Freelance Rate Calculator

Knowledge Base

Why "Billable Days" Is the Number That Matters

Most new freelancers price based on 260 working days a year and end up dramatically underpriced, in reality, admin, marketing, client-finding, revisions, and gaps between bookings eat a large share of the calendar. Pricing against your realistic billable days (often 100-150) rather than total working days is the single biggest fix for freelance underpricing.

Overhead Isn't Optional

Software subscriptions, hardware replacement, insurance, and tax set-asides are real costs of running a freelance business, folding them into your day rate (rather than treating your day rate as pure take-home pay) is what separates a sustainable freelance rate from one that quietly loses money.

When to Apply Rush and Usage Multipliers

Rush rates compensate for disrupted schedules and lost opportunity cost from short-notice work: apply them consistently rather than case-by-case, so clients learn to expect and plan around them. Usage/licensing uplift applies when a client wants broader rights than a single standard use (e.g. paid ads vs. organic social).

FAQ

Q: Should I always quote a day rate instead of an hourly rate?
A: Day rates are generally better for editing/videography work. They don't penalise you for working efficiently, and they match how most client budgets are structured.

Q: How do I know if my rate is competitive?
A: This calculator gives you the rate you need to hit your income goals, cross-check it against local market rates for your experience level and region before finalising, since "sustainable for you" and "competitive in your market" are two different checks.