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FreelanceCalc
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Find the rate
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Most rate calculators ignore taxes, expenses, and the hours you can't bill. This one doesn't. Enter your real numbers, get your real rate in 60 seconds.

Billable hours ratio60%
736 hrs/yr on admin, proposals & marketing
Annual business expenses$5,000
Software, equipment, insurance, coworking
Estimated tax rate28%
Income tax + self-employment contributions
Weeks worked per year46 weeks
6 weeks for holiday, sick leave & gaps
Your minimum rate
$105/hr
Recommended (+ 20% buffer)
$126/hr
Billable hrs/yr
1,104
Required gross
$116K
Annual at rec. rate
$139K
How we calculated your rate
Target net income$80,000
+ Tax (28%)+$31,111
+ Business expenses+$5,000
= Required gross income$116,111
รท 1,104 billable hours/yr$105/hr
๐Ÿ’ป Software Developer market rates
Entry level
$35/hr
Mid-level
$75/hr
Senior
$120/hr
Expert
$175/hr

Orange line = your minimum rate. Data from Upwork, Clockify & Payscale.

Market insight

Your minimum rate is 40% above the typical market rate for your level. Consider increasing your billable hours ratio or adjusting your income goal first.

Rates by profession

Detailed market rates, benchmarks and tips for your field.

๐Ÿ’ปDeveloper$75โ€“$120/hr๐ŸŽจDesigner$65โ€“$100/hrโœ๏ธWriter$50โ€“$85/hr๐Ÿ“ทPhotographer$60โ€“$95/hr๐Ÿ“ˆMarketer$60โ€“$95/hr๐Ÿ“ŠConsultant$90โ€“$140/hr๐ŸงฎAccountant$60โ€“$100/hr๐Ÿ—‚๏ธVA$28โ€“$50/hr

Covers what others miss

Non-billable hours, self-employment tax, annual expenses โ€” all baked in. No more calculating a rate on a salary number and wondering why you're still broke.

Market benchmarks built in

Compare your rate against real market data for your profession and experience level, sourced from Upwork, Clockify, and Payscale.

Instant, no signup

Results appear as you type. No account required, no ads covering the output. Just your number, clearly explained.

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Frequently asked questions

Why does my billable hours ratio matter so much?

Most freelancers work 40 hours a week but only bill 50โ€“60% of that time. The other 40โ€“50% goes to proposals, admin, and business development. If you price based on 40 billable hours a week but only bill 24, you'll earn 40% less than you expected. The slider lets you be honest about your reality.

What's the difference between minimum rate and recommended rate?

Your minimum rate is the floor โ€” what you need to charge to hit your income goal after tax and expenses. The recommended rate adds a 20% buffer for slow months, late-paying clients, and unexpected costs. Quote the recommended rate, be prepared to go to your minimum.

Should I charge hourly or per project?

Hourly protects you when scope isn't clear. Fixed project rates work well once you know exactly how long things take. Many experienced freelancers use project rates with hourly overages for scope changes.

How do I raise my rates without losing clients?

Give 60โ€“90 days notice. Frame it around your growing expertise and current market rates. Most long-term clients will stay โ€” the ones who leave were usually your most price-sensitive clients anyway.