The Freelance Rate Calc
Don't guess your pricing. Most freelancers undercharge because they forget about taxes and non-billable hours. Use this tool to reverse-engineer your required rate.
Required Hourly Rate
$94
Daily Rate (8h)
$752
Gross Rev Needed
$112,667
Safety Net
Includes 4 weeks of paid time off.
Admin Time
Assumes 15h/week for non-billable work.
The "Why" Behind The Rate
As a freelancer, you are the business. You must cover your own taxes, equipment, software, and sick days. Charging less than this rate means you are effectively taking a pay cut compared to an employee role.
The Billable Hour Trap
A 40-hour work week doesn't mean 40 billable hours. Between marketing, admin, and invoicing, most freelancers actually bill about 20-30 hours per week. Your rate must compensate for this "hidden" work.
Factor in the Risks
Unlike an employee, you don't get paid for holidays or sick leave. You also have to pay for your own laptop, health insurance, and professional training. We've built these factors into the calculation.
When to Raise Your Rates?
Capacity Full
If you are 100% booked for 3 months, it's time to increase by 20%.
New Expertise
Just finished a certification or high-value project? Your value just went up.
Market Inflation
Review your rates every 12 months to keep up with cost of living.
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