Someone didn’t follow through on a contract you made—whether it’s a business deal, service agreement or sale of goods—and you may be entitled to be compensated. But figuring out how much you’re owed can be overwhelming. That’s where our Iowa Breach of Contract Calculator comes in.
This tool helps you estimate your total recoverable damages by considering the different types of losses Iowa courts recognize. It’s a starting point, not a legal ruling, but it can help you understand your claim better.
Let’s go through the fields in the calculator so you know what to enter and why it matters.
Direct Damages
These are the easiest. If someone broke their contract and you had to pay extra to fix or replace something, those costs go here. For example, if a contractor didn’t finish a job and you had to hire someone else to complete it, the amount you paid the new contractor would be direct damages.
Incidental Expenses
Sometimes the breach creates ripples. Maybe you had to store goods while you sorted things out, or you had to pay inspection or shipping fees because of the delay. These extra costs that are directly related to the breach are called incidental damages. Iowa courts allow these to be added to your claim when they’re reasonable and necessary.
Lost Profits
If the broken contract cost you the chance to make money—like if a supplier didn’t deliver materials that were essential for a job, you can include the income you reasonably expected to earn. Iowa courts will award lost profits if you can show them clearly and specifically, not just as a rough guess.
Mitigated or Avoided Costs
You also need to subtract any amount you saved or recovered. This is part of a legal principle called “mitigation of damages.” If you found a cheaper replacement service or avoided certain costs because of the breach, those savings must be factored in. Courts expect you to make a reasonable effort to reduce your losses.
Liquidated Damages
Sometimes a contract has a specific dollar amount that the parties agree to pay if something goes wrong. That’s called liquidated damages. Under Iowa law, these are generally enforceable as long as they’re a fair estimate of potential losses and not meant to punish the breaching party. If your contract has such a clause, enter that amount here. The calculator will use the higher of actual or liquidated damages, as Iowa courts often do.
Once you fill out each field, the calculator adds your direct, incidental, and lost profit damages, subtracts your mitigated costs, and compares the result to your liquidated damages (if any). The final output is an estimated total of what you could reasonably recover in an Iowa court.
This is based on general principles of Iowa contract law. Every situation is different, and courts may reduce or increase awards based on the strength of your evidence and what your contract says. Still, this tool gives you a starting point.
Iowa law tries to make things right by putting the non-breaching party in the position they would have been in if the contract had been followed. But proving those damages requires more than frustration—it takes documentation, math, and a clear understanding of what the law allows.
Whether you’re a small business owner, independent contractor, or just someone who feels shortchanged, understanding your damages is the first step to getting back what you’re owed.
If you’re dealing with a breach of contract and want to talk to someone about your options, don’t go it alone. Contact the team at O’Flaherty Law. We’ll review your situation, explain your rights under Iowa law, and help you take the next step. Call today to schedule a consultation.
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