#freelance-rate-calculator-wrapper {
font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Geneva, Verdana, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
background: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.frc-grid {
display: grid;
grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr;
gap: 20px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.frc-input-group {
display: flex;
flex-direction: column;
}
.frc-input-group label {
font-weight: 600;
margin-bottom: 5px;
color: #333;
font-size: 14px;
}
.frc-input-group input {
padding: 10px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.frc-input-group .help-text {
font-size: 11px;
color: #666;
margin-top: 3px;
}
.frc-full-width {
grid-column: span 2;
}
.frc-btn {
background-color: #0073aa;
color: white;
border: none;
padding: 15px 30px;
font-size: 18px;
border-radius: 4px;
cursor: pointer;
width: 100%;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
font-weight: bold;
}
.frc-btn:hover {
background-color: #005177;
}
#frc_result_area {
margin-top: 30px;
padding: 20px;
background-color: #fff;
border-left: 5px solid #0073aa;
display: none;
box-shadow: 0 2px 5px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
}
.frc-result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
margin-bottom: 10px;
padding-bottom: 10px;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.frc-result-row.final {
border-bottom: none;
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: bold;
color: #0073aa;
margin-top: 10px;
padding-top: 10px;
border-top: 2px solid #eee;
}
.frc-article {
margin-top: 40px;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.frc-article h2 {
font-size: 24px;
margin-bottom: 15px;
color: #2c3e50;
}
.frc-article h3 {
font-size: 20px;
margin-top: 25px;
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.frc-article ul {
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding-left: 20px;
}
.frc-article li {
margin-bottom: 8px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.frc-grid {
grid-template-columns: 1fr;
}
.frc-full-width {
grid-column: span 1;
}
}
function calculateFreelanceRate() {
// Get input values
var annualSalary = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_annual_salary').value);
var annualExpenses = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_annual_expenses').value);
var billableHoursWeek = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_billable_hours').value);
var weeksOff = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_weeks_off').value);
var taxRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('frc_tax_rate').value);
// Validate inputs
if (isNaN(annualSalary) || isNaN(annualExpenses) || isNaN(billableHoursWeek) || isNaN(weeksOff) || isNaN(taxRate)) {
alert("Please fill in all fields with valid numbers.");
return;
}
// Logic Logic
// 1. Calculate working weeks
var workingWeeks = 52 – weeksOff;
if (workingWeeks <= 0) {
alert("Weeks off cannot be 52 or more.");
return;
}
// 2. Calculate total billable hours per year
var totalBillableHours = workingWeeks * billableHoursWeek;
if (totalBillableHours = 1) {
alert("Tax rate must be less than 100%.");
return;
}
var taxableIncomeNeeded = annualSalary / (1 – taxDecimal);
var grossRevenueNeeded = taxableIncomeNeeded + annualExpenses;
// 4. Calculate Hourly Rate
var hourlyRate = grossRevenueNeeded / totalBillableHours;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('frc_res_hours').innerHTML = Math.round(totalBillableHours).toLocaleString();
document.getElementById('frc_res_gross').innerHTML = "$" + Math.round(grossRevenueNeeded).toLocaleString();
document.getElementById('frc_res_rate').innerHTML = "$" + hourlyRate.toFixed(2);
// Show result container
document.getElementById('frc_result_area').style.display = "block";
}
Freelance Hourly Rate Calculator
The take-home pay you want per year.
Software, hosting, equipment, insurance.
Realistic hours spent on paid client work (exclude admin).
Vacation, sick days, and holidays.
Include income tax and self-employment tax.
Total Billable Hours / Year:
0
Gross Revenue Needed:
0
Your Minimum Hourly Rate:
$0.00
How to Calculate Your Freelance Hourly Rate
One of the biggest mistakes new freelancers make is taking their previous annual salary and dividing it by 2,080 (the standard number of working hours in a year). This formula fails to account for the unique financial burdens of self-employment, leading many to undercharge significantly.
Why You Need to Charge More Than an Employee
As a freelancer, your hourly rate covers much more than just your salary. Unlike an employee, you are responsible for:
- Non-Billable Time: You cannot bill clients for time spent marketing, invoicing, replying to emails, or learning new skills. A realistic freelancer typically only bills 50-70% of their working hours.
- Overhead Costs: You must pay for your own hardware, software subscriptions, office space, and internet.
- Self-Employment Taxes: In many jurisdictions, you are responsible for both the employer and employee portions of social security and medicare taxes, plus income tax.
- Benefits Buffer: Your rate needs to cover your own health insurance, retirement contributions, and paid time off.
Understanding the Formula
This calculator uses a "Reverse Revenue" approach to determine your rate:
- Determine Workable Time: We calculate your total billable hours by subtracting your vacation time from the 52-week year and multiplying by your realistic billable hours per week.
- Calculate Total Financial Need: We add your desired take-home pay to your business expenses.
- Account for Taxes: We gross up your total financial need so that after you pay your estimated taxes, you are left with your target income.
- Final Division: We divide the Gross Revenue Needed by your Total Billable Hours to find the minimum rate you must charge.
Tip: The rate calculated above is your "break-even" rate to meet your goals. Depending on your market value and niche expertise, you should often aim to charge 20-30% higher than this number to generate profit for business growth.