💼 Gig Economy
Freelancer Hourly Rate
Calculate the minimum rate to charge to hit your income goals.
💵 Income Goals
💸 Annual Business Expenses
⏰ Time
💵 Your Minimum Hourly Rate
📊 Cost Breakdown
Take-home pay
+ Self-employment tax
+ Health insurance
+ Retirement
+ Software/tools
+ Other expenses
= Total Annual Need
⏰ Billable Hours
The remaining 35-50% of your work week goes to admin, marketing, and unpaid pitches.
📈 Rate Tiers
🏃 Survival Rate (just your essentials)
✅ Minimum Rate (your needs + tax + expenses)
🌟 Comfortable Rate (your needs + buffer)
🚀 Premium Rate (charge what you're worth)
💡 Rate Psychology
📌 5 Freelancer Rate Tips
- ✓ Don't compete on price — compete on value. A $5,000 logo for a startup that raises $1M is a bargain. Charge for outcomes, not hours.
- ✓ Raise rates 10-20% annually — better clients will stay, price-sensitive ones will leave. You don't want them anyway.
- ✓ Set 3 rates: hourly, project, retainer — hourly for overflow, project for new clients, retainer for recurring revenue (the holy grail).
- ✓ Charge for scope changes — if a client wants "one more thing," that's a change order, not free work. Always document scope.
- ✓ Get 50% upfront for new clients — protects you from non-payment and signals serious clients. Experienced freelancers always get deposits.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates for educational purposes only. Actual freelance rates depend on your industry, experience, location, and market demand. Self-employment tax rates vary by jurisdiction. Not tax or financial advice — consult a CPA for personalized guidance.