Calculate your ideal freelance hourly rate based on expenses, taxes, desired income, and business goals.
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What you want to earn annually
Office, software, marketing, etc.
For project-based pricing
Hourly Rate = (Desired Salary + Business Costs) ÷ (1 - Tax Rate) ÷ (1 - Profit Margin) ÷ Working Hours
Competitive positioning helps you understand market rates. Position yourself as:
Use these calculations for client proposals, contract negotiations, financial planning, and business growth strategies. Regularly review and adjust rates based on market conditions, skill development, and business performance.
Enter the annual income you want to achieve from your freelance work, equivalent to what you'd earn as an employee.
Input how many hours per week and weeks per year you plan to work on billable projects.
Include annual business expenses like equipment, software, insurance, and professional development.
Add a profit margin percentage to account for business growth, savings, and unexpected expenses.
Get your minimum hourly rate, recommended rate with profit margin, and annual income projections.
The absolute minimum you need to charge to meet your salary goal. This covers basic expenses but leaves no room for profit or unexpected costs.
Your target hourly rate including profit margin. This provides financial security and allows for business growth and savings.
Premium rate that may require specialized skills, extensive experience, or niche expertise. Ensure you can demonstrate clear value at this level.
May be too low to sustain a freelance business. Consider increasing your target salary, reducing expenses, or working more hours.
Turn salary goals and business costs into a practical hourly, daily, project, and monthly rate. The math accounts for taxes, expenses, time off, and profit margin.
Translate an annual income goal into practical rates. Factor in expenses, taxes, time off, sick days, and realistic billable hours. See minimum, recommended, and premium positions side‑by‑side.
Target income, costs and taxes → hourly/day/project rates.
Accounts for non‑billable time and time off.
Minimum, competitive and premium bands for context.
Freelance rate calculator hourly day project monthly, utilization, taxes, expenses
Important: This freelance rate calculator is designed for preliminary pricing guidance and business planning purposes using standard rate calculation methods and typical freelance business considerations. While calculations provide structured approaches to rate setting, actual freelance pricing involves complex factors including market conditions, client budgets, project complexity, industry standards, geographic location, experience level, and competitive positioning that cannot be fully captured by generalized formulas. For actual rate setting, client negotiations, business planning, or financial decisions, conduct thorough market research, consider your specific value proposition, and consult with qualified business advisors, accountants, or industry professionals who understand the specific dynamics and requirements of your freelance niche and target market.