19.67, April 2025); no verified occupation figure (€30.27)
Method: Annual pay + employer NIC 15% above GBP 5,000 + 3% pension, over 1,707 productive hours; GBP to EUR at 0.85785
Ireland
Support roles: Employee on the 2026 minimum wage (EUR 14.15/h), reduced employer PRSI, 1.5% auto-enrolment (€18.09) · Total labour cost, administrative and support services (EUR 31.87 per paid hour, Q2 2026) (€36.83)
Creative and marketing roles: Total labour cost, whole economy (EUR 37.73 per paid hour, Q2 2026) (€43.60) · Total labour cost, professional, scientific and technical (EUR 45.77 per paid hour, Q2 2026) (€52.89)
Method: Cost per paid hour / 0.865 (the share of paid hours that are productive, per official working-time figures)
United States
Support roles: Customer service representative, median wage (USD 21.53/h, May 2025) (€27.56) · Office and administrative support, average total compensation per hour (USD 36.73, June 2026) (€32.28)
Creative and marketing roles: Film and video editor, median wage (USD 36.26/h, May 2025) (€46.50) · Web and digital interface designer, median wage (USD 50.00/h, May 2025) (€64.12)
Method: Median hourly wage × ECEC loading factor 1.456 (office/admin); USD to EUR at 1.1378
Method: Median hourly wage × ECEC loading factor 1.459 (management, professional and related); USD to EUR at 1.1378
Australia
Support roles: Employee on the national minimum wage (AUD 26.44/h from 1 July 2026) (€20.49) · Average hourly earnings, non-managerial employees, administrative and support services (AUD 41.50, May 2025) (€32.16)
Creative and marketing roles: Average hourly earnings, non-managerial employees, all industries (AUD 47.90, May 2025) (€37.12) · Average hourly earnings, non-managerial employees, professional, scientific and technical services (AUD 54.50, May 2025) (€42.23)
Method: Hourly pay × 1.12 superannuation guarantee × 1,976 paid / 1,763.2 productive hours (official working-time standards); payroll tax and other employer on-costs not included; AUD to EUR at 1.6199
- Fair Work Ombudsman, national minimum wage from 1 July 2026 (2026)
- ABS, Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025 (non-managerial employees, hourly earnings by industry) (2025)
- Australian Taxation Office, super guarantee percentage 2026-27 (2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman, hours of work (38 hours a week) (2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman, National Employment Standards (2026)
- Fair Work Ombudsman, 2026 working calendar (2026)
- ECB, EUR/AUD reference rate 28 Sep 2026 (2026)
New Zealand
Support roles: Employee on the adult minimum wage (NZD 23.95/h from 1 April 2026) (€14.09) · Median hourly earnings, full-time (NZD 38.00, June 2026 quarter) (€22.36)
Creative and marketing roles: Median hourly earnings, full-time (NZD 38.00, June 2026 quarter); no verified occupation figure (€22.36) · Median hourly earnings, professional and administrative services (NZD 41.79, June 2026 quarter) (€24.59)
Method: Hourly pay × 1.0358 employer costs (KiwiSaver 3.5%, Working Safer levy 0.08%) × 2,080 paid / 1,824 productive hours (official working-time standards); ACC work levy and other on-costs not included; NZD to EUR at 2.0071
- Employment New Zealand, minimum wage rates from 1 April 2026 (2026)
- Stats NZ, Labour market statistics (income): June 2026 quarter (2026)
- Inland Revenue, employer contributions to KiwiSaver (2026)
- Inland Revenue, KiwiSaver changes from 1 April 2026 (2026)
- ACC, understanding levies (Working Safer levy) (2026)
- Employment New Zealand, employment standards (2026)
- Employment New Zealand, 2026 working calendar (2026)
- ECB, EUR/NZD reference rate 28 Sep 2026 (2026)
- Stats NZ, Aotearoa Data Explorer: earnings by industry, June 2026 quarter (2026)
Poland
Support roles: Employee on the 2026 statutory minimum wage (PLN 4,806 gross/month) (€8.60) · Average gross monthly wage in the national economy (PLN 8,903.56, 2025) (€15.93)
Creative and marketing roles: Average gross monthly wage in the national economy (PLN 8,903.56, 2025); no verified sector figure (€15.93)
Method: Annual gross pay × 1.2048 statutory employer contributions, over 1,848 productive hours (official 2026 working-time calendar); PLN to EUR at 4.3730
Benchmarks last reviewed 29 September 2026.
Is VAT included?
No. All prices are net and for business customers only. The VAT wording depends on where your business is:
- Germany
- €9.00 per hour, net. Reverse charge: the business customer accounts for VAT (§13b UStG).
- Austria
- €9.00 per hour, net. Reverse charge: VAT is accounted for by the business customer.
- Switzerland
- €9.00 per hour, net. Swiss VAT is not included; Swiss business customers account for it as acquisition tax (Bezugsteuer) where it applies.
- United Kingdom
- €9.00 per hour, net. No UK VAT is charged by us; UK business customers account for VAT under the reverse charge.
- Ireland
- €9.00 per hour, net. Reverse charge: VAT is accounted for by the business customer.
- United States
- €9.00 per hour, excluding any taxes.
- Australia
- €9.00 per hour, excluding any taxes.
- New Zealand
- €9.00 per hour, excluding any taxes.
- Poland
- €9.00 per hour, net. VAT is added at the applicable rate.
For business customers only. All prices are net.
Terms confirmed in your quote.
Pricing questions, answered
The short answer comes first in every reply.
How much does DON cost?
€9.00 per hour per specialist, net of VAT. It is the same rate in all 14 DON disciplines, from video editing, ads and social media to virtual assistance.
Is VAT included, and who can buy?
No. Prices are net, and DON works with business customers only. Business customers in other EU countries with a valid VAT ID account for VAT under the reverse charge, and UK business customers do the same under UK rules. Swiss VAT is not included (Swiss business customers account for it as acquisition tax where it applies), nor are any taxes in the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. For customers in Poland, VAT is added at the applicable rate.
How is the monthly price calculated?
Hours per day × days per week × 52/12 × €9 × number of specialists. A full-time specialist (8 hours, 5 days) is 173.3 hours a month: €1,560 net.
How does that compare with hiring in-house?
It depends on the role and the country. For example, one employee on the 2026 German minimum wage costs an employer an estimated €3,520 for the same 173.3 productive hours. The calculator shows the source and method, and you can change every input. It is an estimate, and a DON specialist is not your employee.
What does the written quote confirm?
The scope, the specialists, the estimated hours, the start date and every other term, before work starts. The rate is fixed: €9 per hour per specialist, net, in every discipline.
What kind of contract is it, and who directs the work?
A service contract: DON provides the service as an independent provider. You agree tasks and results with your DON project lead, and DON selects, instructs and supervises its team.
Is €9 what the specialist earns?
No. €9 is the price you pay DON. DON pays its team members under the law of the country they work in, and every specialist works remotely.
Ready for your DON team?
Send us your configuration. We confirm hours, start date and terms in a written quote.