Find out what you actually need to charge — not just what sounds right. Accounts for taxes, expenses, and non-billable time.
This calculator accounts for the three factors most new freelancers overlook: self-employment tax (the 15.3% that W-2 employers normally split with you), the gap between total working hours and actual billable hours, and business expenses that come out of revenue before you take home a dime. Together, these typically add 40–60% on top of a naive salary-to-hourly conversion.
What it doesn't account for: specific deductions you may qualify for (like the QBI deduction), retirement contributions, workload fluctuations, or industry-specific pricing norms. A bookkeeper charging $40/hour and a brand strategist charging $150/hour have very different markets, even if their cost structures are similar.
Your actual rate should also factor in experience level, geographic market, and competitor pricing. This calculator gives you the minimum sustainable floor — the rate below which you're functionally losing money. Your market rate may be significantly higher.
Revisit your rate every six months. As you gain experience and build a reputation, your rate should increase — often substantially. The rate you charge in year one should not be the rate you charge in year three.
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