Costing & FinanceFree worksheetPDF, Excel, Word exportMaquiladoraMexico

Mexico Maquiladora Monthly Cost Worksheet

A maquiladora or shelter budget is mostly headcount, but the lines that surprise people are the fees, customs and freight around the plant. This worksheet lets you build the monthly and annual cost line by line and export it for approval.

Download:

Cost line	Category	Basis	Rate per month	Quantity	Monthly cost	Annual cost
					$81,000	$972,000
					$10,400	$124,800
					$11,400	$136,800
					$16,750	$201,000
					$36,000	$432,000
					$9,500	$114,000
					$21,600	$259,200
					$34,800	$417,600
					$8,040	$96,480

Total monthly cost

$229,490

Total annual cost

$2,753,880

Average cost per line item

$25,499

Largest single monthly line

$81,000

Example figures are illustrative ranges, not quotes. Replace them with your own wage surveys, lease and shelter proposals. Divide the monthly total by planned monthly output to get cost per unit. Wage levels and statutory costs (social security, profit sharing, Christmas bonus, vacation premium) vary by city and change often; the labor rate should be fully loaded.

Plant cost baseline from ERP

Optional: we can scope a pull of actual plant cost data from your ERP into this structure.

Optional. The tool and every export work without this. No spam.

How to use the worksheet

Edit the example rows: for each cost line enter the monthly rate per unit of the basis and the quantity. Monthly and annual cost compute automatically, and the totals update as you add or delete rows. Create one version per scenario, such as a 60 operator ramp, a 150 operator steady state, or a shelter versus own-entity structure, and compare the totals. Export to Excel for the finance review.

What belongs in a fully loaded labor rate

The labor rate must be the full cost to the employer, not the wage. Besides salary, include social security and housing fund contributions, the state payroll tax, the mandatory year-end bonus (aguinaldo), vacation premium, profit sharing where applicable, attendance and productivity bonuses, uniforms and training. Many models also add turnover cost, because border cities can see high attrition. Use your own surveys and a local payroll provider for the real figure.

Statutory contributions and payroll taxes
Annual bonus, vacation premium and profit sharing
Transport, meals and attendance incentives
Recruiting and training for turnover

Shelter versus own entity

Under a shelter arrangement the provider employs the staff, holds the program authorization and charges a fee, often per employee plus a share of costs. An own entity gives control but requires incorporation, tax and customs capabilities. Capture the shelter fee as its own line so you can compare. Remember that fees, minimum commitments and exit terms are in the contract, not the budget.

Common mistakes

Budgets often leave out cross-border logistics, customs brokerage, scrap, tooling transfers and the finance cost of inventory held across the border. Treat the worksheet as the operating baseline, then add the one-time setup cost and working capital separately. Review it with the plant controller each quarter against actuals.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a maquiladora?

A maquiladora is a Mexican operation that assembles or manufactures goods for export, typically under the IMMEX program, importing inputs temporarily without up-front duties. Many are run by foreign companies, directly or through a shelter provider.

Are the example rates accurate for my city?

No. They are illustrative. Wages, rents and fees vary by city, industry and year. Replace every rate with quotes and surveys before using the output in a decision.

How do I get cost per unit?

Divide the total monthly cost by planned monthly output. Add materials, scrap, tooling and logistics beyond the plant to compare against another site on a landed cost basis.

Does the worksheet include taxes?

Only what you enter. Payroll taxes belong in the labor rate. Corporate income tax, VAT recovery and transfer pricing need separate analysis with a tax professional.

If you are comparing a Mexican plant with an existing site, we can help pull actual cost data from your ERP so the worksheet starts from your numbers.

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