Calculate your minimum freelance hourly rate based on income goals, expenses, billable hours, and self-employment taxes.
per billable hour
| Billable Hours / Year | 1248 hrs |
| Minimum Hourly Rate | $111.89/hr |
| Projected Annual Revenue | $139,643 |
| Estimated Tax | $41,893 |
| Net Take-Home | $80,000 |
Add 20–30% above this minimum to account for slow months and negotiate room.
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Billable Hours = Weeks × Hrs/Week × Billable%
Min Rate = (Income + Expenses) / (1 − Tax%) × (1 + Buffer%) / Billable Hrs
Add up your desired salary, business expenses, taxes (~30%), and buffer. Divide by billable hours. Most freelancers bill 60–75% of working hours.
It depends on your field. Web developers: $75–$200/hr. Designers: $50–$150/hr. Writers: $30–$100/hr. Consultants: $100–$300/hr.
A 40hr/week freelancer works ~2,000 hrs/yr. Realistically 60–70% are billable: 1,200–1,400 hours after admin, marketing, and downtime.
Yes. As a freelancer you pay both employer and employee portions of self-employment tax (~15.3%) plus income tax. Budget 25–35% total.
Calculations are for educational purposes only. Consult a qualified financial advisor for personalized advice.