Freelance pricing
How Much Should I Charge as a Freelancer?
Freelance pricing gets clearer when you start from the year you want, subtract the weeks you cannot bill, and add the real cost of running the business.
Calculate with Freelance
Start with the calculation you need
Freelance rate calculator
Price freelance work after admin time, expenses, and taxes.
Freelance hourly rate
$114.54
Billable hours per year
1,196
Gross revenue target
$136,986.30
Admin time includes proposals, bookkeeping, revisions, marketing, calls, and learning.
Questions people usually check before using this result
Should I charge hourly or project based?
Use hourly math to find your floor. Then quote projects when scope, risk, and value are clear enough to price the outcome.
What if my market will not pay the calculated rate?
That is a signal to tighten scope, raise the value of the offer, reduce non-billable time, or target clients with more urgent demand.
Start with billable hours
A full-time workweek is not the same as a full-time billable week. Sales, admin, revisions, learning, and unpaid time all reduce the hours that can carry revenue.
Build in taxes and expenses
Contractors often underprice because they quote from salary alone. Add software, insurance, equipment, benefits, and a tax reserve before setting the rate.
Questions to check before you decide
Should I charge hourly or project based?
Use hourly math to find your floor. Then quote projects when scope, risk, and value are clear enough to price the outcome.
What if my market will not pay the calculated rate?
That is a signal to tighten scope, raise the value of the offer, reduce non-billable time, or target clients with more urgent demand.