Platform Cost Calculator: compare operator pricing and fees

What we calculate

The calculator gives you operator costs — what you (the fleet or platform operator) pay each month and over the year. Everything is in dollars per month so you can compare apples to apples. We compute:

• Fixed costs — per-vehicle fee × fleet size (e.g. $/month per scooter)
• Payment processing — Stripe-style fees: a percentage of gross ride revenue plus a fixed fee per ride
• Platform fee — percentage of gross ride revenue charged by the platform
• Custom expenses — any extra costs you add (e.g. insurance, marketing) as $/month for each scenario
• Annual contract minimum — if your deal has a guaranteed minimum per year, we use the higher of (sum of monthly costs) or (contract minimum)

You get two scenarios (A and B) side by side — for example your current platform vs a proposed one — with monthly breakdown, annual totals, and the difference so you can see which pricing structure works better for you.

Main components

You control the inputs so the numbers match your situation:

• Fleet size — number of vehicles (e.g. scooters)
• Rides per month — total rides; you can use one estimate or customize by month (seasonality)
• Ride value distribution — tiers of ride price (e.g. $6, $10, $16) and what % of rides fall in each tier. We use this to get a weighted average ride value and gross revenue.
• Fee inputs for Scenario A and B — per-vehicle fee, Stripe %, Stripe fixed fee per ride, platform fee %, and annual contract minimum. Service charge to riders is shown for info but is not an operator cost.
• Custom expenses — add your own line items (name + $/month for A and B) so things like insurance or marketing are included in the totals.

How this helps with pricing

Whether you’re comparing platforms, renegotiating a contract, or planning a new market, the calculator lets you:

• Compare two pricing structures — see monthly and annual operator cost for each scenario and the difference in real dollars.
• Model seasonality — set different ride counts per month to see how variable volume affects your costs.
• Include your own costs — add custom expenses so your total “price paid” reflects everything you care about.
• Export and share — use the breakdown table and CSV download for proposals, internal planning, or checking what you’re actually paying.