Privacy Policy

Overview

CostCrunch ("we," "us," or "our") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains what information we collect, how we use it, and your rights regarding that information. CostCrunch is operated as an independent project at costcrunch.app.

By using CostCrunch, you agree to the practices described in this policy.

Information We Do NOT Collect

All calculator inputs and outputs run entirely in your browser using JavaScript. We never receive, store, or transmit your financial data. This includes:

• Salary figures, employee counts, or business revenue numbers you enter into calculators
• Startup cost estimates or business plan details
• Loan amounts, interest rates, or repayment scenarios
• Any personally identifiable financial information

Your calculation data stays in your browser. Close the tab and it's gone.

Analytics We Do Collect

We use Umami Analytics, a privacy-focused, open-source analytics platform that we self-host. Umami collects:

• Page views (which pages are visited and when)
• Referrer information (how you found the site)
• Browser type and operating system (aggregated, not stored per-visitor)
• Country-level location (derived from IP address, then discarded)

Umami does not use cookies, does not fingerprint browsers, does not track visitors across sites, and is fully GDPR-compliant by design. No data is shared with third parties.

Email Subscriptions

If you choose to subscribe to our email list, we collect your email address for the purpose of sending you updates about new calculators and resources. We use Postmark to deliver email. Your email address is never sold or shared with third parties. You can unsubscribe at any time using the link at the bottom of any email we send.

Affiliate Links

Some pages on CostCrunch contain affiliate links to products and services relevant to small business owners (such as payroll software, accounting tools, and HR platforms). When you click these links and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. Affiliate links are clearly identified where they appear.

Affiliate relationships do not influence our calculator data, rates, or editorial content. Our calculations use official government data regardless of whether affiliated products exist.

Advertising

CostCrunch may display advertisements through Google AdSense or similar networks. These ad networks may use cookies to serve relevant ads based on your browsing history. This is governed by Google's Privacy Policy and the relevant ad network's policies. You can opt out of personalized advertising through Google's Ad Settings.

Cookies

CostCrunch itself does not set first-party cookies. Our analytics (Umami) are cookie-free. Third-party advertising networks may set cookies per their own policies (see Advertising section above). We do not use cookies for user tracking, sessions, or personalization.

Data Retention

Anonymous analytics data (page views, aggregated browser/country statistics) is retained for up to 24 months to help us understand usage trends and improve the site. Email addresses for subscribers are retained until you unsubscribe.

Your Rights (GDPR / CCPA)

Depending on your location, you may have the right to:

• Access the personal data we hold about you
• Request deletion of your personal data
• Opt out of email communications at any time
• Object to certain processing of your data

Because we collect minimal personal data (email address only for subscribers), most of these rights are satisfied by unsubscribing. To exercise any of these rights, contact us.

Children's Privacy

CostCrunch is not directed at children under 13. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children. If you believe we have inadvertently collected such information, please contact us and we will delete it promptly.

Changes to This Policy

We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The "Last updated" date at the top of this page reflects the most recent revision. Continued use of CostCrunch after changes constitutes acceptance of the updated policy.

Contact

Questions about this Privacy Policy? Contact us.