Holiday walks mean working when everyone else is home. Charge your normal rate most days and let IF add a surcharge the moment a walk lands on a holiday.
A $25 walk stays $25 on a Monday and becomes $37.50 on Thanksgiving at a 50% holiday surcharge.
The example
Three walks, each with a base rate, a holiday flag, and the surcharge percent.
| A | B | C | D | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Walk | Rate | Holiday? | Surcharge | Charge |
| 2 | Regular Mon | $25 | No | 50% | $25.00 |
| 3 | Thanksgiving | $25 | Yes | 50% | $37.50 |
| 4 | July 4 | $28 | Yes | 50% | $42.00 |
The formula
IF switches the multiplier to 1.5 only on holidays:
How it works
The holiday flag turns the surcharge on:
B2is the normal walk rate.IF(C2="Yes",1+D2,1)returns 1.5 on a holiday (with a 50% surcharge) and 1 on any other day.- Multiplying applies the premium only when it is earned.
Swap the flag for a date test against a holiday list with COUNTIF if you want it fully automatic.
Try it: interactive demo
Set the rate, whether it is a holiday, and the surcharge.
Variations
Automatic holiday check
Flag holidays from a list instead of typing Yes/No.
Flat holiday add
Add a flat dollar premium instead of a percentage.
Pitfalls & errors
Enter the surcharge as a percent (50%). The number 50 turns a $25 walk into $1,275.
Publish your holiday dates and rate in advance; a surprise premium at the door costs you the client, not just the walk.
Practice workbook
Frequently asked questions
What is a typical holiday surcharge?
Can Excel detect holidays for me?
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