How to Calculate Freelance Rate

What is Freelance Rate?

A freelance rate calculator helps self-employed workers set a sustainable hourly or daily rate that covers business expenses, tax, time off, and desired take-home income. Most freelancers significantly undercharge because they forget to account for non-billable time.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1Calculate desired annual take-home income
2. 2Add self-employed tax liability (income tax + National Insurance or self-employment tax)
3. 3Add business costs (software, accounting, insurance, equipment, marketing)
4. 4Add overhead for non-billable hours (admin, sales, training) — typically 30–50% of total time
5. 5Divide by billable hours per year to get minimum hourly rate

Worked Examples