Freelance Rate Calculator
Set rates from annual targets, expenses, tax assumptions, and realistic billable utilization.
Hourly rate
$139/hr
Day rate
$835
Monthly target
$8,800
Minimum sustainable
$114/hr
• At your current assumptions, only 55% of your time is billable.
• If you charge less than $114/hr, you may not cover tax and overhead.
• With these settings, you need about 10.5 billable days per month.
Worked example
If you target $90,000 personal income, spend $15,000 yearly in business costs, reserve 30% tax, and bill 60% of a 46-week year, you need roughly $199/hr.
How to interpret results
Your recommended rate is the minimum required to keep your model sustainable at current utilization assumptions.
Use output as a decision support baseline. Re-run this tool whenever scope, utilization, or tax assumptions change.
Worked example
A freelancer targeting $95k personal income with 30% tax and 15% safety buffer can test pricing before sending proposals.
Swap your own assumptions to create a quote-ready number or policy clause.
FAQ
Many freelancers land in the 55-70% range depending on sales/admin load.
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