The independent workbench
Price your work
with a little more nerve.
A practical rate calculator for freelancers who want their numbers to support the life they’re building—not just the next invoice.
Rate planner
Build your baseline
A more honest formula
Revenue isn’t
take-home pay.
Most rate calculators skip the awkward bits. We don’t. Your rate covers the income you want, your operating costs, a tax reserve, and the hours you can actually sell.
The calculator protects your take-home target before setting a rate.
Hours available for client work, not every hour you work.
The fine print, made useful
A rate is a
decision tool.
Why does the calculator use billable hours?
Not every work hour turns into an invoice. Sales calls, proposals, admin, learning, and holidays are all part of running a solo business. Planning around billable hours keeps your quote grounded.
Should I charge more than this result?
Usually, yes. Treat this as your floor. Your experience, urgency, specialist knowledge, client risk, and the value of the outcome should all move your final quote upward.
How should I use this for fixed-price work?
Estimate the time required, multiply it by your baseline rate, then add a buffer for uncertainty and the value you are delivering. Fixed pricing should reward efficient expertise.