Headcount Planning Calculator
Plan hiring against revenue targets by calculating required headcount from revenue per employee goals, and model the cost and timing of the hiring plan.
Formula & Reference
| Variable | Symbol | Formula | Units |
|---|---|---|---|
| Headcount Planning Calculator | — | Required headcount = target revenue / target revenue per employee | FTE |
Step-by-Step Examples
Target revenue 12M, target RPE 180,000, current headcount 45, attrition 12%, cost per hire 110,000.
- Required = 12,000,000 / 180,000 = 66.7 FTE
- Net additions = 66.7 − 45 = 21.7
- Backfills = 45 × 12% = 5.4
- Gross hires = 27.1, rounded to 28
- Incremental payroll = 21.7 × 110,000 = 2,387,000
Target revenue 10M, target RPE 250,000, current headcount 50, attrition 10%.
- Required = 40 FTE
- Net additions = 40 − 50 = −10
- Backfills = 5
- The RPE target implies reducing headcount while growing revenue
Target revenue 9M, RPE 150,000, current 58, attrition 25%.
- Required = 60 FTE
- Net additions = 2
- Backfills = 58 × 25% = 14.5
- Gross hires = 16.5 — mostly replacing leavers
Real-World Applications
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Attrition backfills often exceed growth hires. A plan that budgets only for net additions will under-resource recruiting substantially.
Fully loaded cost typically runs 25 to 40% above base salary. Headcount budgets built on salary alone run materially over.
New hires do not contribute immediately. A plan that assumes day-one productivity overstates capacity for the first quarter or two.